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Posts tagged rituparna sengupta
Actors-filmmakers go down memory lane as they talk about Rituparno Ghosh
02 weeks ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
MID-DAY (May 31, 2013)
A frontrunner of social change, Rituparno Ghosh was unarguably one of the best film directors that Bengali cinema has produced. In fact, the auteur not just represented Bengali cinema but also films at the national level, working on English and Hindi films with élan. It was just three months short of his fiftieth birthday that Ghosh departed for heavenly abode.
Son of a documentary filmmaker, Rituparno grew up in a house where cinema was part of the staple diet. After pursuing Economics from Jadavpur University, Ghosh made the leap to films, making his directorial debut with Hirer Angti in 1994.
The same year, he made Unishe April that at once brought him critical acclaim and commercial success. It almost seemed Ghosh weaved his own magic into every project he worked upon, almost naturally winning a National Award for the efforts of his team and him.
The turn of the century had already seen Ghosh’s name firmly etched on the list of film stalwarts from Bengal. He not just cast Bengali actors and actresses, the director even looked beyond the immediate availability to rope in Bollywood stars as well. His The Last Lear is still often hailed as Amitabh Bachchan’s career- best performance.
Though controversy never stopped to tail Ghosh — a man exploring his sexuality ( he has even told another Bengali filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta that he was looking forward to a sex change surgery) — the most remarkable aspect about the auteur was that he was always More >
Analysis on the usual and ‘extra’ faces on Cannes 2013 red carpet
03 weeks ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; May 27, 2013)
Seeing the hordes of Bollywood folk at the 66th Cannes film festival made an industry insider snidely remark that was it Cannes or Lokhandwala that was on view? The prestigious festival, which wrapped up over the weekend saw just about anyone and everyone at the event this year.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan may have made her 13th consecutive year appearance thanks to her brand endorsements while Anurag Kashyap over the years has all his films (either made or supported by him at the event) winning accolades.
Vidya Balan made her presence felt being part of the jury while Amitabh Bachchan due to his Hollywood film The Great Gatsby’s screening. As part of the 100 years celebrations of the Indian film industry there was also Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee and Zoya Akhtar.
While Sonam Kapoor makes it due to her endorsements and Nawazuddin Siddiqui due to his films but what about the rest? Fringe benefits? From Ameesha Patel to Poonam Dhillon and Rituparna Sengupta, Puja Gupta to Vishaka Singh and even a Sandeep Soparrkar. Not to forget Sherlyn Chopra and Mallika Sherawat — everyone appeared to be there primarily to showcase their designer threads (or disasters) at the red carpet.
Mallika needs no introduction at the festival. She knows how to make her presence felt either through her outfits ( she walked the red carpet with a python around her neck for her film Hisss in 2010) or through her motormouth ( about her dirty dance with Antonio More >
Rituparna Sengupta’s next is on Article 161 A
01 month ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Ruman Ganguly (BOMBAY TIMES; May 16, 2013)
Bengali director Agnidev Chatterjee (right) and superstar Rituparna Sengupta are coming together for a Hindi film titled The Truth Behind Article 161. It deals with the only real-life case of pardon by a Governor, a power that is explained in Article 161 of the Indian Constitution.
Says Agnidev, “On May 12, 1978, a 23-year-old student was arrested for homicide, convicted and imprisoned. In 1999, after serving his sentence, he was pardoned by the Governor and absolved of his crime. Today, this man is leading a life of dignity and honour. He wants his story to be told so that people have a comprehensive understanding of Article 161 and people who deserve to get pardoned under this Article are able to lead a normal life. I went to Delhi to meet him and was completely overwhelmed after he narrated me his story. What struck me most was his wife’s silent struggle. While Rituparna will play the wife, Karron Mallik (left) will play the protagonist. He has an uncanny resemblance with this man and it will add to the authenticity of the character.”
Rituparna, who has delivered back-to-back hits last year with the director, says, “Portraying a real-life character is very challenging and we are looking forward to making a social impact with this film.”
An ‘IPL’ day in the life of Shah Rukh Khan
01 month ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Mehul S Thakkar (MID-DAY; May 6, 2013)
It’s 7.50 pm and the match is about to take off. The mood at Eden Gardens, Kolkata is electrifying. Chants of the home team slogan rent the air. The bowler begins his run up, the batsman takes position. But the crowd is looking away. The VIP stand is empty. “Will he come in today?” Everyone wants to know. Suddenly a message crackles on the wireless: “Shah Rukh Khan is in the building, he is coming up, get ready.” He walks in with his entourage, with strict instructions to his personal security, ‘No pushing anyone, be gentle to everybody.’
For SRK, this season of IPL has been an exercise in image management. Besides keeping his appearances decidedly lowkey, he has also kept his children away from the glare of the media. With Aryan in London, it is Suhana who has kept him company. But SRK has not let her out of his sight at all. As for the speculations about a fallout between his friend and franchise partner Juhi Chawla, on Friday, SRK simply walked in and hugged her and her husband Jay in the air-conditioned lounge. None of these images will ever make it to the media.
Back at the stadium, the PA systems announce his arrival as he takes up his favourite spot on the balcony. The crowd is up on its feet, frantically taking his pictures as he waves out to them. The match is relegated to the background. The stand is dotted with prominent faces – Usha Uthup, Raima Sen, Rituparna Sengupta. SRK plays the host, almost as if they are visiting More >
The ‘Gay’teway To Bollywood
02 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Depiction of gay characters in Bollywood continues to be steeped in stereotype, even as realism’s struggling to rear its head
Aakanksha Naval-Shetye (DNA; March 28, 2013)
At a recent Gay and Lesbian Center gala held in LA, studio mogul (Sony Pictures) Amy Pascal, in her speech highlighted the stereotypical depiction of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community) characters in Hollywood films. She insisted that studio bosses scrutinise and make an attempt to eliminate gay slurs. She said, “How about next time, when any of us are reading a script and it says words like fag, faggot, homo, dyke — take a pencil and just cross it out.” The studio honcho also pointed out that not every gay character on screen needed to be defined by his or her sexuality. She quipped, “Can’t we depict men and women who just so happen to be gay — perhaps a lawyer or soldier or business executive or scientist or engineer…”
While the issue was raised about the depiction of LGBT characters in Hollywood, things are as bad, if not worse in Bollywood.
No laughing matter this! Filmmakers in popular cinema here continue to use characters of alternate sexuality seeped in stereotypical images as crutches to provide comic relief. Few will forget Kantaben’s shocked expression on seeing Saif Ali Khan and Shah Rukh Khan in bed together in Kal Ho Naa Ho or Abhishek Bachchan’s effeminate act in Bol Bachchan. John Abraham’s flirty act with Boman Irani’s character in Dostana had the audience in splits, More >
Rituparna Sengupta to play Delhi rape victim’s mother in film
03 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; March 5, 2013)
The nationwide protests and rallies that followed the Delhi rape case now finds its way on to the big screen too. Bengali filmmaker Agnidev Chatterjee has begun work on a political thriller with actress Rituparna Sengupta. Though the film is being made in Bengali, efforts are on to release it with subtitles all over the country, in a bid to make women aware of their rights.
Rituparna is a well-known and award-winning Bengali film actress. She has not been as lucky though in her B-Town outings though and is best remembered in Chandan Arora’s Main, Meri Patni Aur Woh and in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji.
Says a source, “The film has just gone on the floors in Kolkata. It begins in the aftermath of the Nirbhaya case when people took to the streets all across India. The makers don’t want to cash in on the tragedy but are keen to sensitise people through their film — the reason they are also looking at dubbed versions in other languages too for a wider reach,” Adds the source, “ It is also a mother- daughter relationship saga. Besides it also takes a close look at the education system and student politics as well with Rituparna essaying the mother’s role.” Chatterjee’s earlier films include Charuulata that dealt with extramarital affairs while Teen Kanya took on the plight of three women.
The source continues, “Rituparna feels this is the most challenging role of her career so far.”
Manisha Koirala is done with ‘crazy, fun-time’ friends
03 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
None of her colleagues, except Deepti Naval, stayed in touch with her during her illness, laments the actress
Soumyadipta Banerjee (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 25, 2013)
The film fraternity is notorious for its share if fair-weather friends. And Manisha Koirala is learning it the hard way.
The actress, who is preparing to return to India in July, post her treatment for cancer, poured her heart out on a social networking site on Saturday, on how lonely the journey has been.
Even though Manisha has received ample support from her family friend Subrata Roy Sahara, who ensured she received the best of medical treatment in New York, the actress seemed anguished over the no-show from her peers.
“How slowly, shadows of my past friendships are becoming distant dream… did I have bunch of friends with whom there were promises of life time? Disappointed, yes I m…but then life fills you with new hope, new friends…hoping this time round it would be rooted in deep values rather then just crazy, fun times!!” wrote the depressed actress wrote.
When Mumbai Mirror got in touch with Manisha’s manager Subrata Ghosh, he couldn’t recall any Bollywood stars visiting her or even enquiring about her well-being while she was going through chemotherapies in New York. Except, Deepti Naval.
Manisha had worked in Deepti’s directorial debut Do Paise Ki Dhoop, Chaar Aane Ki Baarish. Although the film was never commercially released, the two bonded. And it was Deepti, who has been Manisha’s constant More >
3 Kanya director fights back Mamata Banerjee
07 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Jayatri Nag (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 6, 2012)
After banning IPS officer Nazrul Islam’s book that critiques Mamata Bannerjee’s policies, which are often labelled pro-Muslim, a few months back, the Mamata government has stopped the screening of Rituparna Sengupta-starrer 3 Kanya–a film based on the controversial Park Street rape case.
Despite acquiring a censor board certification, the film was dropped from the state-run Star Theatre within 24 hours of its release.
The move by the Information and Culture Ministry that is overseen by the Chief Minister herself has been criticised by the Bengali film industry. Interestingly, state education minister Bratya Basu is a part of the film that released on Friday.
To Mirror, director Agnidev Chatterjee said, “This is totally unacceptable. Why the movie has been dropped by the theatre is unknown. I am not a political filmmaker neither have I attempted to send out a political message through my film. If my film is influenced by the Park Street rape case, the government has not been blamed in any way. Bratya Basu, the education minister has acted in my film and he has watched it also.”
Expressing her shock, actress Rituparna said, “It is a social film and there is nothing objectionable. It is a thriller. It was running successfully post-release. We put in a lot of effort in it and I think the government will understand that.”
When contacted, the Director of Information and Culture, Umapada Chatterjee claimed, “We have no role in the More >
Mamata’s govt stalls film that mentions rape
07 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Ratnottama Sengupta & Saikat Ray | TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; November 4, 2012)
Kolkata:The decision by a theatre run by Kolkata Municipal Corporation to stop Saturday’s scheduled screening of a just-released movie that alludes to the now infamous Park Street rape has got tongues wagging about chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s intolerance.
Soon after the rape of a woman, comments by a ruling party leader about women staying out late had triggered a controversy about Trinamool’s attitude towards women.
Now the surprise move by the Star Theatre to stop screening Agnidev Chatterjee’s 3 Kanya has critics seeing a link between the two. Pre-release TV promos had played up a dialogue from the film — “Is it okay for a prostitute to be raped?”
“At the very last minute, a Star spokesman said there’s pressure from higher-ups not to show the film that is anti-government,” the director said. The film stars two national award winning Tollywood actors—Rituparna Sengupta and Ananya Chatterjee—and Unnati Davra from Bollywood.
State education minister Bratya Basu plays a cameo in the film. “There can’t be any film for or against the government in this country. I am yet to know the details,” Basu said.
The makers denied the film is based on the Park Street rape. “Is that the only instance of rape?” the director asked TOI. He confirmed, “Star is the only contracted theatre not playing the film.” Ranjan Ganguly of Artage, which manages Star’s affairs, called it a coordination gap. “Under the More >
Aalaap: Musically yours, say debutantes
011 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Parag Maniar (BOMBAY TIMES; July 19, 2012)
Music can eliminate differences and bring peace, and that’s the message that the upcoming flick Aalaap aims to convey. A brainwave of entrepreneurs Nishant Tripathi and Abhishek Mishra, Aalaap is directed by Manish Manikpuri. As the titles suggests, the film is about music and revolves around four youngsters — Subhash, Prashant, Brijesh and Rahul. Music is the passion that binds them. Lead actor Amit Purohit, who plays Rahul, says, “In the film, we form a rock band that wants to make a difference to society through music.” But the journey is not as easy as it seems. Says Purohit, “There are still problems in Naxal-infested Chattisgarh. How music eases negativity and changes things is what is shown in the film. It unites the people. We have put across the vision of Nishant Tripathi, and Abhishek Mishra. The spellbinding music by the band Agnee is like the proverbial icing on the cake.”
Adds Nishant, “The plot shows how the Naxalites are dealt with through the power of music.” Abhishek adds, “It is a young and entertaining venture that will strike a chord with the masses.”
Besides Purohit, Aalaap also stars Pitobash Tripathy, Abhimanyu Singh, Murali Sharma, Vijay Raaz, Rituparna Sengupta, Gamya Wijayadasa, Raghubeer Yadav, Onkardas Manikpuri, Ruhi Chaturvedi, Harsh Rajput and Aabid Shamim. Hitting the marquee on July 27, the film is a Shankaracharya Arts Pvt Ltd presentation.