ACTING GYAAN - 2

• Hot blood, sharp mind, soft heart.......
  A must for an actor

• Acting can never be taught, but it can be learnt

SAMARPAN

Awestuck actors, dumbstuck pens

finesse of an actor, writers' pen

We, the dramatics' enthusiasts of MBA Tech were searching for a direction in which we could organize and work to nurture our asthetic talents. This enthusiasm to organise and win gave birth to 'SAMARPAN'. Started in Sep- Oct 2005 currently this society has grown from strength to strength and has today a strength of 60 odd members from MBA Tech, B Tech and MBA Pharma Tech.

MILESTONES

Winners of 3rd prize in a spoof competition at MOOD INDIGO'05(IIT B extraveganza).

Super hit 'No Problem' (Euphoria'07 - NMIMS) directed by Yogesh Pagare.

Street Play 'Ithihaas Dhoondhta Hoon' directed by Mrinal Sharma was the recepient of 1st prize at Xion'06.

Other performances include dus ka tees at Kaliedoscope, thespian sea at IIT B, skits at intra collge competitions, also participated in Umang 2005,2006.

ISS HAFTE KA YADGAAR SCENE (GO TO HELL!)

Film: Iqbal

Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Shreyas Talpade, Girish Karnad, Shweta Prasad

Director: Nagesh Kukunor

Banner: Mukta Arts (Subhash Ghai)

MOHIT: Guruji! shukriya aap aaye.

GURUJI: Mohit! Tumhara ladka waaqai kaamal ka hai.

MOHIT: Aisa khiladi toh ek saadi me ek baar milta hai. Isss saal ranji trophy humari hai.

GURUJI: Ho sakta hai. Toh mujhe kyun bulaya.

MOHIT: Suna hai ke Indian team ke kuchh selectors finals dekhne aa rahe hai.

GURUJI: Shaayad. Toh kya deal offer kar rahe ho?

MOHIT: Koi deal nahin. Maine yahi batane aapko bulaya hai kee in bachhon ko apna game khelne dijiye. Ye baazi maidan par hi taay hone den.

GURUJI: Mohit naadan mat bano. Tum jaante ho ke dhandhe aur saude iss khel ka buniyaadi hissa ban chuke hai. Is desh ke sabse ache khiladi bhi saude ke wajah se oopar aaye hain. Mujh jaise log aur ab tum bhi wo saude karte hain jisse ke best possible team tayaar ho sake.

MOHIT: Isilye meri jagaah ka sauda kiya tha aapne.

GURUJI: Mohit tum mere sabse acche student the. Lekin kahin baar sirf itna kaafi nahin hotaa. Agar tum mere saath rehte toh kabhi naa kabhi main tumhe Indian team me select karva hi deta.

MOHIT: Agar koi doosra raaiz saada aapki chaukhat pe naa aata toh. Main select nahin hua uska afssos nahin hai mujhe. Agar koi cheez hai jisne mujhe toda hai to yeh ke jab main bebas aur laachar tha to ek daafa bhi aapne apna haath nahin rakha mere sar pe. Ek din mere dost, mere guru, mere bhagwan the aap. Aur dusre din main aapkee academy ke register main naam ke siva kuchh nahin tha.

GURUJI: Main sirf great players banana chahta hun bas.

MOHIT: Meri baat dhyaan se sun lijiye. Iqbal ke saath who nahin hogaa jo mere saath hua.

GURUJI: Is waqt Indian team ko ek batsman ki zaarorat hai, bowler ki nahin. Aur kamal woh batsman hai.

MOHIT: Aap jo chahe kar lijiye guriji. Yeh ladka meri tarah haar manke gumnaami me nahin khoyegaa. Iqbaal ki qismat me wo nila uniform likha hai. Aur who use milne se aap aur aapki daalali kabhi bhi nahin rok sakti.

GURUJI: To phir main uska bhala chahta hun.

MOHIT: Ek muddat se ye baat kehna chah raha tha aapse. Aapse apne baap se aur har uss insaan se jisne mera bhala chaha hai. GO TO HELL!

THE BIGGEST PANGA WITH PANGA NAA LO

Director: Rajen Kothari

Banner: Vidisha Production Pvt Ltd

Cast: Om Puri, Satish Shah, Supriya Pathak

Release date: 20/4/07

1st week gross: 6 lacs approx( business of cinema)



The schedule of the film started on 8th August, 2005. Seems long ago. Yes it was long ago. The shooting of the film was completed by feb/march 2006. Then the film took an eternity in the post production and the first copy was out by diwali' 06.



Then started the next struggle. Finding a buyer. Mukta, Adlabs, UTV, PEN, Ashtavinayak, Percept and many others. Finally PEN took up audio video rights and Adlabs gave a green signal for theatrical release.



Now tareekh pe tarrekh, taarekh pe tareekh, it was slated for release mid march. Why? the cricket world cup! Empty cinema halls. No big releases.



But the Indian team had different aspirations. They managed an eary exit. Now the entertainment world wanted to capitalize. Bigger films were pushed ahead.



Finally PNL was released with roughly 22 prints all over India one week later than promised that is 20th of April 2007. Masses had very little idea that there is a film called PNL running in the halls. Reasons. Well many. THe promos were only aired on Zee Network, no MTV, VTV or Radio Mirchi. Media tie up broken beacuse release was shifted to a date close to Abhi Ash wedding and how could they not cover that.



20th April 2007, worse than expected the morning shows were cancelled in almost all the halls of Mumbai due to lack of patronage. The next shows managed crowds but in double digits only. To add to this there were chaotic misprints in the ads published in the newspaper. The timings printe were totally differenty than actual show timings. As for example the Bombay Times showed following timings (Fame Andheri 12.30, 2.30,8.35) but the actual paln was (Fame Andheri 12 30 pm, malad 2 30 pm and kandivali 8 35 pm). Finally the ad was corrected Sunday onwards but the ad disappeared all together from Monday onwards.



Was it a lack of trust in the film. Was it sheer negletion or was this film used only to take the over flow of Bheja Fry? Whatever it was, was it PROFESSIONALISM???

NO PROBLEM!!! NO PROBLEM!!! NO PROBLEM!!!!

20 actors full of energy, 1 determined director, 4 passionate backstage co ordinators. What did this result to? A SMASHIING HIT. 'NO PROBLEM'!!!

The Prelude:

Early Feb'07

Severe brain storming sessions. O'er a coffee,o'er lunch,o'er dinner. This resulted into a play which was already 20 minutes long leading no where. Time flew. It was March. Euphoria 07 was arriving. We had promised some quality. Finally Mrinal and I decided to take help of a professional.

The Auditions

Mr. Yogesh Pagare (Yogi), our commander in chief walked in at sharp 7 pm. Auditions started. Most of the people were selected.

Day 1

Mr Yogi was on time again. I humbly asked him for a script. He replied that he doesnt need one. He remembers all dialouges.

Days flew. So did time. every day some one would be late and Pallavi would pay. People started getting into the groove. Acting improved. Co ordination did and so did ENERGY. Some blood spilled. Some jaws were broken. Some tears rolled. Some voices started fading. Sometimes fun sometimes a hell used to be our sessions.

I definately remember the way Yogi made us remember the order of scene. He would ask us to speak out the order. Any fumble or a mistake would be fined by Rs 5. I aslo remember the poll dance jig we all enjoyed. Another memorable moments were when Yogi was not there for 3 sessions and Ashwani was supervizing our practices. The way we would fight like kids and the way he'd fume up if the word 'buffer' was mentioned. Some people still owe me Rs100 for costume arrangement

Finally ther dress rehersales. The fatigue of the nightouts started seeping. Fever, low energy,high tempers, it was all happening till the 11th hour.

On the D day some ppl were on time, some were not but now was the time to pull up the socks and give it the best shot. The nervous bodies started shaking, Some ppl made sure they had the scene order right by carrying a list on their palms.

Finally we banged in from the rear entrance of Juhu Jagruti Hall. For the next 25 minutes, non knows what happened. Then started the claps and cheer. This time it was not the sarcastic one. Yipee we did it. No Problem was a big hit.

Happy and content and voiceless we left for green room again. Enter Mr Dennis that there was enough crowd for a repeat performance!!!

KATHA COLLAGE

Motley is well living up to the trend that it initiated in the year 2000 with ISMAT AAPA KE NAAM. Having practiced the art of rendering pieces of Hindustani/Urdu literature in a viable dramatic form, Motley once again pays homage to two well-acclaimed writers- Munshi Premchand and Kamtanath.KATHA COLLAGE thus derives its dramatic format from three stories, each infused with the timbre that accompanies all good narration.

The first story titled Badebhai Sahab (Big Brother) by Premchand explores the relationship that exists between two brothers with particular reference to their adolescence.The second story titled Shatranj ke Khiladi (The Chess Players), also by Premchand looks at a pre-independence era in Luknow and centers around its two protagonists, best friends because of their shared passion for chess. The last story titled Sankraman (The Circle of Life) by writer Kamtanath is reflective of the transitory yet ironically unchanging nature of life and way of being. This is highlighted through the characters of a father and a son who are completely unlike each other till the son grows to resemble his father in every which way.

On the face of it, the three stories may sound simple and straightforward but actually they offer a variety of themes and motifs that are engaging. The production in its entirety, be it in its backdrop or in the virtuosity of the actor’s craft is significant of a minimalism that is commendable. In short, KATHA COLLAGE, like other Motley plays is not to be missed.

ACTING GYAAN

CINEMA IS LARGER THAN LIFE, DRAMATICS IS LOUDER THAN LIFE!!!

Cinema is a medium where we act for camera and the camera can come as close to you as wanted. So even the most subtle of changes will be registered. But in dramatics you have to directly connect to the audiences seating in the last row so you need to register the variations by performing slightly louder. Louder is not only the projection of voice but also the expressions

CHEENIKUM- BUT SWEET.

Director: K. Balki
Producer: Orion Films
Cast: Amitabh Bacchan, Tabu, Paresh Rawal, Zohra Sehgal.
Rating : ****

REVIEW
Sometimes some films have such a charisma as if a soothing rain after 5 months of scorching heat. Though not surprisingly, cheenikum is such a movie. Sweet enough, but not diabetic. Almost perfect blend of emotions. Arrogance, love, friendship, hatred, this film has a perfect recipe of all. Truly natural, truly cinematic, truly subtle, and truly effective.
Firstly the film has a story and to add it’s a fresh one. The characters though true to life, situations are not very common. A 64 year old, London based Indian restaurateur (Amitabh Bacchan), thanks to his arrogance, bumps into a 34 year old woman (Tabu), who has come for a vacation to London. They get to know each other. They fall in love. But the problem his madam’s father back home in Delhi, who cannot accept a son-in-law 6 years elder to himself.
The main plot of the film works and so do the sub plots. Chef’s mother constantly nagging hgim to go to the gym. His friendship with the next door girl (sexy), who is a cancer patient, the chef at work bossing over his subordinates and Tabu and her friend in London.
The film flows from one conflict to another. Starting from the chef’s unacceptability about a spoilt dish, to the couple’s inability to accept each others’ food preferences, the father’s un-acceptance of ‘damaad’. And the impactful climax at the Qutub Minar. The film flows like a river.
Half the battle is won when the script has so much of potential. The other half also did not seem any difficult coz of presence of the Big B, Tabu and Paresh Rawal. The performances are top notch and subtle to the core. Amitabh Bachhan in magic. Tabu is par excellence. Paresh Rawal does his part with ease. So do Jameel Khan and Zohra Sehgal. The young sexy is really sexy to say the least. Music is upto the mark and so are other technical departments.
If at all there had to be any shortcoming of this cinema, it was that Paresh Rawal’s role was slightly shorter than expected. That is because Mr Rawal is such a wonderful performer that you want more of him.
Hope we have more of such films in future, where there is no bang-bang but pure content to engross you for 130 minutes.

SHOOTOUT!.... IS IT?

Director: Apporva Lakhia

Banner: White Feather Films and Balaji Telefilms
Cast: Viviek Oberoi, Sanjay Dutt, Amitabh Bachhan.
Rating: **

REVIEW
First things first. The film carries a tagline ‘ Based on true rumours’. What was the rumour. I cannot comprehend. But who cares about the tagline if the 2 hours of celluloid is really engrossing. Today, it seems, a filmmaker just looks for a decent star cast, a few rocking tracks and marketing gimmicks to make money. The scenario today, though not always, has been like a child trying to speak English without the grammar. The power of grammar of cinema, or of any language or any medium cannot be denied. It takes the work to a totally different level. IT makes something look more meaningful and impactfull. Yes, definitely innovation is a must. That is why even today, a film Lage Raho Munnabhai, or a RDB are refreshing .They will not only attract but also appeal the audience. The scripts are rooted to the basics though the plant looks to be a new one.
This ‘movie’ is a clash between the underworld don Maaya (Viviek Oberoi) , his gang and a determined ATS squad. At the end of 2 hours, it is left to the audience to decide who was wrong. The ATS, who was responsible for encounter, or Maaya and his gang ,who aspired to make their presence felt even in the Mecca of underworld - Dubai.
For me the screenplay does not work. Just because the film looks like disjointed clipping joined to gether by a narrators help. At no point you understand the relation of one scene with another. And to a shocker of an disclosure is that Amitabh Bachhan is a lawyer. All through the film it appeared that he was a high rank ATS officer. This simply could not be digested. I cannot identify with a lawyer who is harsh and firm with his own client. The puranpoli track between Viviek and Amrita Singh had most of its potential untapped thanks to the films un cinematic screenplay.
But the film has a fair share of positives too, which make it watchable for once. The camerawork, the look of 90’s, the music, the background score, the editing stand out. Some sequences do manage to give you goose mums.
Performance wise, the film belongs to Maaya bhai- Viviek Oberoi. The body language, the dialogue delivery, the over all portrayal is supreme. His dialogue send down silent tremors in your body. Another stand out performance is that of Amithabh Bachhan. This champion actor manages to steal the show once again, in a small and a totally messed up role so to say. He has some good lines though. Sanjay Dutt is very good. Shabbir Ahuwalia is refreshing. And Aarti Chabbria looks sexy in all the numbers she has. Though Tusshar was plain average his scene in the climax is superb. Amrita Singh does full justice to her cameo. Sadly, Suniel Shetty, Arbaz, Aditya Lakhia, Neha Dhupia do not work. Ronit roy is ok. Dia Mirza’s role had a lot of potential.
The music lifts the movie. Especially, Ganpat, Main tere ishq me. And then when you want to leave the hall after passing some silent patient moments towards the fag end, there is akhri alvidaa with the end scrolls.Overall shootout is a disappointment, but it is not unbearable. Can be watched once ! especially (Viviek fans).