SPECIAL FOCUS ON FAVOURITE GENRE OF OUR CINEMA!

Shayar Kaifi Azmi & pretty Mayuri Kango in Mirza's film 'Naseem' (1995)

Today is 18th death anniversary of progressive Urdu Poet Athar Hussein Rizvi..known as Kaifi Azmi!..His contemporary & progressive poetry came in our Indian cinema and got admiration! But few knows that he also acted in film!

Strong contemporary filmmaker Saeed Akhtar Mirza!

So today's fifth picture is from strong contemporary filmmaker Saeed Akhtar Mirza's movie 'Naseem' (1995) in which Kaifi sahab did memorable character! He acted as grandfather of teenage girl which played by pretty cute Mayuri - Kango. Their delicate relationship is used to describe the growing socio-political tensions between two main communities of our country (due to demolition of Babri mosque) during June and December, 1992!

Famous for making films with long.. titles Saeed Akhtar Mirza is one of the prominent directors in the Parallel - Cinema movement of our country! This time he made film with one word title 'Naseem' which has great hidden meaning..and this comes in the dialogue of Kaifisahab's character!

'NFDC' produced this film and Saeed Akhtar Mirza sensibly wrote and directed. Its suggestive visuals cinematographed by Virendra Saini and edited by Javed Sayyed. Mirza won two National Awards for his screenplay & direction of this film!

Kaifiji & Mayuri in emotional scene of Mirza's film 'Naseem' (1995).

I watched 'Naseem' in the 'Indian - Panorama' of our 'International Film Festival of India' (IFFI) held at Delhi in 1996. And I had good interaction with Mirzaji and Mayuri in it! I have been meeting this strong filmmaker for the last thirty years. In 1989 he showed his film 'Salim langade pe mat ro' in our 'Film Appreciation Course' at 'FTII'. That was also his strong cinematic comment on the contemporary social situation!

But I very much admire his film 'Naseem' because of controlled & sensitive approach!

I still remember Kaifisahab's dadaji meaningfully says to lovable granddaughter in it, 
"Naseem tum ho na seem!"
(Meaning of Urdu word 'Naseem' is 'fresh good air' and 'seem' means opposite that!)

Tribute to this one of my favourite contemporary films!!

- Manoj Kulkarni