Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 55

Oscar Awards disappointing

26. 2. 2013, Mumbai

I could not rise early in the morning to watch the Oscar ceremony so kept awake late last night to watch the Academy Awards.

It was a no show this year with very poor script, uncharismatic anchors, mediocre performances, boring gags and predictable speeches. Infact this is the first time I felt that our award ceremonies – even vastly influenced by them are in many ways far more entertaining than the Oscars.

Before I start to compare the two I have to say that it’s amusing the way we have started to blindly ape Hollywood in content, style and behaviour! You will seldom find the men in a Kurta or a Sherwani. They are all attired in Black suits and the women have discarded the vibrant saris

for autumn color gowns and what’s more they unabashedly discuss what they are wearing on the red carpet.

Gone are the days of Namaskar now all of them hug each other and blow air kisses. All of them walk hand in hand because the women wear deadly heels and can barely balance without support.

Until recently all our shows are hosted in English, it is only because of the demand on the channel that the hosts are now speaking in Hindi or in a combination of English and Hindi though majority of our winners still make Thank You speeches in English which they must not because these are awards given for their contribution to Hindi films.

The Academy has short/ animation/ documentary/ foreign film categories. We have popular and more popular categories to divide all genres of cinema.

They begin with the Supporting Actor Awards and leave the distinguished Technical Awards towards the end! We begin with Technical Awards because there is no face value to them and leave the Supporting Awards as a runner to the main awards.

They attend the event with a single companion and if there are more guests they join in the gallery with other guests. We attend the event with friend/ family/ manager/ spouse and all of them sit together irrespective of the embarrassment caused to the host.

Bhawana Somaaya/ www.bhawanasomaaya.com

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 54

Untold Stories
23.2.2013, Mumbai

The recent heinous gang-rape in Delhi has set off a national debate, one question of
which is: How does popular culture portray women? What is the gender equation in
cinema and TV? What impact does this have on the audience? The screenwriting
community meets every two years at a national conference to debate issues important
to society. The stalwarts collectively reflect and enlighten an engaging audience.

Two years ago the workshop was held in Pune. Last year at the Whistling Woods, Mumbai and this year they have moved to a more convenient address and a bigger auditorium St Andrews, Mumbai. Next week on February 25, 26 , 27 all roads will lead to Bandra where around 800 screenwriters and writer-directors from across the country are expected to participate in the conference and this includes Javed Akhtar, Gulzar, Ashutosh Gowariker, Govind Nihalani, Anurag Basu, Rakeysh Mehra joined by the young turks of Indian screenwriting like Juhi Chaturvedi (Vicky Donor), Abbas
Tyrewala (Jaane Tu..), Habib Faisal (Ishaqzaade) and others.

The established and new luminaries will discuss and debate the burning questions
dogging the community, including the social responsibilities of screenwriters. Also
present on the occasion will be renowned writers from Hollywood, Tom Schulman
Oscar winner for Dead Poets Society. New forms of writing in both TV and cinema
are challenging established imperatives of storytelling. The conference will discuss
that.

The Film Writers Association fights for the rights of the writer. The Copyright Act
has been amended, and the Minimum Basic Contract between writers and producers is
almost finalized. Writers are the architects of narratives that films and TV shows are
based on. The conference seeks to strengthen their position in the filmmaking process.

Says Anjum Rajabali, the convener for the conference that while it is wonderful
that the mainstream cinema is taking large leaps at the box office and television
viewership has setting new benchmarks, it is unfortunate that we have disconnected
from social realities. Themes which were the backbone of our narratives like the
struggle of the common man, rural exploitation; social injustice, caste oppression,
economic polarization and distress don’t seem to inspire our filmmakers any longer.

I have attended all the FWA workshops and found them enlightening. I will be parked
at St Andrews for all three days, will you?

Bhawana Somaaya/ www.bhawanasomaaya.com

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 53

Film scores over book
22.02.2013, Mumbai

UTV ki Kai Po Che prasidh lekhak Chetan Bhagat ki kitab The 3 Mistakes of My
Life par adharit hain.

Upanyaason par adharit zyadatar filmein hume isliye nirash karti hain kyon ki 300
panno ka nichod keval 2.5 ghante ki film mein darshana bohat hi kathin prayas
hain.

Kai Po Che ek anokha udharan hain jahan film kitab se zyaada dilchasp hain aur iska shrey jaata hain Pubali Chaudhari aur
Supratik Sen, ke bohat precise aur effective screenplay ko.

Film ke dher saare plus points hain: Sabse pehle teenon ladke – Sushant Singh
Rajput, Raj Kumar aur Amit Sad ke extra-ordinary performances.

Phir film ki sound – cinematographt - art design – music aur film ka part fiction
part reality plot.

Ye kahani hain teen doston ke junoon aur jasbaad ki. Unke hausle aur sunghursh
ki.

Ishaan, Omi aur Govind apne sapnon se bas kuch kadam door hain jab achchanak
sab kuch bikhar jaata hain!

Director Abhishek Kapoor Rock On ke baad ek aur jawaan aur dilchasp film lekar
aaye hain - is baar set in Ahmedabad.

Abhishek Amdabad shehar ko ek kirdaar ki tarha pesh karte hain –
phir wo tang galiyon ke chottee ghar ho ya scootor o se bhari shorrogol sadkein..

Amdabad Sankrant ke utsav mein uchalta hain – Navratri ke jalse mein jhoomta
hain aur jab Bhookamp aata hain toh tootta hain…!!

Film ki pace thodi dheemi hain – emotion/ drama quotient understated hain- magar
ye director ki khasiyat hain.

Kai Po Che mein ek saadgi aur thehraav hain jo Abhishek Kapoor ki khasiyaat
hain.

Film ki jaan – Swanand Kirkire ke gaane hain khas taurpe ‘ Ruthe khwabon ko
mana lenge…’

Kai Po Che ko ko Big Entertainment Ratings milte hain 3.5 stars.

***

Issi hafte ek angrezi release Silver Linings Playbook ka mention karna isliye
zaroori hain kyon ki kyon ismein Bhartiya actor Anupam Kher ne bada role kiya
hain.

David O Russel ki Silver Lining Playbook Angrezi zaban mein Hindi film hain –
jahan Karan Johar k ki filmon ki tarha pariwar ke baare mein hain.

Har pariwar mein kuch na kuch problems hote hain. Ismein bhi hain.

Chotta beta mansik tanav ki wajah se lambe arse aspatal mein raha hain. Ab jab
who ghar laut aaya hain toh sab kuch pehle jaisi nahi ho sakta.

Kahani complexities ke baare mein hain magar bohat hi humorously pesh li gayi
hain.

Hindi filmon ki tarha plot predictable hain aur solution bhi hume pehle se pata
hain.

Phir bhi film dekhni chahiye film ki khupsurat likhawat, saucy dialogues aur
lajawab performances ke liye.

Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro aur apne Anupam Kher ko Dr
Patel ki bhumika mein dekhne ke liye.

Silver Lining Playbook ko Big Entertainment Ratings milte hain 3 stars.

Bhawana Somaaya/ www.bhawanasomaaya.com

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 52

It is about anguish not stunts

21.2.2013, Mumbai

Over the years the controversies have multiplied and filmmakers now more exposed are better equipped to face challenges. Having a big banner behind them in such troubled times is certainly an asset. 

Mani Ratnam was fortunate to have AB Corp fighting for the release of Bombay based on communal riots and Yash Raj Films ironing out political differences against their hero Aamir Khan during Fanaa in Gujarat and resolving an objection to a line in a song in Madhuri Dixit’s Aaja Nachle.

Not all were as fortunate. Some had to fight lonely battles and they did with courage and conviction. Shekhar Kapoor spoke extensively to garner support for the release of Bandit Queen.

Anurag Kashyap motivated the media to create hype for Black Friday based on the bomb blasts which in a way silenced his detractors.

Rahul Dholakia and Nandita Das mobilised support from activists, NGOs and evolved individuals to create awareness for Parzania on communal riots in Mumbai and Firaaq on what happened in Godhra.

When Karan Johar’s My Name is Khan was under fire the filmmaker was accused of deliberately courting controversy to gain attention! This is absolutely ridiculous! Why would any sane person indulge in negative publicity, also it isn’t as if Johar has never been in the spotlight that he needs to resort to gimmicks.

It is unfortunate that every time a film is opposed, the first accusation always hurled at the artiste/filmmaker in question is that he is doing it to grab publicity. Let me put this on record for the ignorant that a producer who invests Rs 50 crore in his film can easily spend another few lakhs to buy publicity for him and does not need such stunts!

Bhawana Somaaya/ www.bhawanasomaaya.com

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 51

Creative freedom
20.2. 2013, Mumbai

In Andhra Pradesh Pawan Kalyan’s Cameraman Ganago tho Rambabu runs into trouble over Telangana issue…Denikaina Ready irks Brahmins for depicting a Hindu priest gorging over non-vegetarian food…

In Tamil Nadu Kamal Haasan is prevented from releasing his multi language Viswaroopam because Muslims are upset over the portrayal of the terrorist…

In Kolkata Teen Kanya based on the three rape incidents in the city is prohibited from exhibition in anticipation of protests from the audience…

In Maharashtra a film on the life story of Bal Thackeray Jenda is strongly opposed and crushed by Shiv Sena party…

In Gujarat Amar Solanki’s Namo Sav Ne Gammo a bio pic on Chief Minister Modi scheduled for release during elections is disrupted in the last schedule with a stay order until the producer fights and wins the battle in the court…

Sensitive subjects and controversial releases are not new phenomena.

Some months ago when Prakash Jha made Aarakshan, Madhya Pradesh government accused the filmmaker of misrepresenting Reservation Quota...

Some years ago when Ashutosh Gowariker made Jodha Akbar Rajput Karnik Sena accused him of distorting history…

Some decades ago when Deepa Mehta made Fire the moral custodians lashed out at her for soiling the image of India...

There is more…

In the 70s Gulzar’s Aandhi faced serious censor problems because the story of the heroine vaguely resembled the life of Indira Gandhi, India’s then Prime Minister.

In the 80s Tinnu Anand’s Shahenshah release became a law and order situation because the hero of the film Amitabh Bachchan was Congress party then and therefore a target of the opposition.

(To be continued)
Bhawana Somaaya/ www.bhawanasomaaya.com

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 50

Masoom Days

19.2. 2013, Mumbai

This morning I received a surprise letter from veteran producer Devi Dutt, younger brother of legendary filmmaker Guru Dutt. Devi Dutt has produced many significant films including Shekhar Kapoor’s debut project Masoom. 

On 8 February Dutt turned 75 and announced to his friends and well wishers that he is penning his memoirs and will be ready to release his book sometime next year.  Devi Dutt recalls that when they were shooting Mr & Mrs 55 the story of the film demanded a display of many cartoons. 

RK Laxman was committed to submit the cartoons but was out of town when the shooting was scheduled. Somebody from the unit recommended Bal Thackeray and got his permission to display his art. Bal Thackeray, a relatively unknown name then gave his cartoons and did not charge any money because he was an admirer of Guru Dutt. 

Thackeray said “It is my fortune that the world will watch my cartoons through this film.”

I did costumes for Shabana Azmi in Massom and remember her telling me that Naseer would read and re-read his script constantly which is why his was such a finely calibrated performance in the film. She said, “I learned from him the value of doing that and today if you see my scripts, they are full of my scribbled notes .I may not necessarily refer to them before every scene I perform but I know that I have processed them and these notes work as a good starting point while shooting rather than arrive on the sets without doing any homework....”

I guess methods of working like everything else alters with time be it acting or writing. What worked for me 30 years ago may not work for me today but but the basic guidelines remain the same.

Bhawana Somaaya/ www.bhawanasomaaya.com

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 49

Premiers are bores!

18. 2.2013, Mumbai

It is 9pm at Cinemax Theatre, Andheri and I’m invited to watch the screening of Abhishek Kapoor’s Kai Po Che. It is the premier night and the outside of the theatre is laid up with a red carpet for celebrity guests. 

They have decorated the ambience with colorful kites and as you walk upstairs you discover fairy lit trees strung with bigger and better kites.

Writer Anjum Rajabali seldom spotted at such events is confused why any producer would invite guests and not begin screening on time. Director Sujoy Ghosh standing around looked up at the sky and blinked. It was evident he was in the seventh heaven having won almost all the awards for Kahani this season.

Filmmakers Abbas Mastan more experienced with premiers were more patient. They explained that no matter how restless everybody got the film will begin when it has to and till then all they can do is wait and watch.

Finally at 9:30 we were allowed inside the theatres and the screening began at 10pm. My simple question is if the show is at 10pm why does the invite say 8pm? Unless the producer is insecure that we will not come on time and miss the beginning!

Can this decision be left to us please?

Bhawana Somaaya/www.bhawanasomaaya.com