JENNIFER KAPOOR & '36 CHOWRINGHEE LANE'!

Jennifer Kapoor & Aparna Sen during shooting of film 36 Chowringhee Lane'!

Geoffrey Kendal, Soni Razdan & Jenniferji

in poster of film '36 Chowringhee Lane'!

 

It's is 88th birth anniversary of legendary stage and film actress..Jennifer Kapoor.

On this occasion remembered her memorable performance from classic film '36 Chowringhee Lane' on its 40th anniversary year!

Made in 1981, this film was a directorial debut of beautiful & sensible Bengali actress Aparna Sen who also wrote it. This film  cinematographed by Ashok Mehta & edited by Bhanudas Divakar. And Vanraj Bhatia composed its music!

In this film Jennifer Kapoor portrayed central role of Anglo-Indian teacher Violet Stoneham who lives lonely life! And her father Geoffrey Kendal acted as her elder brother. Beautiful Debashree Roy appeared as her student. And Soni Razdan played niece Rosemary which was her screen debut!

Debashree Roy & Jennifer Kapoor in '36 Chowringhee Lane'

'36 Chowringhee Lane' won.. National Award of 'Best Feature Film in English' & Aparna Sen won 'Best Director' award. Jennifer Kapoor's intense and sensitive performance in this.. touched the hearts! She won.. 'Evening Standard British Film Award' of 'Best Actress'!

Another notable thing is (this film's) young Soni Razdan's resemblance to her daughter bollywood actress Alia Bhatt!

Anyway, this is a tribute to great actress Jenniferji & this film!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

TRIBUTE TO GREAT JENNIFER KAPOOR!

Jennifer Kapoor in film '36 Chowringhee Lane' (1981).

 

Today is 88th birth anniversary of renowned actress of stage and film.. Jennifer Kapoor!

Jennifer and Shashi Kapoor happy in function!

An English actress Jennifer Kendal acted in plays of their 'Shakespeareana Company'! Then she acted with husband famous actor Shashi Kapoor in films like 'Shakespeare Wallah' (1965), 'Bombay Talkie' (1970), 'Junoon' (1978) & 'Heat and Dust' (1983). 

She also did notable roles in Satyajit Ray's film 'Ghare Baire' (1984) and Peter Duffell directed TV series 'The Far Pavilions' (1984) which was based on the novel!

 

Jennifer & Shashi Kapoor with their children!

Jennifer & Shashi Kapoor's sons Kunal Kapoor and Karan Kapoor also acted in films..and daughter Sanjana Kapoor acted in films, tv & doing a great job for theatre as co-founder of.. 'Junoon'!

Still remember her intense character of Miss Violet Stoneham in Aparna Sen's film '36 Chowringhee Lane' (1981) which Jennifer Kapoorji portraited greatly!

A Humble Tribute!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

MAKER OF MASSES CINEMA...MAN OF CLASS!

Popular filmmaker Manmohan Desai & his famous 'Amar Akbar Anthony' (1977)

Today is 84th birth anniversary of popular filmmaker of blockbuster bollywood cinema.. Manmohan Desai!

Eisenstein's Soviet silent film 'Battleship Potemkin' (1925).

Famous for 'lost & found' formula hit films..Manmohan Desai always entertained masses with hidden messages. Like Secularism ('Amar, Akbar, Anthony'/1977) & National integration (title song of 1982 - made film "Mere deshpremiyon aapas mein prem karo..").

Though he was a mainstream - filmmaker with popular genre, he was aware of the quality of world cinema! Many years ago (late) P. K. Nayarsahab told me that 'Manmohan Desai was keen to watch Sergei Eisenstein's Soviet/Russian film 'Battleship Potemkin' (1925) at 'NFAI', Pune!'

Manmohan Desai's film 'Roti' (1974)

And in his movie 'Roti' (1974) there was one scene.. inspired from classic film 'Zorba The Greek' (1964).

So there was 'class' in his Man (mind), but he focused on Manoranjan (entertainment) of 'masses'!

Tribute to him!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Andrei Tarkovsky (Soviet/Russian filmmaker)

A poet in the cinema!

He was right!!

 

- Manoj Kulkarni

ODIA FILM IN 'OSCAR'S RACE.!?!

Odia film 'Kalira Atita' and its director Nila Madhab Panda!

News that , Odia film 'Kalira Atita' has entered in the race of 'Oscar's general category for best picture, director, actor etc. It's good!

Nila Madhab Panda made this film is about disappearing villages of eastern coastline because of rising sea levels. In this Pitobash Tripathy played the protagonist! Earlier, Panda made many social short films on such issues like climate changes and this is his first Odia feature film.

Soundarya in 'Dweeepa' (2002)

When watched its glimpses, I recollected some similar films. In this first remembered, renowned Kannada - filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli's 'Dweepa' (2002), showing family's struggle to protect house on island which slowly submerging due to rain!

This time, I am also remembering legendary Odia film - maker Biplab Roy Chowdhury & his parallel cinema! 

I watched his brilliant social films like 'Nirbachana' (1994) in our 'IFFI's Indian Panorama!

Anyway, good to know the progress of this region's cinema!

- Manoj Kulkarni

GHATAK..THROUGH NEO-REALISM & NEW WAVE!

Great Bengali Filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak directing!

 

Today is 45th Death Anniversary of our great Bengali Filmmaker and Scriptwriter Ritwik Ghatak. 

Ray in sketch of 'Pather Panchali' (1955)

He is remembered for strong realistic and sensitive approach towards handling social subjects. Actually he was the pioneer of both..Neo-Realistic and New Wave Indian Cinema! See how..

Ghatak's 'Bari Theke Paliye' (1958)

 

 

 

In 1952 Ghatak wrote & directed first film 'Nagorik' depicted suffering of citizens with unemployment & poverty..in post-partition Kolkota! Pioneering realistic cinematography of Ramananda Sengupta & natural performances of artists like Satindra Bhattacharya made this film very impactful!

But unfortunately this film 'Nagorik' released in 1977, it's 25th year.. after the death of Ghatak! 

So this film lost the honour of first Neo-Realistic Indian film, which gained by Pather Panchali' made by great filmmaker Satyajit Ray' in 1955.

Truffaut's 'The 400 Blows' (1959)

Then in 1958 Ghatak wrote & directed 'Bari Theke Paliye' had a plot of misbehaving boy who runs away from his village because of cruel father and goes to Calcutta. Parambhattarak Lahiri played this role naturally!

 

Its next year in France, Francois Truffaut made 'The 400 Blows' with (semi-autobiographical) story of rebellious boy who struggles with parents and runs away in Paris. Jean-Pierre Leaud played this role very effectively! 

 

French filmmaker Truffaut.

 

 

Means plot was almost similar! But Ghatak's film remained obscure..and Truffaut became one of the pioneers of French New Wave!

I admire Satyajit Ray's and Francois Truffaut's both the films and their contributions in respective genres. 

 

That's how Ritwik Ghatak's pioneering cinematic work towards Neo-Realistic & New Wave Indian Cinema was ignored!

 Homage to great Ghatak!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

GOODBYE CAPTAIN..CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER!

"For here you are, standing there, loving me.."

In moon light Captain's expressing love towards Maria!

Or in front of children Captain's singing this on guitar..

"Edelweiss....

Bless my homeland forever"

Still those lyrical scenes of Robert Wise's classic film 'Sound of Music' (1965) are lingering in mind..!

 

Can not forget graceful.. Christopher Plummer who - portrayed Captain Von Trapp intensely with Julie Andrews' central character of Maria!

That legendary Canadian Actor with seven decades of acting - journey..left this world!

Humble Homage!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

HOLLYWOOD'S HANDSOME DANCING STAR..KELLY!

Today is 25th Death Anniversary of Hollywood's most famous Dancer, Singer, Actor, Choreographer & director..Eugene Curran 'Gene' Kelly!

Gene Kelly & Debbie Raynolds in 'Singing in the Rain's(1952)

love song "You were meant for me.."

Kelly started his dancing career in 1938 on Broadway in 'Leave it to Me'. 

Then in 1942, he appeared on screen with 'MGM's..

'For Me and My Gal' with Hollywood's famous actress-singer Judy Garland. His dancing & singing performances in 'Anchors Aweigh' (1945) & 'Ziegfeld Follies' (1946) - received admiration!

In 1949, Kelly became director with film 'On the Town'. Then he co-directed and - choreographed musical film 'Singing in the Rain' (1952) got huge success. Its title song & romantic duets and Kelly's performances with Hollywood's another actress-singer Debbie Reynolds were superb!

After the decline of Hollywood musicals, Kelly acted in such films like 'What a way to go' (1964) with famous Shirley MacLaine..And in french filmmaker Jacques Demy's 'The young girls of Rochefort' (1967). Then 'MGM's film series 'That's Entertainment' (1974 to 1994) was Kelly's last notable screen appearance!

Gene Kelly got international recognition with prestigious awards. In 1981, he was honoured with 'Cecil B. DeMille' award at 'Golden Globes'. In 1985, 'AFI' felicitated him with 'Lifetime - Achievement Award'.

In 1996, 'Oscar' ceremony gave Kelly special tribute with performance of "Singing in the rain.." which latter ranked number one in 'The Nation's Favourite Dance Moment'!

Homage to Hollywood's legendary dancing star!!

- Manoj Kulkarni