KUNDAN SHAH SATIRE..NO MORE!

 

Prominent filmmaker in the genre of Indian satiric social cinema..Kundan Shah passed away!

After studying direction at 'FTII', Pune..in 1983 Kundan Shah made his first film 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro' which was in the stream of Indian new wave cinema; but was with independent style of satire or slapstick comedy! Artists like Satish Shah, Pankaj Kapoor, Om Puri & Bhakti Barve played their roles superbly in it. For this debut film Shah won National Award!

After this he started working for television with serial 'Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi'. Then joined 'Iskara' of Saeed Akhtar Mirza and during 1985-86 co-directed folk comedy serial 'Nukkad' with him! After that in 1987 he independently directed TV serial 'Manoranjan' which focused on the film industry..And in 1988 on R. K. Laxman's characters he made 'Wagle Ki Duniya' which Anjan Srivastava acted fantastically!

In 1993 Kundan Shah returned to big screen and written-directed movie 'Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa' which won 'Filmfare's critics Award'!..That was today's superstar Shahrukh Khan's one of the initial roles which gave him boost!..This focused on the hidden talent of youth..which also depicted in it's song..
"Woh to hai albela, hazaron mein akela..
Sada tumne aib dekha, hunar to na dekha!"

Then to focus on the serious social issue of single parenthood..in 1998 Kundan Shah made film 'Kya Kehna'! This was actually the debut film (which released in 2000) of pretty gorgeous Preity Zinta who enacted teenage single-mother in it brilliantly!

Then he wrote-directed some light romantic movies like 'Hum To Mohabbat Karega' (2000) & 'Dil Hai Tumhara' (2002). And in 2014 he made last film..(bold) political satire 'P Se PM Tak'!
 

I remember meeting Kundan Shah in 'FTII'..And during 'Wisdom Tree Film Festival' had nice conversation with him!

My Humble Homage!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti' Pune]

NOBEL TO JAPAN BORN SCREENWRITER ISHIGURO!

It's great that Nagasaki born English author & screenwriter Kazuo Ishiguro has won the Nobel Prize for Literature!

Renowned contemporary fiction author Ishiguro already got the prestigious 'Man Booker Prize' for his novel 'The Remains of the Day' on which James Ivory made film with same title in 1993.

Then his famous novel 'Never Let Me Go' praised by 'Time' & included in 100 best English languages novels! On this Mark Romanek made romantic film with same title in 2010 and the lovely emotions of growing youth in it touched the heart!

Ishiguro's 8 books translated into 40 languages! He also wrote screenplays for television films like 'The White Countess' (2005) and lyrics like "So Romantic.."

Congratulation Mr. Ishiguro!!
OMEDETOU!!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO 'ROSE'..KATE WINSLET!

Graceful Kate Winslet as Rose in 'Titanic'!

Today is birthday of beautiful English actress..'Titanic's Rose fame favourite Kate Elizabeth Winslet!

Pretty gorgeous Kate started her study in acting at the age of 11 and soon appeared in television advertisements. During teenage she performed lead roles in almost 20 plays of 'Starmaker Theatre Company'. Then in 1992 she acted in TV Film 'Anglo-Saxon
Attitudes'!

Kate Winslet in TV Film 'Anglo-Saxon Attitudes' (1992).

After that she made her big screen debut with Peter Jackson's New Zealand psychological film 'Heavenly Creatures' (1994) in which she first time sung also! She won 'London Film Critics' Circle' award for that complicated role!

Then her roles in films 'Jude' and 'Hamlet' (1996) were critically acclaimed! And came James Cameron's Hollywood kind epic romance-disaster film 'Titanic' (1997) which won 11 'Oscar' awards! Kate's sensitive character as the royal free romantic girl Rose and her love towards handsome poor artist Jack played by Leonardo DiCaprio touched the heart! With this highest grossing film beautiful Kate Winslet became very famous..and she won European Film Awards!

Leonardo DiCaprio & Kate Winslet in film 'Titanic' (1997).

After this she carefully did various kind of roles in different genre of films in which includes...semi-autobiographical 'Hideous Kinky' (1998), period drama 'Quills' (2000), war thriller 'Enigma' (2001) & historical fantasy 'Finding Neverland' (2004). Then she acted romantic comedy film 'The Holiday' (2006) was super hit!

And came her unique role in director Stephen Daldry's film 'The Reader' (2008) which was a screen adaptation of novel of same name written by Bernhard Schlink. On the war backdrop it depicted an affair of Nazi lady guard with teenager. Actually the role was difficult for her but she did brilliantly! She won Best Actress 'Oscar' & 'BAFTA' award!

Kate Winslet & David Kross in film 'The Reader' (2008).

Then she acted in Todd Haynes directed HBO's miniseries 'Mildred Pierce' (2011) an adaptation of novel of same name by James M. Cain. Kate portrayed title role of overprotective mother..And won 'Emmy Award' for it! After this her role as femme fatale in 'The Dressmaker' (2015) gained her 'Best Actress AACTA' award..And character in Danny Boyle's 'Steve Jobs' (2015) gave her 'Golden Globe' & 'BAFTA' awards. Last year she acted 'Collateral Beauty' was also notable!

Kate Winslet with 'Oscar'.

Apart from acting Kate also provided her vocals for her films..like "What If.." in 'Christmas Carol' (2001). She also narrated documentaries & children's albums. In 2012 she was appointed as 'Commander of the Order of the British Empire'!

She won many awards with 'Oscar', 'Golden Globe', 'BAFTA', 'Grammy' for her beautiful performances!

Birthday wishes to this beautiful 'Rose' & my favourite Kate..with 'Titanic's lovely song..
"My heart will go on.."

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune]

FINE ACTOR & GOOD HUMAN BEING! 

Veteran Actor of Film, TV & Stage..Tom Alter at last left the stage of this world!

American descent Tom Alter was a gold medallist of acting in that time 'Film Institute of India' at Pune. He appeared on Hindi screen in 1975.

He soon acted as Capt. Weston in great filmmaker Satyajit Ray's Urdu film 'Shatranj Ke Khiladi' (1977). After that he played such British officer roles in films like Manoj Kumar's 'Kranti' (1981)..But this (foreign) actor always loved our country India!

Tom Alter in 'Shatranj Ke Khiladi' (1977).

He played different kind of roles in films here like in 'RK's 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili' (1985) & with Amitabh Bachchan in Vikram Bhatt's 'Aetbaar' (2004). He also acted in regional films like Assamese 'Adajya' (1996).

He also worked in English films like historical epic 'One Night with the King' (2006) in which he portraited King Saul! Apart from this he also acted in Television serials like 'Khamosh sa Afsana' and this year he did last 'Rishton Ka Chakravyuh'!

I remember meetings with Tom Alter at FTII, Pune..In first meeting I started talking with him in English; but kindly puting his hand on my shoulder he made that conversation in Hindi..He was fluent in Urdu-Hindi!

Tom Alter in a role of Poet Ghalib!

After that I saw his performances live there..in one stage play he portraited great Poet Ghalib and then in another play..Mahatma Gandhi!

Tom Alter in a role of Mahatma Gandhi!

I think he was a strong believer in Secularism!!

He was honoured with 'Padmashri' by our Government of India'!

My humble homage to him!!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti',Pune]

DOWN MEMORY LANE!

Old picture of..Cruise Party during our 'International Film Festival of India' at Goa! In this photo..I am with senior film journalists friends B.B.C.(Chaturvedi), B.B.Nagpal and renowned film critic Derek Malcolm & our film historian (late) P. K.Nair!

FILM 'NEWTON' FOR 'OSCAR'.???

It is disturbing that film 'Newton' was announced as our India's official entry for 'Oscar's 'Best Foreign Language Film'! This Hindi movie is copied or adapted from Iranian film 'Secret Ballot'; That mean plot is not original, so eligibility is questioned!

International awards winner Iranian film 'Secret Ballot' (2001) is written & directed by Babak Payami. It focused on the struggle of election officer in collecting votes on remote region. Notable thing is this main character greatly played by female artist Nassim Abdi!..And Just released Amit Masurkar's Hindi movie 'Newton' also took the same plot. Here focus is on the polling clerk's work on election duty in naxal area. This male protagonist played by Rajkumar Rao!

Filmmaker Babak Payami.

Filmmaker Amit Masurkar.

Notable that 'Secret Ballot' was second film of Babak Payami and 'Newton' is also second film of Amit Masurkar. Both the filmmakers are using satire genre! Babak Payami's cinematic work is more experimental in use of light and camera..which avoid close-ups of single character and takes long shots of people & sights! 

And Amit Masurkar's style seems thrilling with fast movement of camera which takes unnecessary close-ups of character played by Rajkumar who never act & speak naturally! Compare to him Iranian artist Nassim Abdi performed her role very effectively with natural expressions..and her struggle touched the heart!

Now the surprising thing is that Masurkar not even mentioned the fact that his film 'Newton' is inspired from Babak Payami's Iranian film 'Secret Ballot'! Just upset!!


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

CINEMATIC FOCUS ON HEART BREAKING PARTITION!

Original photograph during the time of Partition!

New film 'Partition 1947' released..and remembered some landmark & notable films from the history of cinema..focused on the same issue!

In 1950 first film made on Partition and that was Bengali 'Chinnamul' directed by Nemai Ghosh! It tells the story of farmers of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) forced to migrate to Calcutta at the time of partition in 1947. Soviet filmmaker Pudovkin watched & impressed by this film and released in Russia!

'Meghe Dhaka Tara' (1960)

'Chinnamul' ( 1950)

Then sensible Bengali filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak's two films

'Meghe Dhaka Tara' (1960) and 'Subarnarekha' (1965) had backdrop of partition! Both the films focused on the survival of refugees from East Pakistan! Supriya Choudhary's performance in 'Meghe Dhaka Tara' touched the heart!..Apart from such feature films Sukhdev made documentary 'Nine months to freedom' (1972) on making of Bangladesh was brilliant!

The landmark film on India-Pakistan partition was 'Garam Hava' (1974) made by M. S. Sathyu! This was based on a story by noted Urdu writer Ismat Chughtai. It deals with the plight of a North Indian Muslim family in the post partition period 1947. Head of the family showed with the dilemma of whether move to Pakistan as many relatives or stay back! This main protagonist portrayed by great actor Balraj Sahni who died before it's release! With him Shaukat Azmi, A. K. Hangal, Dinanath Zutshi, Badar Begum & that time new Farooq Shaikh acted in it! It's screenplay-dialogues were written by Shama Zaidi & Kaifi Azami who also wrote lyrics which composed by Ustad Bahadur Khan. It's famous qawwali composed & performed by Aziz Ahmed Khan Warsi & his brothers troupe..And this superbly picturised on Jalal Agha & Geeta Sidharth! This film won National Award..And was official entry of India for 'Oscar'! I remember meeting it's renowned filmmaker Mr. Sathyuji and discussing about this great film!

On this in 1988 Govind Nihlani made 'Tamas' as TV serial first and then converted it in to film! This set in the backdrop of riot during the partition of Punjab in 1947. It deals with the plight of emigrant Sikh & Hindu families to India. This serial & film was based on same name Hindi novel wrote by Bhishm Sahni who also acted in it with artists like Om Puri, Surekha Sikri & Deepa Sahi. This film won three National Awards!

After this there was a sensitive film on the backdrop of partition..Shyam Benegal's 'Mammo' (1994). Khalid Mohammed wrote this film tells the story of woman moves to Pakistan during the partition and years later visits India to meet relatives..and her suffering in it! Farida Jalal portraited title role greatly in it with Surekha Sikri, Amit Phalke & Rajit Kapoor! This film won National Award & Farida Jalal won Filmfare's Critics Award! I remember this was the opening film of our '26th International Film Festival of India' held in 1995 at Mumbai!

Then film 'Train to Pakistan' (1998) was adapted from Khushwant Singh's novel of same name which focused on the suffering of communities during partition! Pamela Rooks made in this film Mangal Dhillon, Rajit Kapoor, Nirmal Pandey & Smriti Mishra acted nicely. I still remember the press conference of this film in Mumbai and interaction with director & artists!

Same time came film 'Earth' (1998) which was based on Bapsi Sidhwa's novel 'Cracking India'! This was a second in it's filmmaker Deepa Mehta's Elements trilogy! It depicted the tragedy of three lives..two Muslim boys & their love interest Hindu girl..during separation of Pakistan from India!

There was one Pakistani film also 'Jinnah' (1998) an epic biographical film directed by London based Jamil Dehlvi. In this Christopher Lee portraited the title role..And Shashi Kapoor acted as Narrator!
In 2001 hit bollywood movie 'Gadar' came with inter-religion love story on the same backdrop..in which Sunny Deol, Amisha Patel & Amrish Puri did powerful roles! Anil Sharma directed this Hindi movie inspired by Punjabi film 'Shaheed-e-Mohabbat Boota Singh' (1999) made by Manoj Punj! It was a home production of Punjabi singer-actor Gurudas Maan who also played the lead role with Divya Dutta. This film won national award! I still remember nice party with filmmaker & artist after the screening of this film in our '30th International Film Festival of India' held in 1999 at Hyderabad!

After this there was film 'Pinjar' (2003) which based on a Punjabi novel of same name written by

Amrita Pritam. It's about Hindu-Muslim problems during partition. Chandra Prakash Dwivedi sensitively directed in this film Urmila Matondkar and Manoj Bajpayee played the main lead. This film won National Award for national integration! I remember meeting It's writer Amrita Pritamji many years ago at her residence in New Delhi!

In 2004 famous filmmaker Yash Chopra's musical romantic film 'Veer Zaara' also came with partition backdrop..in which Shahrukh Khan, Preity Zinta & Rani Mukherjee performed their roles superbly!

Then Canadian film 'Partition' (2007) also had same backdrop. Vic Sarin directed this film partially shot in British Columbia & Canada. It's Sikh and Muslim girl love story and Jim Mistry & Kristin Kreuk played the main roles!

I also remember documentaries made by Bangladeshi filmmaker Tanvir Mokammel on partitions..in which one great work was "1971" depicting the main events in liberation of Bangladesh! Another was 'Swapnabhumi' (2007) which tells the plight of stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh! His such films got awards & international recognition! I had nice interaction with filmmaker Mr. Mokammel in film festival at FTII, Pune some years back!

'Rajkahini' (2015)

In recent years Bengali film 'Rajkahini' (2015) focused the drama happened during the partition of Bengal in 1947. It weaved around a border between two nations that runs through a brothel housing eleven women. Srijit Mukherji directed in this film Rituparna Sengupta, Saayoni Ghosh, Sohini Sarkar, Ridhima Ghosh, Jisshu Sengupta, Saswata Chatterjee, Kaushik Sen, Ena Saha, Ditipriya Roy, Lily & Sudipta Chakroborty are in pivotal roles. Hindi adaptation of this film 'Begum Jaan' (2017) is also directed by Srijit Mukherji. In this Vidya Balan played the main role which Rituparna superbly did in original Bengali film! With her Illa Arun, Pallavi Sharada, Rajit Kapoor, Ashish Vidyarthi, Vivek Mushran, Mishti & beautiful Gauhar Khan played the important roles in it!

Now this new movie 'Partition 1947' is here..this is a Hindi version of original English film 'Viceroy's House' directed by Gurinder Chadha! It's about the inside life of last Viceroy of India Lord Mountbatten..with a love story too! Artists Hugh Bonneville, Gillian Anderson, Manish Dayal & Huma Qureshi played the roles in it!

More such films with the backdrop of partition will come in the future too..but what need is to develop congenial relationships among our three countries (India, Pakistan & Bangladesh)..suffered in it!

I am wishing peaceful & progressive life with lot of love to all our people in these our countries!!

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