Emraan Hashmi signs Danis Tanović's next, Anurag Kashyap to co-produce

Da qualche giorno in India circola una notizia entusiasmante: Emraan Hashmi è stato scritturato da Danis Tanović per il suo prossimo lavoro. Vi segnalo l'articolo Emraan Hashmi signs Danis Tanović’s next, Anurag Kashyap to co-produce, di Prashant Singh, pubblicato da Hindustan Times il primo novembre 2012: 'Anurag [Kashyap], who is responsible for picking Emraan, says, “Kalki [Koechlin] told me how sincere and focused he was during Shanghai. (...) When I saw Shanghai, I loved him, after which I pitched a script to him. He said no, but explained why. I saw in him a person who had no delusions about himself. He knew what he wanted to do.” So, when Anurag got the Bosnian writer-director’s script, he approached Emraan again. “When I read the script, I strongly felt Emraan should do it. But the west doesn’t know him. We also didn’t know whether he would agree. But he said yes. Then we pitched him to Danis, who came to India and met him. Now we’re on,” adds Anurag. Vi ricordo che No man's land, diretto da Tanović, nel 2002 strappò a Lagaan l'Oscar per il miglior film straniero.

Aggiornamento del 27 luglio 2022: la pellicola in questione è Tigers, proiettata in prima mondiale al Toronto International Film Festival 2014. Nel cast anche Adil Hussain. Tigers non ha mai beneficiato di una regolare distribuzione nelle sale, sembra a causa dell'argomento trattato: la storia si ispira allo scandalo che coinvolse la Nestlé negli anni settanta del secolo scorso, scandalo riguardante la commercializzazione di latte in polvere nei Paesi economicamente disagiati. Nel 2018 è stato diffuso in streaming. Trailer. In Italia è stato proiettato al Trieste Film Festival 2015. Vi segnalo l'articolo Danis Tanović contro Big Pharma e Nestlé nel suo thriller etico "Tigers", di Paolo Russo, pubblicato da La Repubblica il 6 marzo 2015:

'[Danis Tanović] “Finché a Venezia incontrai Anurag Kashyap (...) e quando gli dissi della sceneggiatura (...) che però nessuno era tanto folle da produrre, lui mi indicò Guneet Monga (...) dicendo ‘se c’è una così pazza da farlo è lei’. E così ce l’abbiamo fatta”. 

Emraan Hashmi, da Bollywood all’impegno

Ne è venuta fuori una produzione anglo-franco-bosniaco-indiana di tutto rispetto. Girata in India, Germania e Inghilterra. (...) Ed ecco (...) la bella perché autentica colonna sonora di Pritam, (...) e la presenza nell’ottimo cast di Emraan Hashmi, giovane idolo di Bollywood al debutto in un ruolo impegnato, che ha saputo virare ottimamente il suo charme di “serial kisser”, così lo chiamano a casa, nelle facce ora grintose ora disperate, speranzose o distrutte di Ayan [il protagonista]. (...) Una storia complessa per un film altrettanto complesso, che nella sua struttura a scatole cinesi ne contiene altre mille. Una tragedia immane che Tanović accosta assai bene, però privilegiandola, alle vicende personali dei tanti personaggi coinvolti a partire da Ayan. (...) Del quale il film rivela la pur temporanea adesione alla militare aggressività di certa cultura aziendale in nome del proprio riscatto economico, il suo terrestre vacillare davanti alla mazzetta Nestlé, facendone così un uomo fallibile, salvato però da una solida, laica pietas, e non l’eroe che ci si poteva aspettare. E come resistere alla dolcezza della sua arcaica, adorabile famiglia che vede sempre uniti, a dispetto della tremenda situazione, il vecchio padre saggio, testardo e di solida, tenera umanità, la madre gioiosa e inesauribile, la giovane moglie, bella quanto coraggiosa e incorruttibile.

Un avvincente thriller etico 

Scritto con sagacia, girato per lo più in piani medi e americani, spesso addosso ai protagonisti, alternando inquadrature di gran pregio (su tutte la sequenza del matrimonio di Ayan) (...) ad altre anonime, brutali, montato con esemplari cambi di ritmo, capace di dare ugual profondità ai cattivi come ai buoni, Tigers è un avvincente thriller etico. Un documentario in noir nel quale investigazione e ricerca del colpevole scandiscono le tappe dell’estenuante catarsi di Ayan, (...) piccolo uomo con poche chance, della condanna senz’appello dei potenti occidentali e dei loro sicari pakistani. Addestrati, come si vede nel film, da un molto americano manager-marine ad aggredire mercato e concorrenti ruggendo come le tigri del titolo. Mostra, il film, con fermezza che basta a se stessa, la palude di corruzione e speculazione che della sciagura di tanti piccoli innocenti continua a fare la fortuna dei già fantascientifici bilanci di Big Pharma. (...) Malgrado i successi di critica, Tigers - vale ripeterlo: un magnifico film anche in senso squisitamente cinematografico - (...) [è] ancora in attesa, da noi per certo, probabilmente pure altrove, di un distributore. Perché il cinema, per esser fatto ma anche fatto vedere, ha bisogno di coraggio'.

Aishwarya Rai: Ordre des Arts et des Lettres

Il primo novembre 2012 Aishwarya Rai ha compiuto 39 anni. La diva ha festeggiato l'occasione ritirando una prestigiosa onorificenza conferitale dalla Francia, l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Ash, accompagnata da Abhishek Bachchan, da Amitabh Bachchan, dalla madre e dalla piccola Aaradhya, ha tagliato la torta presso il consolato francese a Mumbai. La star indiana è, ad oggi, la personalità più giovane a cui sia stata assegnata l'onorificenza di cavaliere. Shah Rukh Khan è ufficiale del medesimo ordine (2007), mentre Big B ha conquistato il titolo più alto, la Légion d'honneur (2007, cavaliere). Video Moviez Adda. 

Shah Rukh Khan: My wife doesn’t think I am a good actor

Il 2 novembre 2012 Shah Rukh Khan ha compiuto 47 anni. Come sempre in queste occasioni, i media indiani hanno offerto centinaia di tributi dedicati al divo. Vi segnalo un revival davvero gradito: il 31 ottobre 2012 Filmfare ha riproposto la prima intervista concessa al periodico da un giovanissimo SRK (parliamo degli inizi degli anni novanta). My wife doesn’t think I am a good actor: Shah Rukh Khan, Meera Joshi:

'How does it feel that your first film Deewana is a hit?

I'm glad the film has done so well. I feel happy for the producer, the director. A hit is a good for the industry as well. But I don’t think I’ve contributed in any way to its success. My performance was awful - loud, vulgar and uncontrolled. I overacted terribly and I take full responsibility for it. But that’s what happens when you work without a graph. I didn’t even have the script with me. I was to start shooting for the film much later but then some of my other schedules got cancelled and I allotted my dates to this film. I am my worst critic and when I saw myself on the screen I was appalled. Isn’t it amazing that that people have liked me in the film? Perhaps that’s because I am a fresh face. It’s not a performance I’d care to repeat or remember. (...) I wish people could say that 'the film's music is good but Shah Rukh is better.' But in Deewana the music scored over everything. (...) The producer has spent so much money on my clothes, my make up, my conveyance, my meals in addition to paying me a fat sum, so it’s only fair that I should've contributed my best to the film. I don’t want to be successful because of my film; the film should do well because of me. (...)

Have you signed a great many new films?

After Deewana I had taken on five more films which are now complete. (...) That’s going to be my strategy. Four to five films a year which will leave me with enough time to do an occasional offbeat film. If the role is good, I’m always interested.

Why did you turn down the sequel to Fauji? (...)

Because I didn’t want to repeat myself. Though (...) the character I play had become quite popular, I wasn’t convinced about the sequel. I’m sure my fans wouldn’t want to see me doing the same thing again.

Does this mean you won’t be doing any more serials?

I am doing Mani Kaul's telefilm Idiot (...) in which I play a negative role. If the role is interesting, I’ll definitely do even a serial. When Fauji began I was nobody, six and a half hours on television and I became a superstar. Today what little success I’ve seen is because of television. (...) 

For a newcomer you appear extra confident. What makes you so sure of yourself?

My talent. Some actors get on by their looks and their physique, some bank on their voice; my asset is my spontaneity, my ability to do a variety of roles. If in one film I play a man on the brink of insanity, in another, I’m someone's kid brother. I work hard on every role - my expressions, my look and my mannerisms. This has at times landed me in trouble too, with producers and directors. They want me to enact the role in a particular way but my argument is that since they've signed me because they think I'm a good actor, they should just let me do things my way. Just because I'm playing a romantic hero doesn’t mean that I have to follow a set pattern. I may have just one release to my credit, but I'm not new to the camera, I know how to act, so let me act my way.

In most of your films you're pitted against a veteran. (...) Doesn’t this put you at a disadvantage?

Why should it? I don’t think any actor or actress is better than I am. No one honestly feels that another guy is better than he. If anyone denies this, he is lying. If you are good, you shouldn’t have any problem even if you have 35 stars opposite you, but if you don’t have the talent, you'd be lost even in a solo manner. I deliberately chose to match skills with these talented actors because I was sure I’d be noticed. If I am not, I’ll admit I made a mistake. (Shrugs) Everyone makes mistakes.

Is there any film you are particularly excited about?

Nothing really. How interesting can a role in a Hindi film be? I am trying to do five different roles in a year but next year they may not look all that different. I am trying to develop the character I play, make them individuals that audience can identify with. (...) The offers had been pouring in and had I wanted I could have signed 25 films by now. But why should I work with producers that only come to me because I’ve had a hit? For them I am like a racehorse - they'll back me only so long as I am on a winning streak. One flop and they'll stay away. I will only work with those people who have faith in my talent, who believe that I am one of the finest actors in the country.

Who would you say is your closest rival?

Well, there's Aamir Khan, I can’t call him competition, he is a far better actor. If there's a superb actor in a country today it’s Aamir. I’ve heard that he wants to retire after 30 and turn director. I plan to quit at 30 too.

Do you also want to direct?

I don’t know anything about direction. But I just might try my hand at it. Basically I am a very lazy man. Even now I can’t handle more than five films a year. I want to slog for another three or four years and then sit back and take it easy. If I still get good roles, I might do one film a year. Otherwise I’ll stop altogether and do theatre or something else connected with films.

That explains your attitude towards the press. While other newcomers hanker after publicity, you've banned all film magazines and even shun photo sessions?

I didn’t want to talk to any film magazine till my film was released. I wanted journalists to approach me only after seeing my work. Also, I was put off by certain journalists who are so pompous they believe they can make or break a star. If publicity is everything, all those actors who give fantastic interviews would be superstars. But no, Mr. Bachchan, who the press shunned for years, is still the reigning no.1. There’s no substitute for good work. Interviews and magazine covers don’t make you a good actor. Does taking off your clothes for photographs prove your virility? Are you a macho hero only if you pose for magazine covers with five girls clinging to you? If other want to do it they are welcome, I’ll stick to my work and keep my private life as private as possible'.

Janice Pariat: Boats on Land

Vi segnalo la recensione di Boats on Land, raccolta di racconti di Janice Pariat, recensione firmata da Manjula Narayan e pubblicata da Hindustan Times il 6 ottobre 2012. Il testo raccoglie alcune dichiarazioni rilasciate dalla scrittrice:

'There’s something about Janice Pariat’s short stories that makes you want to linger, to return to particular lyrical descriptions of the north east, to set down the book and contemplate the point where folk lore and reality intersect. “I grew up with a lot of stories that my dad told me; my grandfathers were big story tellers,” Pariat says (...) adding that her community, the Khasis, generally have a vibrant tradition of story telling as they were largely an oral culture before the arrival of the British in the mid-1800s.

“I think our stories serve as the reservoir of our history and of our understanding of the world. (...) Our landscape was marked by folktales - why’s the mountain shaped in a certain way, why the cock crows in the morning... With Boats on Land, I’ve taken these folk stories and interwoven them with the Shillong, Assam and Cherrapunji of today,” she says suggesting that a reality imbued with folklore and even superstition is perhaps imaginatively richer. In her stories this mingling of myth and reality hints at difficult truths: the suicide of a young man in The Discovery of Flight, the fear of the army in Sky Graves. “I wanted to find the marvellous real,” she says.

The most powerful story, Boats on Land brings together sexual yearning, beautiful descriptions of Assam, where Pariat spent much time when she was growing up, and a damaged character so well fleshed out she seems real. “It started as a story about a relationship between a boy and a girl and it felt wrong. I couldn’t find the right narrative voice. Then I read Once In A Lifetime by Jhumpa Lahiri where she used the third person narration and brings in the ‘you’. That evening, I sat down and rewrote the story. It became a story about two girls and it just felt right,” reveals Pariat who seemingly writes effortlessly in the male voice. “Even at school, classmates asked: ‘How are you writing as a boy?’ I really don’t know. I try and imagine what it’s like for a particular person and the thing about being a man or woman comes naturally,” she says. “Gender is such a construct.”

Still, writing the book wasn’t easy. “I always had these stories floating around in my head but they didn’t have a context, a place to reside. I went back home to Shillong to spend time with mum and dad and to write about the place that I’m from,” says Pariat who is glad the north east, which is “forever exoticised”, is emerging as a “place with fresh voices and fresh writers”. “People think it is a timeless, ageless place untouched by many things but I’ve tried to show that pockets were also affected by vast sweeps of history, the world wars, the missionaries, Christianity. These are things we forget Meghalaya and Assam were affected by; we forget it shaped the people living there now,” says Pariat, who, much as she loves Shillong, doesn’t intend to ever live there permanently. “I am attached to Shillong in a way that people who leave home are attached to an idea of home; so it’s a home of eternal return. I think there’s a particular attachment that comes from not being in a place,” she says sounding like one of the quiet revelations that stud her stories.

It isn’t the firebird or the dreams of dead kin that make you linger on Janice Pariat’s short fiction; it’s the truth they help you arrive at, that fresh understanding of an old world'.

Mirchi: le riprese in Italia

In ottobre la troupe di Mirchi (Vaaradhi era il titolo provvisorio) era in Italia per effettuare alcune riprese. I set sono stati allestiti a Certaldo (8-9 ottobre 2012), al Top Club di Cinquale in Versilia, a Lucca (Mura), al Lido di Camaiore (dove la troupe ha soggiornato), al Polo Tecnologico di Sorbano del Vescovo e a Volterra (teatro romano). Mirchi è un film in lingua telugu diretto da Koratala Siva. Nel cast Prabhas, Anushka Shetty e Richa Gangopadhyay.

Aggiornamento del 26 luglio 2022: video del brano Yahoon Yahoon.

Mehwish parla al sole - Recensione

[Blog] Recensione di Mehwish parla al sole, terzo romanzo di Uzma Aslam Khan, autrice pakistana di grande talento.

Le prime del 24 ottobre 2012: Chakravyuh

Chakravyuh, diretto da Prakash Jha, è un film a sfondo politico che esplora il controverso tema dei naxaliti. Nel cast Arjun Rampal, Abhay Deol, Manoj Bajpayee, Kabir Bedi e Om Puri. La pellicola è stata proiettata qualche giorno fa in prima mondiale al 56esimo British Film Institute London Film Festival. Trailer. Vi segnalo l'intervista concessa da Prakash Jha a Priya Gupta, pubblicata da The Times of India il 28 luglio 2012. Done with politics not with making political films: Prakash Jha: 

'Your next film Chakravyuh deals with Maoism and you travelled through the Red Corridor to research for it. What was the experience like?

The root cause for this social unrest is primarily our feudal mindset which creates systems to benefit a few and exploit the rest. Our democracy begins and ends with an election. The problem with democracy is that unless it has equal participation by everybody in the real sense it does not work. The Maoists feel that when the country was not independent they could live in the forest and survive. Post independence the government has taken over their land, they feel left out as they have no access to a better life. The government communicates with them through forest officials and guards who exploit them. (...) So while they are denied the benefits of development, the khakhiwalas [gli agenti] also exploit them. The backlash started in Naxalbari, in Bengal, over a contentious piece of land. When they were denied the land which was theirs, the Naxals got together and killed the landlord. That’s how the principle of wresting back land through force was established. The so called ‘Red Corridor’ covers more than 250 districts. These are areas which are liberated zones meaning that they do not operate under the government of India. As long as the conflict was restricted to these areas it did not affect us, but the conflict in Manesar at the Maruti factory is now suspected to have been triggered by the Naxals. So the conflict from the jungles is coming to industry. There are educated people from universities like Mumbai, Nagpur, Osmania, JNU [Jawaharlal Nehru University] from where people are being recruited. My concern is that this movement is coming to our neighborhood. And so if this discontent comes to Dharavi, how will you save Mumbai? Through my film I am bringing this issue in the public domain and trying to warn the population of this country to wake up as we are sitting on a time bomb waiting to explode'.

Nagesh Kukunoor in Italia

Nagesh Kukunoor nei giorni scorsi era in vacanza in Italia. Ecco i suoi tweet:

8 ottobre 2012 - 'Drinking the local Chianti. Its a truly wonderful red. Goes great with just about anything. Inspite of being touristy, Florence is every bit as beautiful as the tour books describe. Time to shoot a film here [magari!!]. For all you foodies out there, nothing as delicious as fresh bread, fresh pressed olive oil and rock salt. A Tuscan tradition. Awesome'.
9 ottobre - 'Spent 3 hours in the Uffizi Gallery. Really unnerving to be standing 2 feet from a Michelangelo... After a while I got tired of saying wow. Spent 2 hours people watching in the Palazzo Vecchio square. Took some inane pictures and was devoid of all thought. At peace'.
12 ottobre - 'After 2 amazing days wandering the streets of Rome, I veni vidi vici... Roman Holiday, one of those great romantic tales makes sense after visiting Rome. Will take my shot with my films with #cornettoindia'.
14 ottobre - 'Had to do the touristy thing and see the leaning tower of Pisa. Was cool to see it finally jump from fifth std textbook to reality. Arguably ate the best sandwich ever. Raw tuscan sausage, stracchino cheese, arugula leaves, truffle oil and schiacciata bread'.
15 ottobre - 'Finally did the southern city of Siena. Even after doing so many churches, the Siena cathederal was a thing of beauty. Cool fact, the main square in Siena, piazza del Campo has an annual bareback horse race, Palio di Siena. Its nuts! Youtube it'.

Tom Hanks: I admire Aamir Khan's work for society

È curioso che Aamir Khan sia sempre stato accostato dai suoi fan a Tom Hanks, e che proprio il celebre attore hollywoodiano abbia recentemente manifestato la sua ammirazione per Aamir, dopo aver letto un articolo che lo riguarda pubblicato da Time Asia nel numero del 10 settembre 2012 (per un estratto: clicca qui). I admire Aamir Khan's work for society: Tom Hanks, NDTV, 9 ottobre 2012: 'I really admire the work that Aamir Khan is doing (in India). Very few celebrities take the initiative of coming forward to change the society and he has done a remarkable job. (...) It's the 'giving-back' that's tough. Aamir seems to understand the influencing power of being a celebrity and is using it to act as a catalyst for change in society, something that definitely deserves both appreciation and support from all quarters'.

Kareena Kapoor: If you are content, you'll never cheat

Da qualche giorno circola in rete la fotografia ufficiale delle nozze di Kareena Kapoor e di Saif Ali Khan. Gli sposi sono ritratti da Avinash Gowariker in una posa molto classica e regale. In India il rito del matrimonio prevede diverse cerimonie, il cui numero in questo caso è arricchito dal fatto che Kareena è di religione hindu e Saif di religione musulmana. Il fatidico sì è stato pronunciato il 16 ottobre 2012. Per Saif si tratta del secondo matrimonio. 

Ne approfitto per segnalarvi l'intervista concessa da Kareena a Vivek Bhatia, pubblicata da iDiva il 19 ottobre 2012. Kareena Kapoor: If you are content, you’ll never cheat:

'Do you think, this is the time for actresses to break the mould and carry films on their shoulders?

Let’s face it. It’s a male-dominated industry. (...) I’ve always maintained that box-office success is what counts. People don’t care about your performance.

Madhur Bhandarkar’s films thrive on sensationalism, no?

Not Heroine. Fashion was more on the sensational side. Heroine was sensational in parts but it had depth in content. It was a potent mixture of commercial elements, content and performances. The fact is that the person who buys the ticket on a Friday is going in for sensationalism. No one wants to see my performance. That is secondary. They want to see what Madhur Bhandarkar has made. (...) I think my role in Heroine is an award-winning performance. It is bold, eccentric and different. It’s not run-of-the-mill. I’ve given it my all. The way I’ve looked, the way I’ve performed is spectacular. (...) The character is bold. (...) But by bold I don’t mean skin show. At the end of the day, I’m a commercial actress. There are certain boundaries to be taken care of. I don’t think I could have done The Dirty Picture. Vidya [Balan] is so talented that she managed to pull it off with ease. I do have my limitations.

Reportedly, you asked Madhur to rewrite a few scenes...

That’s not true at all. (...)

Do you get affected after playing intense roles?

While working for Heroine, it did get disturbing at times. So while shooting certain scenes, I’d get upset. (...)

Why did you opt out of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s [Goliyon Ki Raasleela] Ram Leela opposite Ranveer Singh?

Sanjay and I wanted to work together for 13 years but it never worked out. There were some date problems with Ram Leela. My managers did not think it would be a good idea to give 200 days to a film, at this stage of my career. I was offered two films at the same time - Karan Johar’s untitled film to be directed by Punit Malhotra opposite Imran Khan, and Prakash Jha’s Satyagraha opposite Ajay Devgan. So I went ahead with them.

You and Prakash Jha seem quite an unusual combination.

Prakash is an immensely successful director. His heroines have strong roles. Also, Ajay is a successful actor. I’m sure I can work with Ranveer in the future but as of now I’d like to work with Ajay.

Does your choice of movies depend on the bankability of the star opposite you? 

Yes, I’d like to work with commercially bankable stars. I’ve done Omkara and Golmaal 2 and 3 with Ajay. If people say I’ve chosen to work with Imran over Ranveer, that’s also because I’ve given a commercial hit with Imran (Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu). It has been one of the best performances of my career. And the chemistry was brilliant. (...)

What’s your equation with Ranbir [Kapoor]?

Ranbir and I aren’t particularly close to each other. Look, I’ve generally not been close to anyone in the family. I’m independent, in my own space and doing my own thing. I’ve only been very close to Lolo (sister Karisma Kapoor). Also, I have studied in a boarding school. Anyway, I was not really in touch with the family.

Is there any kind of bitterness with the rest of the Kapoors? 

Not really. But every family has its own set of problems. A few people may never get along. That’s normal, not a big thing. (...)

Is it because your career is at its peak that you don’t want to get distracted by your personal life?

I firmly believe that being married or not, cannot affect my career. I’ve lived with a man for five years. Before that, I was in another relationship for five years. I’ve never shied away from admitting to being in love. And I’ve had a career parallel to my personal life. I’m not one of those actresses who’d say, ‘Oh! I’m so busy and my life is from studio to home and home to studio!’ I have a personal life but I also have my career; I’m a thorough professional. The image I have on screen has got nothing to do with how I am in real life. The minute I get home, I turn off my cellphone and have nothing to do with the onscreen Kareena Kapoor. (...) People should know about my films and performances. Stop giving a heroine’s married life so much importance.

Your relationship with Saif [Ali Khan] is five years old. Has the initial excitement died down?

Not at all. We’re best friends and lovers. (...) We are strong individuals and we give each other space. It’s great that Saif and I have a 10-year age gap. He has more knowledge than I do. He has broadened my horizons. Whether it’s fine dining, reading or travelling; he’s just amazing. He’s well-read and well-spoken. He’s supremely successful in whatever he does. Why should I care about who’s doing what, as far as Saif and I are doing our work, earning bucks and going for holidays.

Would you ever cheat?

No, I don’t think so. There are temptations but if you’re happy and content with your man, then you’d never cheat. The only time you’d look elsewhere or stray is when you’re unhappy. (...)

If Saif asks you to give up your career, how would you react?

You think Saif would ever say that? In fact, he’d tell me to work. He’s modern in thought. But it would be quite funny if he’d ask me to get into a burqa.

Your wildest fantasy?

(Sighs) Moving to Paris. Away from the paparazzi. If I get bored of the anonymity, then I’ll come back. I just want to do my work, go there and chill. Here, the paparazzi wants to know what I’m eating, what I’m wearing. It gets annoying after a point'.

È morto Yash Chopra

Qualche ora fa Yash Chopra si è spento in un ospedale di Mumbai. Lo scorso 27 settembre aveva compiuto 80 anni.

Awesome 'jugaad' of India's campy horror industry

Vi segnalo l'articolo Awesome 'jugaad' of India's campy horror industry, di Aditi Sen, pubblicato da CNN News18 il 13 settembre 2012:

'Filmmaker Mohan Bhakri was determined to create a convincing shot of a skeleton coming back to life during the shooting of Roohani Taaqat in 1991. He set up an elaborate pump system to create the effect and used a goat's heart. But the organ was too small and did not give the desired effect. His assistant then managed to procure a buffalo heart. Just as everything was ready and they were about to shoot a stray dog ran away with the buffalo heart. Many of us watch retro Bollywood monster flicks for the laughs and poor special effects but we seldom wonder about how this subtle art of how unintentional humor is created. Making a film on a shoestring budget takes enormous amount of creativity. For example, Mohan Bhakri in his earlier film Kabrastan (1988) had tried to cut down the cost of make up by viewing the events through the eyes of the monster. Unfortunately, the audience was totally confused and the result again was a delightful comic treat.

But we have seldom pondered over the fact that besides the Ramsay Brothers horror filmmakers in India have largely not been able to make truly professional films due to severe budgetary constraints. The Ramsays too made low budget films but they struggled relatively less than directors who had jumped on their bandwagon. It will be grossly incorrect to say that Bollywood has not seen good horror films but that's not what the article is about. My piece is about something altogether different. I want to talk about creativity rising out of financial crunch. The art of coming up with innovative solution; in fact, we have a fantastic word in Hindi to describe it. Jugaad. The word is used often but we seldom understand the relevance of it as an art form. It's not easy to come up with innovative solutions or morph something potentially scary or serious into humor. Yes, I argue unintentional humor takes talent and is often underappreciated. However my focus is to not only talk about creation of humor but also add events and stories that lead to these situations. (...)

Let me begin with Joginder Shelly's film Pyasa Shaitan. The film has Kamal Haasan playing the devil's minion whereas Joginder plays the devil himself. The opening scene required the actress Madhu Malhotra getting raped. Instead of hiring an actor and going through an elaborate rape scene Joginder used a tree to rape her. There is a shot of Madhu Malhotra spreadeagled, her hands tied with branches and a branch slowly crawling towards her legs and thighs. One has to give Joginder credit for coming up with such a unique idea. Pyasa Shaitan is filled with this kind of interesting time-saving rape scenes. There is another scene where actress Beena [Banerjee] is raped but it is done in a jiffy as the devil strips her with his demonic powers and presents the audience with an obvious body double in underclothes.

In the film Bhoot Hi Bhoot when the protagonist is confronted by an evil spirit he simply fails to find anything that will help him to fight the ghost. In sheer desperation he picks up a car tyre wench and holds it up like a cross. Needless to say it works and the evil spirit in cheap rubber mask vanishes away. The film is directed by Boss. I have to admit Boss was indeed creative and innovative. He found interesting, relatively benign and inexpensive ways to execute the killings in the film. In one scene a victim possessed by the evil spirit picks up a bolder and smashes it on his own head. Nothing gruesome, gory and no elaborate action; a wholesome shot written just to fit the budget.

Location is another facet that makes low budget flicks creative. (...) Horror filmmakers in India too face severe financial shortage and one can see that in their choice of locations. Ramsay films can be easily identified often because of their similarity of locations. However, similar location is not a handicap because it promotes creativity and even allows the filmmaker to encourage the audience to imagine. (...) There are also clever filmmakers who understand the value of buy one get one free. Some of the films are shot in the actors’ house. Recently, I was talking to actor Amrit Pal who had worked in low budget films. Not only did he receive very little money for the film his house too was used as a shooting venue. In fact, a vast majority of the filmmakers spend very little on location.

Very few of us realize that there are often incredible stories behind the films we like to laugh at. Only these stories are not told because these are films that have fallen out of the mainstream sieve and have been branded as 'crap'.'

Jab Tak Hai Jaan : trailer

Gustatevi in religioso silenzio il trailer del nuovo film dell'affascinante, bellissimo, oltraggiosamente sexy  King of Bollywood: Shahrukh Khan.
A giudicare dal montaggio delle prime immagini la pellicola, diretta da Yash Chopra, riserva delle autentiche chicche per gli infervorati fan di Srk. Devo ancora riprendermi perciò rimando i commenti ad una data da destinare, sempre che sopravviva. 

Ek Tha Tiger : Recensione

[Blog] Recensione di Ek Tha Tiger, attualmente il più grande successo commerciale del 2012. Con Salman Khan e Katrina Kaif. Diretto da Kabir Khan.

Un perfetto equilibrio - Recensione

[Blog] Recensione di Un perfetto equilibrio, secondo romanzo di Rohinton Mistry, ultimo vincitore del Neustadt International Prize for Literature.

Priyanka Chopra: In my city

Domani Priyanka Chopra presenterà il suo primo singolo, In my city, nel quale duetta con will.i.am dei Black Eyed Peas. A seguire l'album, la cui distribuzione è prevista per il prossimo dicembre.

Milano Film Festival 2012

L'edizione 2012 del Milano Film Festival si svolgerà dal 12 al 23 settembre. In cartellone Valley of Saints (2012), pellicola in lingua kashmiri diretta da Musa Syeed, già premiata al Sundance Film Festival 2012.

Gabbar Singh : Recensione

[Blog] Recensione di Gabbar Singh, l'esplosivo remake telugu di Dabangg che ha letteralmente travolto il box office dell' Andhra Pradesh. Con Pawan Kalyan e Shruti Haasan. 

Southscope tamil settembre 2012: Jeeva & Pooja Hegde

Nella copertina tamil di Southscope sovrasta l'attore Jiiva dietro la sua maschera di super eroe, affiancato dall'attrice kannada Pooja Hegde, sua co-protagonista nel tanto atteso Mugamoodi. Il film, da ieri uscito nelle sale del sud dell'India, sta dividendo il pubblico e i critici con recensioni alquanto contrastanti. Il regista è Mysskin, autore del commovente Nandalala (2010) e del celebrato action movie Ajanthey (2008). Maggiori info su Mugamoodi qui.

Southscope telugu settembre 2012: Nagarjuna & Nayantara

Southscope propone questo mese una doppia copertina, Nella versione telugu la rivista mette in primo piano Nagarjuna e Nayantara attualmente impegnati nelle riprese di Love Story. All'interno una lunga intervista a SS Rajamouli, il regista di Eega, sorprendente film fantasy da poco uscito nelle sale indiane che ha scatenato un autentico vortice di curiosità e si vocifera di un possibile sequel...

Mohsin Hamid: Taking a hermit to a party and letting him dance

Vi segnalo l'intervista concessa da Mohsin Hamid a Eefa Khalid e pubblicata ieri da Dawn. Taking a hermit to a party and letting him dance:

'Was it hard to readjust the novel when it came to writing the screen-play? 

Very hard. I didn’t want to do it. I thought it would be best to stick to writing novels and leave the film to Mira [Nair]. But after two years, Mira couldn’t find anyone she thought could do the screenplay. Some people could write Wall Street but not Pakistan, others could get the desi context but not the corporate one. So she asked me to get involved. I wound up working closely with her and two other writers.

How different was it in collaborating with a screenplay writer? 

Completely different. But mostly I enjoyed it. Once I let go of control I was fine, because in a film it’s the director, not the screenwriter or the novelist, who gets to shape the final vision. (...)

When you’re writing a novel, do you have a specific physical description/perception for each character? And in the film are they similar or did you have to re-create them? 

I tend to keep physical descriptions of characters pretty spare. That way readers get to create them in their imaginations. So I didn’t really have a “mind’s-eye view” of my characters. More of a feel. And that feel was obviously going to be different from everybody else’s.

How involved were you in the filming process? 

I was involved, but more like a consultant rather than someone working on it full-time. I visited the sets and  gave feedback on the rough cuts of the film. I went to the Lahore recording sessions for the sound-track. Mira’s a very generous, inclusive film-maker. She regularly asked for my opinion. But a novel writer is part of the supporting cast in making a film, not the star. (...)

In these changing days and times, “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” is more relevant than ever, where would Changez be today? 

Ah, that’s for you to decide. The novel leaves his fate to the reader. With any luck, he’d have fallen for a sexy literature professor and be enjoying life in Lahore, except for the power cuts'.

Vedi anche Le prime del 17 maggio 2013: The reluctant fundamentalist, 11 maggio 2013

Jism 2 - Recensione

[Blog] L'impertinente Gilda si lancia in una recensione scherzosa del film pseudo - erotico Jism 2. Sunny Leone non le sta simpatica affatto... vogliate perdonarla.

Top 10 regional songs that became a national craze

Kadhalan

Il primo agosto 2012 The Times of India aveva condiviso una playlist da non perdere: dieci video di altrettanti magnifici brani tratti da colonne sonore di pellicole non hindi, brani che hanno spopolato in tutto il Paese. Fermo restando il mio amore incondizionato per il tormentone Why This Kolaveri Di? (per la cronaca: ad oggi, solo il primo video ufficiale ha registrato più di 60.500.000 visite! Se ancora non lo avete visto, allora siete ENORMEMENTE indietro e mi dispiace per voi), scorrendo la lista ho scoperto delle vere chicche. La canzone più bella? Chikku Bukku Rayile, composta da A.R. Rahman (da Gentleman, 1993, tamil. E ammiriamo Prabhu Deva in azione, via!). La più originale? Naaka Mukka (Female), di Vijay Antony (da Kadhalil Vizhunthen, 2008, tamil). La più delirante? Shakalaka Baby, di A.R. Rahman (da Mudhalvan, 1999, tamil, visualizzata da Sushmita Sen). La coreografia più pazzesca? Ringa Ringa, di Devi Sri Prasad (da Arya 2, 2009, telugu). Ma la palma della visualizzazione senza vergogna e del finale indimenticabile se l'aggiudica Mukkabla, di A.R. Rahman (da Kadhalan, 1994, tamil. Nel video Prabhu Deva balla, al solito, come un dio).

James Bond in India

Vi segnalo il divertentissimo articolo James Bond in India. Qualche opinione sul trash a Hollywood e a Bollywood pubblicato oggi da Marco Restelli.

Il cinema indiano e l'Italia: mappa delle locations

[Blog]  Una lista dalla A alla Z delle locations italiane che sono apparse, o a breve appariranno, in film hindi, telugu, tamil e bengali. Provvederemo a aggiornare e completare i testi mano a mano. Se  alcuni   titoli ci sono sfuggiti non esitate a scriverci per suggerircene la visione! Buon viaggio nell'Italia bolly-kolly-tollywoodiana!

Ajab Gazabb Love: locandina e trailer

Diretto dal regista di Dhoom 2 e parzialmente girato anche in Italia, Ajab Gazabb Love è un film attesissimo soprattutto perchè abbiamo seguito passo passo le sue riprese milanesi e toscane. Gustiamoci il trailer della commedia romantica, nel quale tutte le locations italiane sono già riconoscibili. L'appuntamento al cinema è per il 24 ottobre.

Vedi anche: Ajab Gazabb Love, le riprese a Milano

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai: Recensione

[Blog] Recensione di Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, mitico film del 1998 debutto del brillante Karan Johar, con gli amatissimi Kajol e Shahrukh Khan.

Sarocharu: le riprese in Italia

Kajal Aggarwal - Como, 2012

La troupe del film telugu Sarocharu nei giorni scorsi era nel nostro Paese per girare alcune sequenze. Sarocharu è diretto da Parasuram e interpretato da Ravi Teja e Kajal Aggarwal. Il 4 agosto 2012 il set è stato allestito a Como. Successivamente la troupe si è spostata a Milano (Piazza Duca d'Aosta, Navigli) e a Lecco. Caterina ci ha poi raccontato le riprese a Pisa (clicca qui). E per finire, l'8 agosto a Viareggio (lungomare, nei pressi del bagno Nettuno e del Gran Caffè Margherita). Di seguito una selezione di articoli, interviste, video e fotografie:

- Bollywood a Como. Ciak si gira in centro, A. Savini, La Provincia, 4 agosto 2012: 'A dimostrazione della grande popolarità che queste pellicole stanno conoscendo anche in Occidente, l'attore protagonista, il baffuto Ravi Teja, è stato riconosciuto da non pochi astanti mentre girava una rapidissima coreografia. Kajal Aggarwal è attrice di rara grazia e di sicura bellezza: come il suo partner è una vera e propria celebrità in India, una star assoluta che qui, in una Città Murata ieri calda e assolatissima durante le riprese, si aggirava indisturbata a fare shopping e a visitare il mercatino di piazza San Fedele tra un ciak e l'altro. Sì, perché le riprese dirette da Parasuram, sono state effettuate senza transennare, senza intralciare il passaggio, senza bloccare comaschi e turisti se non per i pochi secondi necessari. La troupe, composta da una trentina di persone, tutte indiane, ha lavorato dalle otto del mattino fino all'ora di cena passando rapidamente da piazza Cavour, portici Plinio, piazza del Duomo, piazza Verdi, via Vittorio Emanuele II, via Indipendenza, piazza San Fedele, via Adamo del Pero, via Cesare Cantù, via Fontana, lungolago Mafalda di Savoia e la diga foranea'.

- Video: Bollywood gira sotto la Torre di Pisa, Il Tirreno, 8 agosto 2012

- Teja, il divo di Bollywood: "Pronto per un film in Italia", Stefano Cassinelli, Il Giorno (Lecco), 12 agosto 2012:

'Si muove come una star sul set, accompagnato dal suo staff, appare chiaro, da come si pone, che per gli standard indiani è un bell’uomo sicuro del suo fascino. Ma Ravi Teja, uno degli attori più famosi in India, 45 film di successo all’attivo, ama dell’Europa soprattutto il fatto di non essere riconosciuto: «Potrei girare nudo per strada e nessuno mi riconoscerebbe, magari la polizia interverrebbe ma nessun fan verrebbe a dire guarda quello nudo è Ravi Teja». L’attore è in Italia per girare alcune scene del suo ultimo film che racconta dell’innamoramento tra il protagonista e una ragazza indiana e con allegria e simpatiche battute parla della sua esperienza nel vecchio continente.

Quindi la cosa che le piace dell’Italia è che nessuno la riconosce?

«Penso che funzioni anche in America il fatto di non essere riconosciuto, amo molto l’Europa in generale, ma quando si è molto conosciuti si apprezza il fatto di poter andare per strada senza essere guardati, fermati per gli autografi o le foto. Sia ben chiaro sono felice di avere tanti fan e di essere amato nel mio Paese, ma ogni tanto è bellissimo potersi sentire una persona libera e non sempre osservato in ogni cosa che fai. Basti pensare che non ho nemmeno Facebook perché mi va di mantenere la mia privacy».

Lei ha già girato diversi film in Europa?

«Sono già stato una decina di volta qui e quasi tutte le volte sono venuto in Italia. Mi trovo molto bene e adoro il vostro clima, in India è troppo caldo invece in Italia il clima è perfetto si sta benissimo. La prima volta in Europa era il 2003 ho visto diversi Stati tra cui anche la Germania, ci sono molte differenze tra una nazione e l’altra e moltissime rispetto all’India. Sono luoghi che mi affascinano, la gente è cordiale è bello qui si sta bene».

Attori e troupe quando vengono in Italia chiedono di avere cibo indiano invece lei no? 

«In Italia mangerei qualunque cosa, avete i piatti migliori al mondo, certamente i gusti rispetto ai piatti indiani sono molto diversi e so che tanti fanno fatica a cambiare ma il vostro cibo è una cosa eccezionale, anche se l’Italia non fosse così bella ci verrei solo per mangiare».

E per quanto riguarda le differenze culturali come riesce a lavorare qui? 

«Certamente ci dividono tanti chilometri e tanti modi di fare, ma in Italia e in Europa in generale non ho mai avuto nessun problema a lavorare, ci sono tantissimi professionisti che sanno quello che serve o lo gestiscono bene. Anche quando c’è qualche imprevisto gli italiani sono maestri nel risolvere con fantasia le emergenze. Poi quando si finisce di lavorare e si incontra la gente si trovano sempre persone gentili e disponibili, in tanti parlano l’inglese e sono pronti a dare una mano a uno straniero anche se non sanno chi sono».

Le piacerebbe fare qualche film italiano?

«Ci sarebbe il problema della lingua, ma potrei farlo in inglese e poi doppiarlo, certamente sarebbe una cosa professionalmente affascinante, ma poi diventerei una star anche in Italia e non potrei più andare in giro senza essere riconosciuto».'

Aggiornamento del 19 giugno 2022: video del brano Made for each other.

(Grazie ad Atif per le fotografie scattate a Como)

Ravi Teja - Como, 2012 (scatto di Atif)

Kajal Aggarwal - Como, 2012 (scatto di Atif)

Ravi Teja - Como, 2012

Kajal Aggarwal - Como, 2012

Ravi Teja - Como, 2012

Kajal Aggarwal - Milano, 2012

Ravi Teja - Milano, 2012

Kajal Aggarwal - Pisa, 2012

Viareggio, 2012

Viareggio, 2012

Kanamachi: le riprese a Viareggio

Secondo l'articolo La Cittadella e i carri del carnevale protagonisti di un film indiano, di Simone Pierotti, pubblicato da Versiliatoday il 7 agosto 2012, la troupe del film bengali Kanamachi quel giorno era a Viareggio per effettuare alcune riprese presso la Cittadella del Carnevale, con i mitici carri come sfondo. Kanamachi è diretto Raj Chakrabarty.