CANNES WILL HONOUR SRIDEVI!

After 'Oscar' now this '71st Cannes Film Festival' will honour India's internationally popular (late) actress Sridevi!

News that on 16th May a special evening..will showcase best scenes & performances of this beautiful actress Sridevi..to audience at the French Riviera!

Family photo of beautiful actress Sridevi!

Her film producer husband Boney Kapoor with daughters Janhavi & Khushi will attend this special event!

Nice..Tribute!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY..MR. DEREK MALCOLM!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Renowned English Film Critic..Derek Malcolm!

Today is birthday of renowned English Film Critic & historian Derek Malcolm! He is 85+ now!

I am with senior film journalists friends..and Mr. Derek Malcolm & 

our renowned film historian (late) P. K. Nair..at 'IFFI', Goa few years back!

After education in Eton & Merton Colleges, Oxford..Derek Elliston Michael Malcolm started writing on cinema. He worked for several decades as a film critic with world famous 'The Guardian'!


In 1980s he hosted 'The Film Club' on 'BBC2'. Then he became the Director of the 'London Film Festival'! He has been attending prestigious international film festivals for the last so many years. In 1977 he was a member of the Jury at 'Berlin International Film Festival' and in 2008 at 'Moscow International Film Festival'!

I first met Mr. Derek Malcolm in our 'International Film Festival of India' ('IFFI') held at New Delhi many years ago!..And met in 'IFFI' at Goa also!

Wishing all the best to him!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune, India]

EXCLUSIVE.!!

FIRST COLOUR FILM OF INDIA..NOW 80!

  

- Manoj Kulkarni

Lead artists of India's first (real) colour film 'Kisan Kanya' (1937).

Writer of film..Manto!

When I wrote about the birth anniversary of great writer Manto..found that he wrote India's first colour film 'Kisan Kanya' which made in 1937 by 'Imperial Pictures'!..Means this film celebrated it's 80th anniversary!

Attempt of colour film 'Sairandhri' (1933).

Before this 'Prabhat Film Company' tried to make first colour film 'Sairandhri' in 1933..And for processing it's director V. Shantaram took it to 'UFA Studio' at Germany..But that technique failed and the colour turned out to be garish and film released in Black & White!

Producer 'Imperial's Ardeshir Irani.

Then in 1937..the first colour film to be produced & processed in India..was 'Kisan Kanya' by 'Imperial's Ardeshir Irani..who also made our India's first talkie film 'Alam Aara' (1931). Before this in silent era his film 'Nala Damayanti' (1920) was India's first international co-production..which was with Italy!

Poster of film 'Kisan Kanya' (1937).

Moti B. Gidwani directed this film 'Kisan Kanya' was based on a novel by Manto! This social film focused on the plight of poor farmers..the subject is still contemporary. Artists acted in it were Padmadevi, Jillo, Ghulam Mohammed, Nissar, Ghani & Syed Ahmed!

This Hindi Cinecolor feature film was India's first indigenously made colour movie..And was well received at theatres!!

Tribute to this first colour film of our India!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune, India]

CANNES THROUGH GODARD!

Jean-Paul Belmondo & Anna Karina in Godard's Film 

'Pierrot le Fou' (1965) on poster of '71st Cannes Film Festival'!

Though I am not attending this 'Cannes Film Festival'..
taking notes of it's special highlights & writing my comments!

French New Wave Cinematographer Raul Coutard!

This time '71st Cannes Film Festival's poster shows the romantic image of classic French Film 'Pierrot le Fou' (1965) made by Jean-Luck Godard a pioneer of French New Wave! Stars in it are ('Breathless' fame) Jean-Paul Belmondo and (Godard's first wife) Anna Karina! This scene cinematographed by new wave master Raul Coutard!

Jean-Luck Godard with his new film 

'Le Livre d'image' (The Image Book).

Coincidentlly (still active at the age 87) Godard's new film 'Le Livre d'image' (The Image Book) is in the competition section of this Cannes Film Festival!

Best Wishes!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
  ['Chitrasrushti']
    [Pune, India]

Kangna Ranaut.

Deepika Padukone.

This time our Bollywood beauties in '71st Cannes film festival!

 

Regards!

 

- Manoj Kulkarni

 ['Chitrasrushti']

   [Pune, India]

REALISTIC WRITER...MANTO!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Author & Playwright..Saadat Hasan Manto!

Today is 106th birth anniversary of one of the great short story writers of South Asia..Saadat Hasan Manto!

Sadiya Siddiqui & Irrfan Khan in film

'Kali Salwar' (2002) made by Fareeda Mehta!

Book of Manto's stories.

An Indo-Pakistani author & playwright Manto known for his strong realistic writing! His outstanding writings includes 22 collections of short stories & 5 series of radio plays! His stories mainly focused on the partition of the subcontinent!

Urdu film 'Manto' (2015) made by 

Pakistani actor-director Sarmad Khoosat!

Some of Manto's contemporary stories adapted for films like 'Kisan Kanya' (1937), 'Apani Nagariya' (1940), 'Shikari' (1946) & 'Kali Salwar' (2002).

Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Nandita Das' movie on Manto!

Biographical Urdu film 'Manto' made in 2015 by Pakistani actor-director Sarmad Khoosat who himself played title role in it!



And now actress-filmmaker Nandita Das made a movie on Manto in which Nawazuddin Siddiqui did title role!

Tribute to Mantosahab!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune, India]

BERTOLUCCI'S 'LITTLE BUDDHA'S SILVER JUBILEE YEAR!

 

- Manoj Kulkarni

I remembered film 'Little Buddha' made in 1993..by renowned Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci! After his 9 'Oscars' winner 'The Last Emperor' (1987) he directed this French-British drama film with the same producer Jeremy Thomas!

Important scene of Bertolucci's film 'Little Buddha'!

It tells the story of the quest of group of monks led by Lama Norbu to seek out the reincarnation of his Buddhist teacher! Bertolucci himself wrote this story on which Rudy Wultizer & Mark Peploe wrote screenplay! 
This film cinematographed by Vittorio Storaro and edited by Pietro Scalia..And Ryuichi Sakamoto composed the music!

Rajeshwari Sachdev & Keanu Reeves in 

Bertolucci's film 'Little Buddha' (1993).

In acting Ruocheng Ying was in Lama Norbu's character and Alex Wiesendanger played the boy Jess Conrad whom they searched! With them artists like Chris Isaak & Bridget Fonda were in it. And Keanu Reeves portraited Prince Siddhartha (the Buddha before his enlightenment). Our beautiful Rajeshwari Sachdev also acted in this film!

I am with Mr. Bertolucci in 'IFFI'!

This film received mixed to positive reviews!..However was very successful in France!..But my personal opinion is different!

On this occasion I remembered meeting it's filmmaker Bertolucci in our 'International Film Festival of India', 1999 at Hyderabad!

Tribute to this film on it's silver jubilee year!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune, India]

CONGRATULATION!🌹

 

Wishing a lifetime of love and happiness to..my favourite pretty gorgeous..
Sonam Kapoor!

Hope you will continue to mesmerize screen and fashion world after marriage!



- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune]

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley!

'MET GALA' OF BEAUTIES!

It's nice to see Bollywood & Hollywood beauties at recent 'Met Gala 2018' an event of 'New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute'!

Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone at 'Met Gala 2018'!

 





In this year's theme of 'Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & Catholic Imagination' beauties walked in such costumes!

Regards!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune, India]

Birgitta Pettersson in 'The Virgin Spring' (1960).

BERGMAN'S 'VIRGIN SPRING' 

STILL CONTEMPORARY!

- Manoj Kulkarni

On the current happenings...
I again remembered renowned Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman's one of my most favourite films.. 'Jungfrukällan' ('The Virgin Spring'/1960) which is still contemporary!

Main scene from film 'The Virgin Spring' (1960).

This film is a rape and revenge tale about a father's merciless response to the rape and murder of his young daughter. The story was adapted by screenwriter Ulla Isaksson from a 13th-century Swedish ballad 'Töres Döttrar I Wänge' ('Töre's Daughters in Vänge')..which set in medieval Sweden!

Horrible revenge scene from film 'The Virgin Spring' (1960).

In this innocent young girl Karin on her way to church through forest encounter with two men & one boy whom she invite to eat. Then inhuman they rape & murder her. After that they unknowingly seek shelter at her home...And when her parents discovers that they raped & murdered their daughter...her father Tore kills them including boy!..The climax of this film is very touchy..where parents finds daughter & as they lift her head..from the ground a Spring begins to flow!

Renowned Swedish Filmmaker Ingmar Bergman.

Ingmar Bergman produced-directed 'The Virgin Spring' cinematographed by Sven Nykoist & edited by Oscar Rosander and music composed by Erik Nordgren! All artists acted naturally in which includes..main characters daughter Karin played by beautiful Birgitta Pettersson & father Tore acted by Bergman's fixed Max Von Sydow with others like Birgitta Valberg & Gunnel Lindblom!

Touchy climax of film 'The Virgin Spring' (1960).

This film won 'Oscar's 'Best Foreign Language Film' in 1961 and other awards in the international film festivals! Film contains a number of themes that question morals, vengeance and religious beliefs!..But the main thing is still the situation not changed!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti']
  [Pune, India]

FLAUBERT OF 'MADAME BOVARY'

Original novel 'Madame Bovary'

Today is Death Anniversary of great French Writer and one of the prominent novelists in western literature...
Gustave Flaubert!

Flaubert best known for his most popular novel 'Madame Bovary'..on which six classic films made!

French film made on novel!

 
Homage to him..!


- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti']
   [Pune, India]

REMEMBRANCE OF GREAT SOVIET/RUSSIAN ACTRESS..TATIANA SAMOILOVA!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Tatiana Samoilova in & as  'Anna Karenina' (1967) directed by Aleksandr Zarkhi.

Remembering one of the great actresses of Soviet Cinema..Tatiana Samoilova who was named 'People's Artist of Russia'! Four years over..she left this world!

Tatiana Samoilova with other artists in 'Cranes are Flying' (1957).

Tatiana Samoilova won special prize in 'Cannes Film Festival' for her role in 'Cranes are Flying' (1957) directed by Georgian filmmaker Mikhail Kalatozov!..Her character Veronika in it..represented Soviet women during World War II...and her great performance still remember!

Celebrated Tatiana Samoilova at old age!

Tatiana Samoilova also best known for her beautiful portrait of 'Anna Karenina' (1967) of Leo Tolstoy!

She received 'Lifetime Achievement Award' in 2007 at 'Moscow Film Festival'!

A Homage!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti'] 
   [Pune, India]

'NOBEL' WINNER GREAT TAGORE!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Rabindranatha Thakur with his Nobel Prize for Literature.

Tagore's Bengali 'Geetanjali'.

Today is Birth Anniversary of great Indian Author & Poet Rabindranatha Thakur...famous as Tagore!

Aparna Sen in Ray's 'Teen Kanya' (1961) on Tagore's story!

 












Highly respected Bengali personality..Rabindranatha Thakur's literature like 'Geetanjali' & creation of 'Robindra Music' renowned! He contributed a lot to all forms of Indian art! He became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. He is regarded as the outstanding creative artist of the modern Indian subcontinent!

Prosenjit Chatterjee & Raima Sen in Rituparno Ghosh's 

film 'Noukadubi' (2011) on Tagore's novel.

 
His novels & short stories adopted by filmmakers for screen like.. Tapan Sinha's 'Kabuliwala' (1957), Satyajit Ray's 'Teen Kanya' (1961) to Rituparno Ghosh's 'Chokher Bali' (2003) & 'Nauka Dubi' (2011).



Remembering this genius with his most famous & my favourite Bengali poem..

"Jodi tor dak shune keu na..
Ase tobe ekla chole re..!"
(If they answer not to you..Walk alone!)

Humble Tribute!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune, India]

'CITIZEN KANE' FAME GREAT..ORSON WELLES!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Today is 103rd birth anniversary of one of the all time greatest American filmmakers & actors..George Orson Welles!

Young actor Orson Welles.

He did great job for theatre, radio and film. He is remembered for innovative work such as..on theatre 'Caesar' (1937) a Broadway adaptation of William Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar'; in radio, the 1938 broadcast "The War of the Worlds"!

Orson Welles' great role in his own film 'Citizen Kane' (1941).

Then 'Citizen Kane' (1941)..the first film Orson Welles co-wrote, produced, directed & starred in as Charles Foster Kane..a wealthy newspaper publisher! This was his great role & one of the all time greatest films in the history of world cinema!

Orson Welles & Suzanne Cloutier in 'Othello' (1952)

Then he directed only 13 full-length films in his career like..critically acclaimed 'The Magnificent Ambersons' (1942), 'The Lady from Shanghai' (1947), 'Touch of Evil' (1958) & 'Chimes at Midnight' (1966).



Welles won numerous awards and admiration in various international film festivals. His 'Othello' (1952) won 'Palme d'or' at 'Cannes Films Festival' and he got 'Career Golden Lion' at 'Venice Film Festival' in 1970. Same year he was given an 'Academy Honorary Award'!


Tribute to this great artist & filmmaker!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
  ['Chitrasrushti']
    [Pune, India]

MAUSIQUI KE SHAHENSHAH..NAUSHAD!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Today is 12th Death Anniversary of king of Indian film music..Naushad Ali!

"Aawaz de kahan hai..Beautiful Noorjehan 

acated-sung in film 'Anmol Ghadi' (1946).

Popularising the use of classical music in cinema..Naushad started composing music for film with 'Prem Nagar' (1940) and became successful music director with movie 'Rattan' (1944).

 

Naushad with Lyricist Shakeel Badayuni.

Mohammed Rafisahab singing in the music of Naushad sahab!

Then he gave gems of film music like.. 'Anmol Ghadi' (1946), 'Andaz' (1949), 'Dastaan' (1950), 'Deedar' (1951), 'Aan' (1952), 'Amar' (1954), 'Kohinoor' (1960), 'Mughal-E-Aazam' (1960), 'Ganga Jamuna' (1961), 'Mere Mehboob' (1963) & many more such golden jubilee hits!

Vyjayanthimala & Dilipkumar in film 'Leader's (1964)

song "Ek Shahenshah ne banawa ke hasin Tajmahal..."

 
Naushad's music, Shakeel Badayuni's lyrics and.. Mohammed Rafi's voice was a great combination!

Naushad sahab was conferred the 'Dadasaheb Phalake Award' & 'Padma Bhushan' by the Government of India!


Naushadsahab was good Shayar too & a book of his Urdu Poetry 'Aathavan Soor' published!



Remembering meeting this genius and for me it was like 'Anmol Ghadi'!

Humble homage to 'Kohinoor' of Indian film music.. Naushadsahab!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune]