Posts tagged rang de basanti

100 years of Indian Cinema: 10 Path-Breaking Films of Bollywood

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2 weeks ago
by Fenil Seta in

MID-DAY (May 3, 2013)

 

Satya

Ram Gopal Varma’s Satya was a defining film in Hindi cinema. For the first time ever, the audience was exposed to the stark reality of how the underworld really functions in India. Till date, the film serves as reference to anyone trying to make a film on gangsters.

Rang De Basanti

Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra Rang de Basanti will forever be etched in public memory for doing what no other film could–it encouraged the common man to take a stand against corrupt politicians who failed in their duty to provide basic amenities.

Guide

Vijay Anand’s Guide created hysteria when it released, and till date is spoken about for its subject of self-sacrifice. The film was the topic of national debate for months after its release.

Dilwale DulhaniMothera Le Jayenge

Aditya Chopra entered Bollywood with a huge bang. The film, released in 1995 and still running in a Mumbai theatre, is considered as the best romantic film ever, inspiring and influencing lovers the world over

Zanjeer

Prakash Mehra created history at the box office with his directorial venture Zanjeer, but most importantly he gave the country its biggest superstar. Amitabh Bachchan was launched as the angry young man and decades later is still considered the only “angry young man” of the country.

Mother India

Mehboob Khan’s Mother India has been described as perhaps India’s most revered film. A cinematic epic, a flag-bearer of Hindi cinema and a legend in its own right are just some of the words More >

Gulzar to write Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Mirza

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1 month ago
by Fenil Seta in

It was a request for a Devdas script 27 years ago that started it all

Mehul S Thakkar (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 18, 2013)

 

The post-production of Bhaag Milka Bhaag is still not over, but Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who is known to take his own sweet time to develop a subject, is already planning his next project. Titled Mirza, it is a contemporary love story. And although Mehra prefers to write his own scripts, this time, he has entrusted the job to Gulzar. The veteran writer will also pen the lyrics for the film.

In a freewheeling chat with this newspaper in a quaint bungalow that serves as his office, Mehra tells us about how his dream to work with Gulzar is nearly three decades old.

When Mehra was just 22, he had gone to meet Gulzar with a copy of Devdas and asked the poet to write him a script for it. “He didn’t know me and I just walked up to him, kept the book on his table and said, ‘I want you to write this film for me.’ And now, 27 years later, he is actually writing a film for me!” Mehra quotes Ghalib’s Hazaron khwahishen aisi and tweaks it to: Bahut nikle mere armaan, phir bhi thode thode nikal rahe hai…

Speaking about more such magic moments, Mehra talks about the time he ventured into filmmaking with Aks in 2001. He had already done over 200 ad films, but instead of enrolling in a professional course, he learnt filmmaking by watching movies and jotting down notes.

It was his advertising background that helped him shoot Aks with Amitabh Bachchan – he had already More >

Saif hasn’t even watched my films-Soha Ali Khan

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3 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Soha Ali Khan on real-life heroes, learning on the job and sis-in-law Kareena Kapoor

Shakti Shetty (MID-DAY; January 24, 2013)

 

She may not be known as a style diva but while in Guwahati, for an event to promote fashion from the “neglected” states of North- East, Soha Ali Khan sounds thrilled.

As an ambassador to the region’s fashion, she’d be part of several workshops too. We caught up with Soha to know about her films, family and the future.

Your upcoming film, Chemistry, with Shreyas Talpade is apparently stuck… Yes it is and I feel bad about it. What else can I do? (Pause) But having worked in films that never released, what I like more is the idea of going to work everyday and enjoying myself with people on the sets. I love the process of making a film more than the final product.

Does Saif Ali Khan play a role in the scripts you choose? As an elder brother, he provides me privileged insights into my work, life, relationship and much more. However, talking about my career, he doesn’t have much of a say. In fact, he hasn’t even watched any of my films. He has seen just half of Soundtrack (smiles).

And how is Kareena Kapoor as sister-in-law? She is how she was for the past five years. She’s lovely and I have immense respect for her as she has two main focuses in her life — one is work and the other is my brother. And she’s balancing both of them pretty well.

Do you think actresses in Bollywood have it tough? I think actresses are far more hard- working and ready to take More >

The man I used to call ‘mama’ became ‘Rahman Sir’-G V Prakash Kumar

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8 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Composer G V Prakash Kumar speaks of demanding a computer from, and making music with uncle A R Rahman

MUMBAI MIRROR (September 9, 2012)

 

I have always been my uncle’s pet. This is one of the only photographs I have of the two of us together. Since this was taken 17 years ago at mama’s (Rahman) Kodambakkam home in Chennai, I must have been seven years old then, and he must have been 29.

I hold this picture dear because it represents the many summer holidays I spent playing and hanging out at his home, with my grandmother and aunts. Mama and I would watch movies together and play video games he bought for me. Although I knew little about music back then, I’d spend considerable time at his studio. He didn’t have too many friends. Sometimes, after wrapping up work, he would take me out for an ice-cream. Raihanah, my mother, says I was mama’s favourite since I was the first boy born in a family dominated by women. Mama too was the only boy among three sisters. I must have been six, my mother says, when I got obsessed with the thought of owning a computer. Although she coaxed me into waiting a month, I was frustrated and complained to mama. In 20 minutes, he sent his own desktop over to my home with his assistants.

Although I began learning the piano at five, I wanted to be a menacing fast bowler. But in Class 10, a chance performance at an inter-school event fetched me a prize, and had me realise my talent for music. I was barely five when one day, mama asked me to sing More >

I was on Ram Gopal Varma’s payroll for 4 yrs-Randeep Hooda

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8 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Randeep Hooda in a candid chat with BT

Garima Sharma (BOMBAY TIMES; August 23, 2012)

 

With all the notions about jats from north India, how did you find your place in Bollywood? Being a jat was my undoing in my initial years. I wasn’t tactful enough for this place. If I didn’t like a shot, I’d bluntly say that it was sh*t. This was misconstrued as arrogance. People said I was impossible to work with. Now I’m more tactful.

How long has your journey been to box office acceptance? For very long, I wasn’t able to find a place for myself in movies. After my initial success, I didn’t know how to capitalise on it. Gangster roles in movies became my thing… But I have gained acceptance now and the journey seems short. But, it came close to that not being the case.

How close? A few years ago, when I had no work and started believing that films weren’t a viable career, I thought of finding another job. I started training and riding horses and got consumed by that. It was a boon in disguise. It was at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse that I met Milan (Luthria). At the time, I felt my movies were topical, but they were releasing very late. I realised that you need someone in the industry, who you can speak to, about your choices.

Is it critical to have a mentor or a godfather to succeed in Bollywood? Let’s say that an advisor is important. Naseerbhai gives me good advice. He once told me that ‘you’re trying to plan your career too hard… your script should make a mark’, and that’s when I More >

I have changed but not sobered-Randeep Hooda

0
9 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Bharti Dubey (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 1, 2012)

 

On the verge of completing a decade in the industry and Randeep Hooda’s career has never looked better. With successes like Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster and Jannat 2 behind him and Jism 2 and Heroine looming large in front of him, the actor is in an upbeat mood. He talks to Mirror about his career and personal choices.

ACTOR ON A DRIFT The early part of my Bollywood career was confusing. I don’t know if it was my choice of films or luck. Some say my attitude went against me. I have changed, but not really sobered as it’s believed. I’ve just started understanding that there is a way of dealing with people, especially in this business, where there are a lot of fragile egos to be handled.

FILMOGRAPHY Playing Dawood was a dream role but after that, I wasn’t too happy with any of the offers that came my way. D took a year and a half. Risk took one year after which I did Karma Confession And Holi instead of Rang De Basanti.

RECENT HITS Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai got me back on the map and so did Jannat 2 and Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster. Success comes to you only when you are ready for it. I have a lot of people knocking at my door now. Jannat 2 may have lost out on its audience because of the abuse quotient but it gave me a lot. Mahesh Bhatt showed the rushes of the film to Pooja, who was looking for someone to play Kabir’s character in Jism 2. At first, she was reluctant. Today, I am doing Raaz 3, Murder 3 More >

Never been in a hurry to make a film-Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

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10 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Sayantan Dalal (DNA; July 9, 2012)

Rakeysh OmPrakash Mehra

He kickstarted his career with a rather dark film Aks, but since then, director Rakeysh OmPrakash Mehra has moved on to more commercial fare including the 2006 hit Rang De Basanti. But what continues to define Rakeysh’s films are the various social messages he cleverly incorporates in them…

Q: You started with Aks (2001), but you have since moved on to more commercial films like Rang De Basanti, Delhi 6… A: I feel it was always the same. I never think or see films as commercial or art. If you have a story that you want to tell, then go ahead and make the film. To me, every film is commercial in its own way. The stories may come from your personal experience or not. Like Rang De Basanti was influenced by my college days, Delhi 6 by my childhood days in Delhi, and in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag there’s a little of my sporting days. So, if you are compelled to bring these influences or stories on celluloid then just make the film, don’t think of the commercial or art value.

Q: What attracted you to do a sports film? A: It’s not a sports film. It is inspired by athelete Milkha Singh’s life. What moved me the most is his life story – not only the sporting bit, but also all the trials and tribulations he had to go through. It is his undying spirit that impressed me the most. He had nothing, at a very young age he saw the massacre of his family, but from there he grew up to achieve such glory, including breaking the More >

Don’t want to bite more than I can chew-Sharman Joshi

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11 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Sharman Joshi comes out of hiding to speak about his new film and why he detests the herd mentality

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; June 1, 2012)

 

Sharman Joshi largely prefers to remain inaccessible and incommunicado. He is off the radar. Unlike other actors who want people to know what they are doing (and not doing), he keeps himself away from the glare.

You barely spot him with wife Prerna (Prem Chopra’s daughter) and kids Khyana, Vaaryan and Vihaan out and about town. But now that his film Ferrari Ki Sawaari is ready for the marquee, he is available and talking. At his sea-front Bandra home, there are no telltale signs of his Bollywood outings. It’s simply and tastefully done with wooden flooring. He does not evade questions and is quite forthright….

Don’t you believe that when you are out of sight, you are out of mind? I am happy to be in my own space and I like it this way. I don’t follow the herd mentality. I may have not done a large number of films considering the number of years I have been around. But I really don’t want to bite more than I can chew. I am always asked why I don’t do more films. I am happy to have people’s love and affection.

Finally you have a film with you as the solo hero? There are many people who wanted to see me play the solo lead. It took a while but it happened. I am aware that other actors were approached for the role before me but eventually it had to come my way. I play a father to a young kid in the film. There’s also Boman Irani. With him More >

Analyzing the Delhi-wave in Bollywood over the years

0
1 year ago
by Fenil Seta in

More B-Town filmmakers are setting and shooting their flicks in the country’s capital. BT analyses the trend

Tushar Joshi (BOMBAY TIMES; May 19, 2012)

 

The Hindi film industry is in Mumbai. Actors and filmmakers live here and have offices in the city. Even the studios are all here. So why are more and more Hindi films now being set and shot in Delhi? The country’s capital is not only the newest destination to shoot films, but script writers are setting their stories in the alleys and nukkads of the city. The Delhi-friendly wave began with Dibakar Banerjee’s Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006), about a middle class man from Delhi. The film was a commercial and critical success, and its main attraction was the city. The latest in the line of shot-in-Delhi films is Vicky Donor.

 

Born in Dilli Credit for bringing Delhi in our films goes to filmmakers and writers from that city, who have made careers in B-Town. Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra (Delhi 6, Rang De Basanti) is a Delhi boy who went on to make films set in the city. Mehra says, “I am a Delhi boy and all my stories are somehow influenced by events from my youth. Rang De Basanti was set in Delhi and so was Delhi 6, which is actually a post code of a certain area in the state. My next, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, is also set in Delhi. Since I belong to that area, I can relate to the stories and tell them to my audience.” Shoojit Sircar (director, Vicky Donor) adds, “I lived in Delhi for 15 years and I’m in love with the city and its culture. More >

I play a circus artiste in Dhoom 3-Aamir Khan

0
1 year ago
by Fenil Seta in

Aamir Khan gets candid about his films and busts a few myths about his image. In conversation with Mirror

By Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 4, 2012)

 

The arrival of his bonny baby boy a few months ago was an event in itself. And now, in addition to Azad Rao Khan, who is quite a handful and more, Aamir Khan has Talaash, Dhoom 3 and a lot more up his sleeve. It’s a full house indeed. Over multiple rounds of piping hot tea and scrumptious snacks, Aamir Khan bares it all to Mirror.

We hear there have been differences between Reema Kagti and you. Portions of Talaash need a reshoot. That’s not true. Reema has done a fabulous job and I am very happy with the way Talaash has shaped up. It is my home production and I want to be there for it. Since the past few months, I have been too busy with my brainchild, my TV show.

Have you delayed Dhoom 3? I have postponed it only by a month. I was supposed to start it in June. Now I will shoot for it from July. I play a circus artiste in the film and so I need to get into shape in the remaining time, which I hope to achieve soon under a trainer who has come down from the US.

Your decision to work with Vijay Krishna Acharya, whose first film Tashan bombed, has surprised many people. What are your thoughts? I worked with Ashutosh Gowariker in Lagaan but he had also directed Pehla Nasha and Baazi. Rakeysh Mehra hadn’t done well before Rang De Basanti happened. Success and failure is not in our hands. Victor may have gone wrong in More >

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