I didn't want to spoon-feed my audience: Palekar - International Film ...
I didn't want to spoon-feed my audience: Palekar - International Film ...
I didn't want to spoon-feed my audience: Palekar - International Film ...
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IFFIDAILY<br />
41st <strong>International</strong> <strong>Film</strong> Festival of India, Goa 22 November-02 December, 2010<br />
day 8 | nov 29 2010<br />
PLAYING TODAY:<br />
KAAGAZ KE PHOOL<br />
INOX SCREEN II, 6 pm<br />
I operate in ultra-violet<br />
and infra-red zones:<br />
Jan Jakub Kolski<br />
<strong>Film</strong> direc<strong>to</strong>r, cinema<strong>to</strong>grapher and screenwriter<br />
Jan Jakub Kolski debuted as a direc<strong>to</strong>r of feature<br />
films in 1990, with the intriguing Pogrzeb<br />
Kar<strong>to</strong>fla (The Burial of the Pota<strong>to</strong>). His Jańcio Wodnik<br />
(Johnnie, the aquarius, 1993) proved a spectacular<br />
success, and his latest, ‘Weneecja’ (Venice, 2010) has<br />
been very well received at iFFi, where it is being<br />
shown as part of an eight-film retrospective.<br />
Talking <strong>to</strong> the media on Sunday, he said he feels<br />
satisfied with his own efforts only if at least 50 per cent<br />
of what he <strong>want</strong>ed <strong>to</strong> achieve got translated on screen.<br />
With ‘Venice’, he felt he had achieved that 50 per cent.<br />
after iFFi, he has received invitations from Pune,<br />
mumbai and Kolkata film festivals.<br />
He came here practically unknown, with only one<br />
of his films having been screened at iFFi in 2006 -<br />
‘Jasminum’, and the few days he had spent here on<br />
this, his first visit, have been the most as<strong>to</strong>nishing experiences<br />
of his life. many persons have <strong>to</strong>ld him that<br />
his films are very indian. He had similar experiences<br />
in Japan and germany, where he was <strong>to</strong>ld that his films<br />
were so Japanese or so german! This leads him <strong>to</strong> conclude<br />
that his films have acquired a universality that<br />
he has just recently become aware of.<br />
at 54, Kolski is young. He feels most persons<br />
above 50 start getting cynical. But <strong>to</strong> remain a good<br />
filmmaker, a direc<strong>to</strong>r must avoid getting cynical. and<br />
if he does become cynical, he should s<strong>to</strong>p making<br />
films. Back in Poland, Kolski teaches cinema at a film<br />
school and among his current batch of students are two<br />
india men, he revealed. Both have long hair and are<br />
handsome. But neither of them acknowledged his<br />
presence or greeted him on the campus. But some time<br />
ago, when news reached them that a retrospective of<br />
his films was going <strong>to</strong> be held at iFFi, they changed<br />
their attitude completely. now, they bow <strong>to</strong> him 12<br />
times a day, and have enrolled for his sessions as well,<br />
he added, with a smile.<br />
asked about his artistic inspiration, he replied,<br />
“air!” at the cost of sounding arrogant, he insisted that<br />
his inspiration indeed came from the air. about his<br />
style and technique, he said most filmmakers worked<br />
in the visible spectrum of light, but he chooses <strong>to</strong> operate<br />
in the ultra-violet and infra-red ranges! His threefold<br />
mantra for aspiring film-makers: 1. make an effort<br />
<strong>to</strong> move people emotionally 2. narrate a good s<strong>to</strong>ry 3.<br />
leave such a mark that even the colour of your eyes<br />
should be seen in your films.<br />
Kolski understands english but addressed the gathering<br />
in Polish, which was interpreted by a Polish lady<br />
named monica, who had worked as a teacher in new<br />
delhi for some time.<br />
—Siraj Syed<br />
Gautam valluri<br />
Celebrating the Power of Celluloid<br />
‘It always feels<br />
great <strong>to</strong> be back<br />
in home country’<br />
‘Slumdog millionaire’ star Frieda Pin<strong>to</strong><br />
added some more star power <strong>to</strong> the ongoing 41st<br />
international <strong>Film</strong> Festival of india in goa, where<br />
her latest film ‘You Will meet a Tall dark<br />
Stranger’, direc<strong>to</strong>r by celebrated direc<strong>to</strong>r Woody<br />
allen, was premiered on Sunday.<br />
in her very short visit, she walked the red Carpet<br />
and introduced her film <strong>to</strong> the <strong>audience</strong> at inox<br />
screen i which was packed <strong>to</strong> the capacity.<br />
“it’s so great <strong>to</strong> see that your film is houseful…<br />
some people don’t even have a place <strong>to</strong><br />
sit… this makes the direc<strong>to</strong>r and ac<strong>to</strong>rs very<br />
happy. They know that you are here <strong>to</strong> support,”<br />
the actress said.<br />
earlier, she was welcomed and felicitated by<br />
Festival direc<strong>to</strong>r Sm Khan, before the screening<br />
of her film at the festival.<br />
“i am very happy that india has a successful film<br />
festival like goa film festival (iFFi)…. Because it<br />
gives a lot of small films a chance <strong>to</strong> showcase themselves.<br />
So thank you so much… you are very much<br />
responsible for making this festival a success. So give<br />
yourself a big hand,” Pin<strong>to</strong> <strong>to</strong>ld the <strong>audience</strong>.<br />
She also thanked the Festival direc<strong>to</strong>r Sm Khan<br />
for screening small-budget films like her’s at iFFi.<br />
She said that she had a great time shooting the<br />
film and working with the direc<strong>to</strong>r. “i have never<br />
been <strong>to</strong> an acting school…. i had a great experience<br />
working for this Woody allen film… got so<br />
much <strong>to</strong> learn from him,” she said.<br />
introducing her film, she said: “The film leaves<br />
you with a message that grass is greener on the other<br />
side. The message is for you and me. Whether it’s<br />
good or bad, that’s for you <strong>to</strong> decide. But for me,<br />
this film has been an eye-opening experience.”<br />
on being asked how did she feel being back in<br />
india, the mumbai-born actress said: “i am an indian<br />
so i am always in india… and i love india and it always<br />
feels great <strong>to</strong> be in your home county.”<br />
Talking about her upcoming projects, besides<br />
‘YmaTdS’ and ‘miral’, she said: “i would be<br />
working on this film called ‘Black gold’, which will<br />
be shot in Tunisia. Then there are two other films:<br />
the ‘rise of the apes’ and ‘immortals’ coming up.”<br />
— Shambhu Sahu<br />
I didn’t <strong>want</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>spoon</strong>-<strong>feed</strong> <strong>my</strong> <strong>audience</strong>: <strong>Palekar</strong><br />
Amol <strong>Palekar</strong> at the press conference on Sunday<br />
noTed filmmaker amol <strong>Palekar</strong> said on Sunday<br />
that it was a very conscious decision on his<br />
part <strong>to</strong> not <strong>to</strong> have a linear, straight forward narration<br />
in his latest film ‘dhoosar’, which was<br />
premiered at the ongoing iFFi-2010.<br />
“We have not used any typical gimmick like<br />
having the flashback sequences in sepia <strong>to</strong>ne <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>spoon</strong> <strong>feed</strong> the <strong>audience</strong>s,” <strong>Palekar</strong> said, while<br />
speaking <strong>to</strong> the reporters about his latest film.<br />
“The script demanded such a treatment as the<br />
film goes back and forth <strong>to</strong> revive the images and<br />
memory of a woman suffering from alzheimer’s<br />
disease,” the ac<strong>to</strong>r-turned-direc<strong>to</strong>r said, adding<br />
the subject decides the language of the film that<br />
he sets out <strong>to</strong> make. He said he was very happy<br />
with the way the goa government helped him <strong>to</strong><br />
shoot his film all over the state. i have suggested<br />
<strong>to</strong> the Chief minister of goa that special concessions<br />
should be made for regional filmmakers,<br />
including marathis, as they cannot afford <strong>to</strong> pay<br />
heavy shooting charges like Hindi filmmakers or<br />
ad filmmakers, he added.<br />
meanwhile, Sandhya gokhale, his wife and<br />
screenplay writer, costume designer and production<br />
designer of the film, said that it is a <strong>my</strong>th<br />
that because of the mushrooming of the multiplexes,<br />
small-budget filmmakers like <strong>Palekar</strong><br />
and herself are happy. “in reality, the multiplexes<br />
do a great disservice <strong>to</strong> such filmmakers<br />
by giving them a wrong slot and pricing the tickets<br />
as high as rs 200 per head,” she said.<br />
The cast of the film – reema lagoo, Smita<br />
Tambe, upendra limaye, Jyoti Subhash, amruta<br />
Khanvilkar and urmila Kanetkar - were also<br />
present at the press conference.<br />
lagoo, who plays the protagonist of the film<br />
who suffers from alzheimer’s disease, confessed<br />
that she did take time <strong>to</strong> read the script, which<br />
was beautiful but at the same time painful. She,<br />
however, added that she did not realise how<br />
<strong>to</strong>ugh her role was while shooting for the film,<br />
as the direc<strong>to</strong>r had shot the various scenes in<br />
parts. “i enjoyed working in ‘dhoosar’… amol<br />
<strong>Palekar</strong> is one filmmaker who knows what <strong>to</strong> underline<br />
and what <strong>to</strong> eliminate as a direc<strong>to</strong>r <strong>to</strong> enhance<br />
his sequences,” she added.<br />
ac<strong>to</strong>r upendra limaye said ‘dhoosar’ is his<br />
fourth film with the direc<strong>to</strong>r, whose earlier film<br />
‘Bangarwadi’ had got him recognition as an<br />
ac<strong>to</strong>r. He added that he started getting “interesting<br />
roles” only after bagging the national award<br />
for the Best ac<strong>to</strong>r for his performance in marathi<br />
film ‘Jogwa’. “i am happy amol Sir thought that<br />
i could do justice <strong>to</strong> the role in ‘dhoosar’, as it<br />
is a character which has a gradual metamorphosis<br />
from being evil <strong>to</strong> positive… otherwise, i have<br />
often been saddled with negative roles in <strong>my</strong> career,”<br />
he said.<br />
actress Smita Tambe, who <strong>to</strong>o had acted in<br />
Jogwa, said that she had actually gone <strong>to</strong> audition<br />
for a minor role in the film and was in tears when<br />
<strong>Palekar</strong> <strong>to</strong>ld her that she did not fit the bill. But she<br />
was “overjoyed and could not believe” when the<br />
direc<strong>to</strong>r <strong>to</strong>ld her that she had been selected for the<br />
role of reema’s daughter in the film.<br />
— Jyothi Venkatesh<br />
@ IFFI TODAY<br />
n Press conference by mike Pandey,<br />
Sanskar desai and ramesh Tekwani<br />
on Documentary and Short <strong>Film</strong> Making<br />
in India at 11 am at Media Centre.<br />
n Press conference by Freida Pin<strong>to</strong><br />
and amit jumani on their film ‘You<br />
Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger’ at 12<br />
noon at Media Centre.<br />
n Press conference by filmmaker jean<br />
becker on retrospective on his films at<br />
3 pm at Media Centre.<br />
n Press conference by Goutam Ghose<br />
and daisy Gili (SFC Juries for <strong>International</strong><br />
Competition); Naresh bedi, romulus<br />
Whitaker and helmut<br />
Groschup (SFC Juries for Vasudha<br />
Award) at 4 pm at Media Centre.<br />
n Open Forum at Inox Courtyard at<br />
1.30 pm. Topic: New Wave Taiwanese<br />
<strong>Film</strong>s. Speakers: Wen Chyi Ong, Gang<br />
Lee, Wang Yu Lin, Hou Chi Jan.<br />
n Screening of veteran cinema<strong>to</strong>grapher<br />
VK Murthy’s films ‘Kaagaz Ke<br />
Phool’ and ‘Pyaasa’ at 3.30 pm and 6<br />
pm respectively at Inox II.
2<br />
INOX SCREEN I<br />
IFFIDAILY<br />
Today’s Screening Schedule<br />
November 29, 2010<br />
08.30 A.M. 11.00 A.M. 02.00 P.M. 04.30 P.M. 07.00 P.M.<br />
UNDER THE SUN AND<br />
MOON<br />
Dir. Bennett Rathnayake<br />
Sri Lanka/2010/124 min./<br />
Col./35mm (CW)<br />
INOX SCREEN II<br />
POLIGAMY<br />
Dir. Denes Orosz<br />
Hungary/2009/85 min./<br />
Col./35mm (CW)<br />
THE EXTRA MAN<br />
Dir. Shari Springer Berman &<br />
Robert Pulcini<br />
USA/France/2010/105 min./<br />
Col./DG-Beta (CW)<br />
THE SICILIAN GIRL<br />
(LA SICILIANA<br />
RIBELLE)<br />
Dir. Marco Amenta<br />
Italy/France/ 2009115 min./<br />
Col./35mm (CW)<br />
LOST HERITAGE<br />
(HERITAGE PERAU)<br />
Dir. Christian Lara<br />
Guadeloupe/2010/100 min./<br />
Col./ 35mm (CW)<br />
10.00 A.M. 12.30 P.M. 3.30 P.M. 6.00 P.M. 8.30 P.M.<br />
**RUPBAN (IP)<br />
(Repeat Show)<br />
Dir: Supriyo Sen<br />
Bengali/27min<br />
I AM KALAM (IP)<br />
(Repeat Show)<br />
Dir: Nila Madhab Panda<br />
Hindi/87min<br />
Tribute :<br />
Sujit Kumar<br />
AARADHANA<br />
Dir: Shakti Samanta<br />
Hindi/169min.<br />
Masterstroke<br />
V.K. Murthy<br />
A short film on V.K.<br />
Murthy<br />
Produced by <strong>Film</strong>s Division<br />
PYAASA<br />
Dir: Guru Dutt<br />
Hindi/ 146min<br />
Masterstroke<br />
V.K. Murthy<br />
KAGAZ KE PHOOL<br />
Dir: Guru Dutt<br />
Hindi/148min<br />
CANCELLED<br />
INOX SCREEN III<br />
09.00 AM 11.30 A.M. 02.30 P.M. 05.00 P.M. 07.30 P.M.<br />
YOUNG GIRLS IN<br />
BLACK (DES FILES<br />
EN NOIR)<br />
Dir. Jean Paul Civeyrac<br />
France/2010/85 min./Col./<br />
35 mm (CK-2010)<br />
PARPADOS AZULES<br />
Dir. Ernes<strong>to</strong> Contreras<br />
Mexico/2007/98 min.<br />
Col./ 35mm<br />
(CF-M)<br />
STRANGER THAN<br />
PARADISE<br />
Dir. Jim Jarmusch<br />
USA/1984/89 min./Col./ 35mm<br />
(Rt. JJ)<br />
SPECIAL SCREENING<br />
SUCH A LONG<br />
JOURNEY<br />
Dir. Sturla Gunnarsson<br />
Canada/UK/1998/113<br />
min./ Col./35mm<br />
DOWN BY LAW<br />
Dir. Jim Jarmusch<br />
USA/1986/107<br />
min./Col./ 35mm<br />
(Rt. JJ)<br />
INOX SCREEN IV<br />
09.15 AM 11.45 A.M. 02.45 P.M. 05.15 P.M. 07.45 P.M.<br />
IN OUR TIME<br />
Dir. Te-Chen Tao,<br />
Eduard Yang,<br />
I-Chen Ko, Yi Chang)<br />
Taiwan/1982/106<br />
min./Col./ 35mm<br />
(TNWC)<br />
THREE<br />
QUARTERS<br />
Dir. Rober<strong>to</strong> Longo<br />
Italy/2009/75<br />
min./Col./ DG-Beta<br />
(CD)<br />
OUR LAST SPRING<br />
(EROICA)<br />
Dir. Michael Cacoyannis<br />
Greece/1960/120 min./<br />
B&W/35mm (Rt. MC)<br />
MARIA IN NOBODY'S<br />
LAND (MARIA EN<br />
TIERRA DE NADIE)<br />
Dir. Marcela Zamora<br />
Chamorro<br />
El Salvador/2010/89 min./<br />
Col./DG-Beta (I-VBI)<br />
CERTIFIED COPY<br />
Dir. Abbas Kiarostami<br />
France/2010/106 min./ Col./DG-Beta (CK-2010)<br />
(I-VBI)<br />
MAQUINEZ 1<br />
09.30 AM 12.00 P.M. 3.00 P.M. 05.30 P.M. 8.00 P.M.<br />
NFA Gold<br />
National Award for<br />
Best Feature<br />
<strong>Film</strong> 1960<br />
ANURADHA<br />
Dir: Hrishikesh<br />
Mukherjee<br />
Hindi/141 min<br />
3 IDIOTS (IP)<br />
Dir: Rajkumar Hirani<br />
Hindi/170min<br />
(Repeat Show)<br />
**MY DADDY<br />
STRONGEST (IP)<br />
Dir: Suresh Triveni<br />
English/17min<br />
(Repeat Show)<br />
PAIL TE SUMBARAN (IP)<br />
Dir: Gajendra Ahire<br />
Marathi/120min<br />
(Repeat Show)<br />
**DHURUVA<br />
NATCHARITRAM<br />
Dir: S. Aravind (IP)<br />
Tamil/11min<br />
(Repeat Show)<br />
ELEKTRA (IP)<br />
Dir: Shyamaprasad<br />
Malayalam/130min<br />
(Repeat Show)<br />
Centenary : Motilal<br />
ANAARI<br />
Dir: Hrishikesh<br />
Mukherjee<br />
Hindi/170min<br />
KALA ACADEMY<br />
09.30 AM 12.00 P.M. 3.00 P.M. 05.30 P.M. 8.00 P.M.<br />
SHIT YEAR<br />
Dir. Cam Archer<br />
USA/2010/95 min./Col.<br />
35mm (IC)<br />
HEART BEATS<br />
(KOHTAAMISIA)<br />
Dir. Saara Cantell<br />
Finland/2009/81 min./Col./<br />
35mm (IC)<br />
JUST ANOTHER<br />
LOVE STORY<br />
Dir. Kaushik Ganguly<br />
2010/India /125 min./Col./<br />
35mm (IC)<br />
WALAPATALA<br />
Dir. Vijitha Gunaratna<br />
Sri Lanka<br />
2008/Col./35mm )<br />
ON FOOT<br />
(PAYE PIADEH)<br />
Dir. Fereydoun<br />
Hasanpour<br />
Iran/2009/87<br />
min./Col./35mm (IC)<br />
(Rt.-MC) Retrospective - Michael Cacoyannis (Rt.-JB) Retrospective - Jean Becker (Rt.-JJ) Retrospective - Jim Jarmusch (USA)<br />
(Rt.-MN) Retrospective - Mira Nair (India) (Rt.-JJK) Retrospective - Jan Jakub Kolski (Poland) (CF-M) Country Focus – Mexico<br />
(CF-G) Country Focus – Georgia (CF-SL) Country Focus – Sri Lanka (H-ER) Homage – Eric Rohmer<br />
(CK-2010) CANNES Kaleidoscope – 2010 (CIC-G) Contemporary Iranian Cinema - A Glimpse (CD)Cinema Digital (IC) <strong>International</strong> Competition<br />
(I-VBI) Inspirations – Visions Behind Images (AIIS)Australian Indigenous Images on Screen (CW)Cinema of the World
November 29, 2010<br />
IFFIDAILY 3<br />
flusek ns[kus ds ctk, eSa<br />
yksxksa dks ns[kuk T;knk vge<br />
ekurk gwa & tku tSdc dksyLdh<br />
;g ,d e’kgwj ikWfy’k fQYe funZs’kd dk dk<br />
[kqyk c;ku Fkk& fQYeksRlo ds [kqys izkax.k esa viuh<br />
vkbukWDl fFk;sVj ls viuh fQYe ns[kdj fudys<br />
n’kZdksa ds chp mUgksaus dgk&**vius lkFkh Mk;jsDVjksa<br />
dh fQYe ugha ns[kuk pkgrk D;ksa fd eq>s yxrk gS<br />
fd blls esjk n`f”Vdks.k cny tk,xkA^^ fQj ,d<br />
vkSj loky ds <strong>to</strong>kc esa mUgksaus dgk&**tgka rd<br />
flusek ns[kus dk loky gS] eSa bl ij le; [kpZ<br />
djus ds ctk, yksxksa dks ns[kuk T;knk<br />
vge ekurk gwaA<br />
vksiu Qksje esa iksySaM dh fQYeksa ds ckjs esa [kqyh<br />
ppkZ ds nkSjku dksyLdh us dgk fd iksySaM dh fQYesa<br />
/khjs /khjs vesfjdh jax esa
a<br />
a<br />
4<br />
IFFIDAILY<br />
November 29, 2010<br />
uQjr] jaft’k vkSj okluk dh isphnk nkLrku<br />
ou MSMyh fQYe<br />
izse] lLisal] lkft’k] jaft’k vkSj jksekal dk ,slk<br />
laxe ‘kk;n cgqr de ns[kus dks feyrk gS tks bl<br />
ckj ds fQYeksRlo esa T;ka csdj dh fQYe *ou MSMyh<br />
lej^ esa ns[kus dks feykA<br />
nf{k.k Qzkal ds ml NksVs ls ‘kgj esa tc og 19<br />
lky dh deflu vkdj clh rks ‘kgj dh [kkeks’kh<br />
VwV xbZA og viuh vnkvksa ls iwjs ‘kgj dks vius iSjksa<br />
dh fFkjdu dh uksd ij upkrh gS] rjg rjg dh<br />
dgkfu;ka mlds ckjs esa pyrh gSa] gj ;qok mlds ckjs<br />
esa viuh rjg ds fdLls xsys tkus okys ykaNuks a ij çdk'k Mkyus okyh ç[kj dgkuh ls vius vfHku;<br />
thou dk Jhx.ks'k fd;k gS A tLV ,uvnj yo LVksjh bl o"kZ bQh ds<br />
çfr;ksfxrk [k.M ds Hkkx ds :i es a çnf'kZr 3 fQYeks a es a ls ,d gS A vaxz sth<br />
es a cuh ;g fQYe dbZ lekjksgks a es a 'kkfey gqbZ vkSj ljkguk ik pqdh gSA<br />
U;w;kdZ fQYeksRlo es a loks ZRre fQYe iqjLdkj thr pqdh gS A vHkh rd 27<br />
fQYes a cuk pqds çfl) fQYe fuekZrk riu fo'okl us laoknnkrkvks a ls dgk<br />
fd bl fQYe dh rqyuk fo"k;h fQYeks a ls ugha djuk pkfg, D;ks afd ;g ,d<br />
ekuoh; dgkuh gS] tks ifjokj ds lkFk ns[kh tk ldrh gS A bl fQYe es<br />
lw{erk ls eqís dks mBk;k x;k gS vkSj ,d fQYe ds fuekZrk ds :i es a mUgks aus<br />
dgk fd ,d O;Dfr dks og ftl rjg ls jguk pkgrk gS mls ml rjg jgus<br />
dh vuqefr nh tkuh pkfg, A ;gh lans'k bl fQYe es a fn;k x;k gS A<br />
;g fQYe 70 lky ls vf/kd dh piy cgknqjh ds thou dh dgkuh<br />
ij vk/kkfjr gS A tc mUgksaus fFk;sVj esa ,d ukf;dk dh Hkwfedk fuHkkus ds<br />
fy, çflf) çkIr dh Fkh A çkjaHk esa piy ,d efgyk gS tks /khjs&/khjs<br />
tSfod :i ls ,d iq#"k 'kjhj ds :i esa rcnhy gks tkrk gS A vius vrhr<br />
dh ;knksa dks cpkus ds fy, tc rd vfHk:i lsu tks ,d leySafxd fQYe<br />
fuekZrk gS] tks mls o`Rrfp= ds fy, vius osnukiw.kZ dgkuh ds lkjs jkt<br />
[kksyus ds cnys ,d cM+h jkf'k dk ykyp nsrk gS ls ugha feyrk rc rd<br />
,d ifjR;Dr thou fcrkrk gS A<br />
pfj=ksa ds thou esa ehfM;k Øks/k] Hk;] HkkoukRed }Un vkSj vkd"kZ.k<br />
vkfn ?kfVr gksrs gSa] tc rd fd os vius tSlh tfVyrkvksa] foHkkftr<br />
oQknkfj;ksa vkSj ,d çseh ihM+r oS/k iRuh ds lkFk leku HkXfuor ca/ku dk<br />
lkeuk ugha djrs A lekt esa gkf'k;s ij j[ks x, vkSj vko';d ,dkdh<br />
thou fcrkus ds fy, etcwj fd, tkus ij ?kVuko'k vfHk:i viuh cukoVh<br />
vktknh ds fy, vkokt mBkrk gS A ;g lkekftd O;oLFkk ds fo#)<br />
leySafxdksa ds la?k"kZ dks Loh—fr ds fy, ,d ç;kl gS A<br />
fQYe ds ik=ksa esa 'kkfey gSa : piy Hkknqjh] fjrqi.kksaZ ?kks"k] bUæuhy<br />
lsuxqIrk] ftLlw lsuxqIrk] pjuh xkaxqyh vkSj jkbek lsu A ;g fQYe dkSf'kd<br />
xkaxqyh }kjk funsZf'kr gS vkSj fjrq i.kksZ ?kks"k fQYe ds fuekZ.k funsZ'kd vkSj<br />
çksMD'ku fMtkbuj gSa A ;g fQYe caxyk Hkk"kk esa bl o"kZ ds fØlel ij<br />
çnf'kZr dh tk,xhA¼ihvkbZch½<br />
Jhyadk<br />
ysdj<br />
vk;k 9<br />
fQYesa<br />
fQYeksRlo ds nkSjku dUVªh Qksdl [kaM esa t‚ftZ;k] eSZfDldks vkSj rkboku ds lkFk<br />
Jhyadk Hkh 'kkfey gSA<br />
o"kZ 2000 ls 2010 rd dh iqjLdkj fotsrk JhyadkbZ fQYesa bl mRlo dk fo’ks”k<br />
rksgQk gSaA bl iSdst esa fn[kkbZ tkus okyh 9 fQYesa gSa—ljkstk ¼eh ekxs laMkbZ]<br />
vXfunkgk;k] lqMq dkywokjk] feYys lks;k] bjk efn;kek] mMqxu ;ke;k] vxUrqdk;k vkSj<br />
okykirkykA<br />
lelkef;d gksus ds lkFk&lkFk Mp lsuk }kjk vkf/kiR; ds nkSjku jktuhfrd v'kkUfrdk<br />
fp=.k ¼vXfunkgk;k½ vkSj vaxzstksa }kjk bl }hi ij vkf/kiR; ds nkSjku dh dgkuh<br />
¼lqMq dkywokjk½ fQYe esa 'kkfey fd, x, fo"k; gSaA bl iSdst esa flfoy okj ls yxHkx<br />
20 o"kZ rd ihfM+r vkSj vkUnksfyr lekt dk fp=.k djus okyh bjk efn;kek vkSj mMqxu<br />
;kek;k tSlh fQYesa 'kkfey gSaA<br />
ekaMoh ij fc[kjs gSa<br />
fQYeksRlo ds vusd jax<br />
uezrk ‘kqDyk<br />
xksok vius vkfFkR; ds fy, e’kgwj gSA 41 oa s fQYeksRlo<br />
esa xksok us vius esgekuksa ds fy, igys ls dgha<br />
vf/kd jax fc[ksjs gSaA ekaMoh unh ds fdukjs fdukjs<br />
ekuks iwjs xksok dh laLd`fr vius esgekuksa ds Lokxr esa<br />
[kM+h gks xbZ gSA<br />
nqfu;kHkj vkSj HkkjrHkj dh fQYeks a ds esys dk yqRQ<br />
mBkus vk, izfrfuf/k;ksa fQYe txr dh gfLr;ksa vkSj<br />
vke n’kZdksa dks vkbukWDl ls ysdj dyk vdkneh ds<br />
chp ds jkLrs esa ;g lkaLd`frd >kadh cjcl yksd<br />
ysrh gSA xksy xIiksa ds LVkWy] ekaMoh esa rSjrs dSfluks<br />
ls mBrs laxhr vkSj jks’kuh dh txex ls fQYeksRlo<br />
dk jax fu[kj x;k gSA<br />
xksok viuk lkroka fQYeksRlo vk;ksftr dj jgk<br />
gS tks vius ‘kckc dh vksj cy rks dHkh gkL; Hkjh rks dHkh vka[kksa dk<br />
xexhu djus okyh fQYeksa dks ns[kdj yksx lM+d ij<br />
dne j[krs gSa rks xksok ds ikjaifjd laxhr ds Loj]<br />
if’peh ikWi] ckthxjksa ds [ksy vkSj Lusge;h tksM+ksa dh<br />
pgydneh nwljk gh vuqHko nsrh gSA bl lcls xksok<br />
vkSj fQYe izsfe;ksa dks fj’rk vkSj Hkh etcwr gqvk gSA<br />
;g ekgkSy dyk laxhr vkSj laLd`fr ds iwjs ifjos’k esa<br />
jpkclk yxrk gSA ,d flusek ls nwljs flusek gky<br />
dh vksj Hkkx jgs yksxksa dks ;g ifjos’k ekufld lqdwu<br />
nsrk eglwl gksrk gSA
November 29, 2010<br />
gautam valluri<br />
Festival Direc<strong>to</strong>r SM Khan welcoming Freida Pin<strong>to</strong><br />
on Sunday.<br />
IFFIDAILY 5<br />
Project Sangam: ‘Blend of Flamenco<br />
dance and a fictional love triangle’<br />
AFIRST-eveR Indo-Spanish co-production<br />
project, tentatively titled ‘Sangam’,<br />
was announced by the film direc<strong>to</strong>r Jaime<br />
Chavarri, its associate producer Guillermo Rodriguez<br />
and producer Beatriz De La Gandara at<br />
IFFI-2010 recently.<br />
The film, apart from depicting the Indian<br />
dance and Flamenco dance, will also have a fictional<br />
love s<strong>to</strong>ry of Flamenco dancer vicente escudero<br />
and Indian dancer Uday Shankar with a<br />
girl called Kala. “Our film ‘Sangam’ will also<br />
have a little fictional angle <strong>to</strong> it when vincente escudero<br />
who had visited Rajasthan <strong>to</strong> go deeper<br />
in<strong>to</strong> the roots of Flamenco dance which he believed<br />
originated India. In fact, his research<br />
proved that it originated in Rajasthan. At that point<br />
of time he had come across a gypsy girl named<br />
Kala and fallen in love with her. Ironically, even<br />
Uday Shankar had come across Kala and he <strong>to</strong>o<br />
had fallen in love with her. So in a way apart from<br />
depicting the Indian dance form and the Flamenco<br />
dance, I will also play around with this fictional<br />
triangular love s<strong>to</strong>ry between vincente, Kala &<br />
Uday Shankar. Right now, I am holed up in<br />
Cidade De Goa with <strong>my</strong> Indian writer Shama<br />
Zaidi working on the script of ‘Sangam’ and then<br />
we will plan the shooting schedule in Rajasthan,”<br />
said Chavarri, who presented his film ‘Camaron’<br />
in the ongoing IFFI-2010.<br />
Rodriguez, also the ambassador of Casa De<br />
La India (The India House), said their ‘Project<br />
Sangam’ will be unique in the sense that it will<br />
depict the art of Flamenco dance based on truly<br />
and thoroughly researched his<strong>to</strong>rical facts. Besides,<br />
it will bring <strong>to</strong>gether two global icons<br />
namely Uday Shankar and Ravi Shankar (who<br />
‘ I would like <strong>to</strong> clarify right now<br />
is that there would be obvious<br />
comparisons between Raj<br />
Kapoor’s ‘Sangam ‘of 1960 and<br />
our ‘Sangam’ which is still in the<br />
planning stages and will be released<br />
probably in 2012’<br />
represent the Indian dance forms including<br />
Kathak and the Indian music respectively) and<br />
vicente escudero, who represented the Flamenco<br />
dance form in the early 1930’s.<br />
He was well known as the most Bohemian<br />
dancer. It was he who had introduced the Flamenco<br />
Dance form in the mainstream arena. “The<br />
film will also depict their friendship, relationship,<br />
journey on <strong>to</strong>ur <strong>to</strong> the US and in Rajasthan and<br />
how they were influenced by each other. One more<br />
thing that I would like <strong>to</strong> clarify right now is that<br />
there would be obvious comparisons between Raj<br />
Kapoor’s ‘Sangam ‘of 1960 and our ‘Sangam’<br />
which is still in the planning stages and will be released<br />
probably in 2012. As our ‘Sangam’ means<br />
the confluence of Indian and Flamenco dance in<br />
tandem with the cultures of the two countries<br />
namely India and Spain we had no choice but <strong>to</strong><br />
retain this title and if any copyright issue arises<br />
with R K <strong>Film</strong>s we will resolve the matter by reframing<br />
the title as, albeit with an added tagline,<br />
“Sangam – The Dance Rajas” as both Uday<br />
Shankar and vicente escudero are the global<br />
dance kings in their own right,” Rodriguez said.<br />
Gandara, a film producer from Spain who has<br />
produced 20 films till this date, said: “The complete<br />
formalities of forming an Indo–Spain co-production<br />
treaty are complete which stated that any<br />
filmmaker who <strong>want</strong>s <strong>to</strong> make a film in India as a<br />
co-production should have a Spanish nationality.<br />
And at least one artiste should be a Spanish ac<strong>to</strong>r<br />
or actress. Not only this, it should also be shot<br />
partly in Spain. And this co-production treaty will<br />
be <strong>to</strong>tally complete if the project in hand gets the<br />
support and subsidy from Spanish Government.”<br />
— SHAHEEN RAAJ<br />
Ac<strong>to</strong>r Rahul Khanna, who stars in Indian Pamorama<br />
film ‘Wake Up Sid’, poses on the Red Carpet.<br />
Dancing Feet concludes<br />
<strong>International</strong>ly acclaimed Kuchipudi dance couple,<br />
Raja & Radha Reddy performed an impromptu but<br />
scintillating item at the final session of “Dancing<br />
Feet” at Kala Acade<strong>my</strong> on Saturday. Renowned<br />
Kathak Guru Pandit Birju Maharaj <strong>to</strong>o did a tukra.<br />
Illustrious Odissi dancer Dr. Sonal Mansingh, the<br />
could not dance but showed her prowess, even<br />
while sitting in a chair and talking <strong>to</strong> the <strong>audience</strong>.<br />
The cultural extravaganza which began on November<br />
24, showcased 22 documentaries and biopics<br />
on Indian classical dancers and its eminent teachers.<br />
The gurus also shared what was passionate and<br />
close <strong>to</strong> their hearts — their up-bringing, Gurukal<br />
education, arduous training and accomplishments,<br />
at length. The event concluded on a popular note,<br />
prompting the Goa CM and delegates <strong>to</strong> ask the<br />
<strong>Film</strong>s Division <strong>to</strong> come up with yet another interesting<br />
package in the next edition of IFFI.<br />
THe hallmark of any great artist<br />
is that his work comes with a distinctly<br />
identifiable stamp, a signature<br />
style. No wonder you can<br />
spot a v K Murthy shot in any<br />
gallery of diverse images. Be it<br />
the Christ like framing of the<br />
poet vijay in Guru Dutt’s<br />
‘Pyaasa’ (1957), the soft-focus<br />
close ups of Waheeda Rehman in<br />
‘CID’ (1956) or that shaft of light<br />
IFFI-2010 is paying tribute <strong>to</strong> Abrar<br />
Alvi, the dialogue and screenplay<br />
writer of many of Guru Dutt’s classic<br />
films like ‘Pyaasa’ and ‘Kaagaz<br />
Ke Phool’. Writer Sathya Saran,<br />
who has written a biography on him<br />
called ‘Ten Years with Guru Dutt:<br />
Abrar Alvi's Journey’, remembers<br />
the man who directed ‘Sahib, Biwi<br />
and Ghulam’ for Guru Dutt <strong>Film</strong>s.<br />
His<strong>to</strong>ry will not forget Abrar Alvi.<br />
Though the industry forgot him.<br />
When he died on November 19<br />
last year, the man who had been<br />
partner, friend, confidant of legendary<br />
filmmaker Guru Dutt and<br />
had a major role in the creation of<br />
his classic films, lived a reclusive<br />
life in is flat in Oshiwara.<br />
Luckily for the fans of cinema,<br />
he shared his memories on filmmaking<br />
and his 10 wonderfully creative<br />
times during 50s and 60s spent with<br />
Guru Dutt <strong>Film</strong>s, in a book. The<br />
book was a revelation of the life and<br />
times of a man, who not just helped<br />
find Waheeda Rehman, the star, but<br />
entering the studio<br />
floor in the<br />
song Waqt ne<br />
kiya kya haseen<br />
sitam in<br />
‘Kaagaz Ke<br />
Phool’ (1959) -<br />
Murthy crafted<br />
the most<br />
breathtaking,<br />
iconic imagery<br />
Taiwanese direc<strong>to</strong>r Lee Kang, brother of Oscar-winning direc<strong>to</strong>r Ang Lee, at the inauguration of<br />
Taiwanese New Wave Cinema section if IFFI-2010 on Sunday.<br />
gautam valluri<br />
You can easily spot a VK Murthy shot among others<br />
changed the face of<br />
filmmaking in significant<br />
ways.<br />
Abrar Alvi ran<br />
away <strong>to</strong> Bombay <strong>to</strong><br />
escape studying law.<br />
His father, a strict police<br />
officer was a disciplinarian<br />
at home<br />
<strong>to</strong>o, and the young<br />
Abrar sneaked out<br />
with his mother’s<br />
blessings and 12<br />
annas in his pocket,<br />
<strong>to</strong> catch a train <strong>to</strong><br />
Bombay and seek his fortune.<br />
Fortune came by the way of an introduction<br />
<strong>to</strong> Dutt, who was the hero<br />
of a film in which Abrar’s cousin was<br />
acting. A dialogue between Raj<br />
Khosla, who was helping in writing<br />
for the film, and Abrar who was tu<strong>to</strong>ring<br />
him off hand on the best way<br />
<strong>to</strong> write a line of dialogue, was overheard<br />
by Dutt. And that was the start<br />
of a career in films for Abrar.<br />
The fact that he had a keen ear<br />
for nuances and languages, had<br />
MASTERSTROKE: V K. MURTHY<br />
His film ‘Pyaasa’ on at 3.30 p.m.<br />
<strong>to</strong>day at Inox Screen II<br />
in Indian cinema.<br />
These sequences<br />
were<br />
beautiful, artistic<br />
compositions in<br />
their own right<br />
but signified<br />
s o m e t h i n g<br />
deeper. They<br />
were the carri-<br />
been a direc<strong>to</strong>r of<br />
plays in college,<br />
and had a Masters<br />
degree <strong>to</strong> his<br />
credit, helped<br />
Abrar <strong>to</strong> become<br />
not just a writer,<br />
but an assistant <strong>to</strong><br />
Dutt. His job<br />
then included<br />
being present on<br />
the sets, and rehearsing<br />
his ac<strong>to</strong>rs,<br />
and helping<br />
them deliver<br />
their lines as he thought best.<br />
Over the years, Abrar and Dutt<br />
forged a bond of deep friendship, that<br />
spilled over in<strong>to</strong> sharing not just technical<br />
and film related knowledge but<br />
also their personal problems and crises.<br />
The multilayered s<strong>to</strong>ry of ‘Pyaasa’,<br />
was one of the major outcomes of the<br />
association: the character of Gulabo<br />
was based on the real life sex-worker<br />
whom Abrar had befriended and who<br />
had died of tuberculosis.<br />
As the years passed, and Abrar<br />
ers of the profound themes of the<br />
films, brought out the emotional<br />
intensity of the s<strong>to</strong>ries and the<br />
complexities of the characters and<br />
the situations they were caught in.<br />
It was Murthy’s camera work that<br />
gave these films that special edge.<br />
Eminent filmmaker M S<br />
Sathyu will introduce VK Murthy<br />
at a function before the screening<br />
of his films <strong>to</strong>day.<br />
The man who helped Guru Dutt find Waheeda Rehman<br />
TRIBUTE: ABRAR ALVI<br />
worked closely with Dutt and his<br />
other colleagues, the direc<strong>to</strong>r’s faith<br />
in his assistant’s abilities was cemented.<br />
even as Dutt tried <strong>to</strong> recover<br />
from the crisis that the failure<br />
of ‘Kagaaz Ke Phool’, he placed on<br />
his writer’s shoulders the direc<strong>to</strong>r’s<br />
mantle for the next film: ‘Sahib,<br />
Biwi aur Ghulam’.<br />
The film is not only one of the<br />
best known films from the Guru<br />
Dutt <strong>Film</strong>s’s banner, winning as it<br />
did the President’s Gold Medal and<br />
entry <strong>to</strong> the Berlin <strong>Film</strong> festival, it<br />
also proved the true depth of the relationship<br />
between Abrar and his<br />
ac<strong>to</strong>r/direc<strong>to</strong>r/producer friend.<br />
When Dutt committed suicide<br />
giving in <strong>to</strong> the depression that often<br />
afflicted him, it was almost the end<br />
for Alvi’s career <strong>to</strong>o. Though he ghost<br />
directed and salvaged ‘Baharein Phir<br />
Bhi Aayengi’, Abrar was never able<br />
<strong>to</strong> rise <strong>to</strong> the heights of writing or direction<br />
that he had discovered with<br />
Dutt. In other words, with Dutt’s premature<br />
death, the film industry lost<br />
not one but two great talents!<br />
I am Eklavya, but<br />
here <strong>to</strong> compete<br />
with Arjunas:<br />
Suneet Arora<br />
THe latest entrant in<strong>to</strong> the film world is a highly<br />
qualified MBA with an engineering degree, who had<br />
his own hardware-software business in one of the<br />
Information Technology hubs of India, Bengaluru.<br />
Though you may be tempted <strong>to</strong> call him the Nagesh<br />
Kukunoor (‘Hyderabad Blues’) of the new decade,<br />
but Suneet Arora, direc<strong>to</strong>r of ‘Chitkabrey-Shades of<br />
Grey’ which was screened recently at <strong>Film</strong> Bazaar,<br />
is confident of going several miles ahead.<br />
After the screening of his film, Suneet said, “I<br />
always <strong>want</strong>ed <strong>to</strong> direct a film and while studying<br />
engineering, I decided <strong>to</strong> fulfill <strong>my</strong> dream. During<br />
<strong>my</strong> college days, I read and discussed about movie<br />
making all the time. As <strong>my</strong> first preference was <strong>to</strong><br />
complete formal education, I had no choice but <strong>to</strong><br />
be ‘eklavaya’. But I am not here <strong>to</strong> cut <strong>my</strong> thumb<br />
like eklavaya… I <strong>want</strong> <strong>to</strong> compete with present<br />
Arjuns and present the movie the way I see it. I<br />
scrutinised the market convinced <strong>my</strong> family and<br />
then pursued a dream.”<br />
Suneet had <strong>to</strong> get <strong>to</strong>gether an ensemble cast for<br />
Suneet Arora<br />
with Ravi<br />
Kissen<br />
the film. He got Bhojpuri superstar Ravi Kissen <strong>to</strong><br />
plays the male protagonist in the first time, while<br />
other cast includes Rajesh Shringarpure, Jaspinder<br />
Gardner and Amit Bhardwaj among others.<br />
‘Chitkabrey’ made on a budget of around a<br />
crore and a half and shot on 16 mm, is all about<br />
the intricacies of relationships in a world that is<br />
becoming smaller and smaller due <strong>to</strong> the fastpaced<br />
digital and technological revolution, he said.<br />
Given his background and study, perhaps he<br />
could understand the realms of relationships visà-vis<br />
technological progress better.<br />
The film traverses different geographies and<br />
encapsulates his experience as he travelled from a<br />
small-<strong>to</strong>wn called Abohar (Punjab) <strong>to</strong> Bengaluru<br />
<strong>to</strong> study engineering and then came <strong>to</strong> Mumbai <strong>to</strong><br />
do pursue MBA. Subsequently, globe-trotter<br />
Suneet proceeded <strong>to</strong> the Silicon valley in California<br />
and Canada and several parts of the world.<br />
“The complexities of relationships always intrigued<br />
me. I have always been an avid learner and<br />
observer. Relationships fascinated me even when I<br />
started working in corporate houses and then ventured<br />
in<strong>to</strong> <strong>my</strong> own business of computer hardware<br />
and later software. During <strong>my</strong> globe-trotting days<br />
<strong>to</strong>o, I was always curious about the extreme variation<br />
in the relationships across the globe. ‘Rewind’ is an<br />
ode <strong>to</strong> the experiences that I had while interacting<br />
with people across the globe. It’s about all aspects of<br />
life that I have seen and encountered,” he said.<br />
— JyotHi VENkAtESH
6<br />
IFFIDAILY<br />
November 29, 2010<br />
WIDE RANGE OF MUST-SEE FILMS IN FILM FESTIvAL’S 2ND HALF<br />
tHE second half of iFFi-2010 has a striking<br />
assortment of must-see films for the<br />
cinephiles.<br />
the festival this year has a pretty unbeatable<br />
range of old films under Retrospectives and new<br />
contemporary fare as well, not <strong>to</strong> mention the<br />
unique new sections of documentary and promising<br />
set of short films from the three <strong>to</strong>p film-institutes<br />
of the country.<br />
Jan Jacub Kolski from Poland has been the rare<br />
discovery of this festival, who has made only 13<br />
films, eight of which were screened at this festival.<br />
those who missed this stunning package, have<br />
definitely missed a huge ‘plus’ of the festival.<br />
the other brilliant ‘masters’ featuring in this festival,<br />
whose movies still figure in the second half<br />
of the festival, are – Eric Rohmer from France, Jim<br />
Jarmusch from the US, Michael Cacoyannis from<br />
Greece, and of course our very own Mira Nair.<br />
Besides, there’s a charismatic range of ‘Country-Focus’<br />
movies, from varied nations like Mexico,<br />
Georgia, Sri lanka and taiwan.<br />
Seker<br />
A Time <strong>to</strong> love and a Time <strong>to</strong> Die<br />
taiwanese films have been creating waves at<br />
the <strong>to</strong>p festivals of the world, and the iFFi package<br />
includes classics from their legendary direc<strong>to</strong>rs like<br />
Edward Yang (‘taipei S<strong>to</strong>ry’), Hou Hsia-Hsien<br />
(‘a time <strong>to</strong> love and a time <strong>to</strong> Die’), ‘Eat Drink<br />
Man Woman’ by Hollywood-favourite ang lee,<br />
and new-wave festival-favourites like Hou Chi-Jan<br />
(‘one Day’) and tsai Ming liang (‘Viva l<br />
amour’). a large film-delegation from taiwan is<br />
presently at iFFi, <strong>to</strong> celebrate this exciting package.<br />
one of the main highlights of iFFi this year, is<br />
the specially curated section of films from this<br />
year’s Cannes <strong>Film</strong> Festival. as Shankar Mohan,<br />
Joint Direc<strong>to</strong>r of Direc<strong>to</strong>rate of <strong>Film</strong> Festivals, had<br />
said at the mid-festival Press Conference on Saturday:<br />
“Since everyone can’t go <strong>to</strong> Cannes, we decided<br />
<strong>to</strong> bring Cannes <strong>to</strong> you!”<br />
the Cannes package, most of which features<br />
in the Competition Section, offers a daring range<br />
of styles and subjects. the Palm d’or winner from<br />
thailand, ‘Uncle Boonmee Who can Recollect his<br />
Past lives’, by the country’s best-known indie direc<strong>to</strong>r<br />
apichatpong Weerasethakul, is audaciously<br />
experimental. then, there’s the surrealistic, blackand-white<br />
american film ‘Shit Year’ by Cam<br />
archer, famed Japanese direc<strong>to</strong>r takeshi Kitano’s<br />
blood-drenched ‘outrage’, French master Jeanluc<br />
Godard’s latest ‘<strong>Film</strong> Socialism’ (be warned<br />
there are No English sub-titles), iranian master<br />
abbas Kiaros<strong>to</strong>mi’s first European film with the<br />
matchless French actress Juliet Binoche that won<br />
her the Best actress award at Cannes, ‘Certified<br />
Copy’, Britain’s best-known contemporary direc<strong>to</strong>r<br />
Ken loach’s ‘Route irish’, as also the unique<br />
film from little-known Chad that won a <strong>to</strong>p award<br />
‘a Screaming Man’, and last but not the least the<br />
moving Closing <strong>Film</strong> ‘the tree’ from australia.<br />
other much-awarded and must-see films, are<br />
‘Cow’ from China (Golden Horse Festival, taiwan),<br />
‘Curling’ from Canada (locarno Festival), ‘the<br />
Extra Man’ from the US (Sundance festival), ‘little<br />
Rose’ from Poland and ‘Seker’ from Kazakisthan.<br />
as for indian films, well-known direc<strong>to</strong>r Rituparna<br />
Ghosh’s debut acting role as a gay, in elegant<br />
drag-clothes, in ‘Just another love S<strong>to</strong>ry’,<br />
which has won accolades at many international<br />
festivals, is a very significant film for indian cinema,<br />
as it’s probably the first in-depth ‘gay’ s<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
made on the celluloid, and has a stunning performance<br />
by the famed direc<strong>to</strong>r. it has a second screening<br />
this week - a riveting, must-see movie.<br />
Certainly, a feast of movies awaits the<br />
cineastes, this week at iFFi. Gorge on them!<br />
— LEKHA J. SHANKAR<br />
<strong>Film</strong> Socialism<br />
‘Post-1989, Polish cinema is taking<br />
<strong>to</strong> Hollywood style of filmmaking’<br />
PRoFESSoR Piotr Klodowski, ambassador<br />
of Poland in india, <strong>to</strong>day said the language<br />
of cinema is the most universal<br />
language for communication and he would<br />
therefore like greater cooperation between<br />
his country and india.<br />
Klodowski, who speaks fluent Hindi,<br />
said the recent visit of the Polish Minister<br />
for Cultural and National Heritage <strong>to</strong> india<br />
had also strengthened this view.<br />
He also promised <strong>to</strong> examine offers from<br />
film societies or filmmakers for indo-Polish<br />
collaboration in this field. there were plans<br />
<strong>to</strong> collaborate with film schools, he said.<br />
addressing the open Forum on Polish<br />
cinema with particular reference <strong>to</strong> the retrospective<br />
of the films of Jan Jacub Kolski<br />
at the ongoing iFFi, he said cinema had undergone<br />
a major change in his country since<br />
1989. While there was greater freedom,<br />
there were commercial pressures since the<br />
industry was earlier supported by the state.<br />
this had its positive and negative aspects.<br />
<strong>Film</strong>s made before 1989 had restrictions but<br />
were generally good.<br />
Kolsky said it was unfortunate that modern<br />
Polish cinema was turning <strong>to</strong> Hollywood<br />
for ideas, and therefore he avoided seeing<br />
films by other Polish filmmakers. However,<br />
he said Dorotha Kedzierzawska - who was<br />
also present – was an exception since she<br />
also stuck <strong>to</strong> her own style.<br />
He said he <strong>want</strong>ed <strong>to</strong> keep his own perspective<br />
and therefore stuck <strong>to</strong> his own style.<br />
He agreed <strong>to</strong> the presence of a strong<br />
Catholic influence in his films, but said he<br />
used this <strong>to</strong> expose the shallowness of<br />
Catholicism and use this <strong>to</strong> comment upon<br />
love, life and the world.<br />
asked if he had seen any indian films,<br />
he said he preferred <strong>to</strong> watch the people.<br />
He felt it was <strong>to</strong>o strong <strong>to</strong> say cinema in<br />
his country had degenerated but it had polarised<br />
and privatised.<br />
He said eight of his 13 films were being<br />
shown and it was a mere coincidence that<br />
these eight were based in the countryside,<br />
since he had also made films in the city.<br />
Referring <strong>to</strong> his latest film ‘Venice’ shown<br />
here, he said it was based on the alter ego of<br />
the author who wrote the short s<strong>to</strong>ry it was<br />
based on. it is about the oppression all around<br />
us with no place of escape. His central character<br />
therefore tends <strong>to</strong> withdraw in<strong>to</strong> himself.<br />
He said he was known for using s<strong>to</strong>ries<br />
that were ‘unadaptable’ <strong>to</strong> the large screen.<br />
Dorotha said she liked the way indians<br />
loved cinema. She said she agreed that Polish<br />
cinema was turning <strong>to</strong> Hollywood. the<br />
present Polish cinema was going in two directions:<br />
the commercial and the art. She<br />
preferred not <strong>to</strong> talk <strong>to</strong>o much about her<br />
films, particularly after they had been made.<br />
Kolsky’s cinema<strong>to</strong>grapher arthur Reinhard<br />
said he had been talking <strong>to</strong> some indians<br />
about making a film in india. asked<br />
about his visuals, he said every film was a<br />
new challenge in itself.<br />
— B B NAgpAL<br />
Just Another Love S<strong>to</strong>ry is not a Gay film: Biswas<br />
NatioNal award-winning direc<strong>to</strong>r Rituparno<br />
Ghosh makes his debut as an ac<strong>to</strong>r in<br />
Just Another Love S<strong>to</strong>ry (JALS), a subtle<br />
s<strong>to</strong>ry highlighting the complexities of life of<br />
homosexuals and stigma faced by them.<br />
the film, screened as part of the indian<br />
Panorama, is one of the three indian <strong>Film</strong>s<br />
that have made it <strong>to</strong> the Competition Section<br />
at iFFi this year. the film, in English, is a<br />
much travelled and appreciated film at the<br />
Festival circuit having won the Best <strong>Film</strong><br />
award at the New York <strong>Film</strong> Festival. Wellknown<br />
producer tapan Biswas, who has <strong>to</strong><br />
his credit 27 films, said at a press conference<br />
here on Sunday that he doesn’t <strong>want</strong> the film<br />
<strong>to</strong> be labeled as a ‘Gay film’, “as it is a<br />
human s<strong>to</strong>ry and could be watched with the<br />
family”. the film subtly addresses the issue<br />
and conveys the message that a person<br />
should be allowed <strong>to</strong> live the way he <strong>want</strong>s,”<br />
the producer of the film said.<br />
Just Another Love S<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
the film is directed by Kaushik Ganguly<br />
and has Rituparno Ghosh donning the hats<br />
of Creative Direc<strong>to</strong>r and Production Designer<br />
of the film.<br />
the film is a s<strong>to</strong>ry based on the life of 70<br />
plus Chapal Bhaduri, once famous for the<br />
feminine lead roles he played in theatre.<br />
Chapal is essentially a woman, biologically<br />
trapped in a man’s body. He lives a forsaken<br />
life, surviving on memories of his past until<br />
he meets abhiroop Sen, an openly gay filmmaker<br />
who lures him with big money <strong>to</strong> reveal<br />
his tragic s<strong>to</strong>ry in every detail for a<br />
documentary.<br />
Media wrath, homophobia, emotional<br />
conflicts and attractions ensue in the lives of<br />
the characters, while they come across their<br />
similar complexities, divided loyalties and<br />
similar bonds of sisterhood with a lover’s<br />
suffering ‘legitimate’ wife. Eventually forcing<br />
abhiroop <strong>to</strong> question his fake liberation,<br />
and face his essential solitude as a marginal<br />
being in society. it is an effort <strong>to</strong> expand acceptance<br />
of the timeless struggle of homosexuals<br />
against social discrimination.<br />
the main cast of the film include Chapal<br />
Bhaduri, Rituparno Ghosh, indraneil Sengupta,<br />
Jisshu Sengupta, Churni Ganguly and<br />
Raima Sen. the film‘s Bengali version will<br />
be released on Christmas this year.<br />
Sensitivity beyond self<br />
DESPitE FilM one hiccup after another at the Short Center, quite<br />
a few delegates have managed <strong>to</strong> retain their enthusiasm; be it for<br />
watching films or participating in discussion sessions. While the<br />
near houseful scenario of previous years is still <strong>to</strong> be emulated, the<br />
quality of discussions has always been enlightening. the indifferent<br />
attendance could be attributed more <strong>to</strong> a lack of proper communication<br />
on the part of organisers and media support than any unwillingness<br />
or lassitude on part of the delegates.<br />
Sensitivity beyond self was, perhaps, the common thread that<br />
linked the films of the direc<strong>to</strong>rs we met yesterday.<br />
the enthusiasm of a young journalist. the economic compulsions<br />
of her young assistant and we begin <strong>to</strong> ask questions about the<br />
ethics of exploiting tragedy in the name of journalism. Where does<br />
one draw the line is the probable question anupam Barve seems <strong>to</strong><br />
ask in his film ‘Fresh Suicide’ .<br />
Gautam Saikia goes <strong>to</strong> shoot a film as part of an assignment. a<br />
chance peep in<strong>to</strong> a tree hollow gets him <strong>to</strong> see a python with 87<br />
young. after having pulled out his camera and shot it, he began<br />
thinking of the next course of action. a distressing dilemma arises.<br />
leave them be as is mandated by law because the python is a protected<br />
species and in natural course about one or<br />
two may survive; or relocate them in different<br />
Docs & shorts<br />
by ramesh tekwani<br />
places and increase<br />
the odds of their<br />
survival manifold.<br />
He decides <strong>to</strong> persuade<br />
the powers and get the necessary permission<br />
<strong>to</strong> relocate the baby pythons. and he<br />
succeeds. and over the next five months that he is there for his primary<br />
assignment he shoots another film side by side – ‘Unseen<br />
Beauty, Unhidden truth’ – thus giving new meaning <strong>to</strong> the Hindi<br />
saying “Ek panth do kaaj”.<br />
Sometimes what appears <strong>to</strong> be isn’t quite it and sometimes what<br />
doesn’t appear <strong>to</strong> be is really it. What is really it or not? We can see<br />
the film entitled ‘Swindled’ by Ridhesh Sejpal and decide for ourselves.<br />
the film is based on a short s<strong>to</strong>ry by H. H. Munro ‘Saki’ .<br />
a chance reading of a newspaper report about a bombing of<br />
civilian children in a dancing class becomes the inspiration for<br />
a film ‘Dancing in Fumes’ by Noor arnaoot . Here, she tries <strong>to</strong><br />
portray the futility of war through the common sorrow of<br />
known enemies.<br />
Documentaries don’t need additional styling but fiction, short<br />
fictions and features do. Sharada Ramanathan tells us tale of Devdasis,<br />
one in particular. Here, ground level camera movement adds<br />
<strong>to</strong> the visual lyrics of the film as does the choreography set <strong>to</strong> subtle<br />
compositions that have a definite presence.<br />
a fitting climax <strong>to</strong> an already fulfilling day. Fresh from a<br />
packed house for his Masterclass, V. Mohan Srinivas came <strong>to</strong> the<br />
cosy audi2 at the Maquinez Palace Complex for an encore. Some<br />
had seen the movie, others had heard about it and Srini now let us<br />
all in<strong>to</strong> a few secrets. the Visuals Effects of “Endhiran – the<br />
Robot”. His was not just a show and tell; but also, a listen and<br />
learn, <strong>to</strong>o. the music and effects, both stylised and real, <strong>to</strong>ok the<br />
movie <strong>to</strong> an entirely new level, new dimension al<strong>to</strong>gether. Stressing<br />
on the need for intensive preplanning, Srinivas explained that<br />
entire sequences were s<strong>to</strong>ryboarded complete with 3D graphics,<br />
actual sound and music in order <strong>to</strong> eliminate the possibility of mistakes,<br />
even by chance.<br />
The writer is a direc<strong>to</strong>r and producer of short films and has<br />
been moderating discussion sessions at the Short <strong>Film</strong> Center<br />
Edited by: Shambhu Sahu on behalf of Direc<strong>to</strong>rate of <strong>Film</strong> Festivals, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, New Delhi<br />
Hindi Edi<strong>to</strong>r: Mukesh Kaushik<br />
printed at: Herald Publication Pvt. Ltd. Verna, Goa