HU CHANDRAKANT BAKSHI

PLAY: Hu Chandrakant Bakshi

DIR: Manoj Shah

PROD: Ideas Unlimited

WRITER: Shishir Ramawat

FEATURING: Pratik Gandhi

'Hu Chandrakant Bakshi' (I am Chandrakant Bakshi)....a monologue based on one of the most celebrated and most controversial Gujarati writer - Chandrakant Bakshi. Presented by Ideas Unlimited and directed by Manoj Shah (one of the most active director on experimental Gujarati theatre....may be one in the handful who has kept Gujarati theatre alive) enacted by Pratik Gandhi and written by Shishir Ramavat takes you through the journey of this writer, considered to be one of the most egoistic and the most loved of Gujarati writers, from his early days in Kolkata to his days in Mumbai where he wrote for a lot of daily newspapers, weekly magazines, became a professor of history at Mithibai college then went on to become the principal of Sharda college to be unceremoniously thrown of after a couple of years and then went on to become the sheriff of Mumbai. 

The narrative used here is very simple but words are woven and attitudes are defined very meticulously. It could easily have turned out into a verbose affair but the performance is engaging and enlightening to say the least.

The high points of the play include, a very effective light design (one of the best I have seen in Gujarati theatre), good use of music, minimalistic set design (the use of ladder needs special mention) and off course effortless portrayal of the character both in internalization as well as body language (here we see chandrakant bakshi from his college days to the time he must have been 50 something and had suffered a heart attack).

Worth a watch...Catch it at NCPA experimental theatre on Sat 22nd June 7pm

POV MNIK

This one is long overdue. I saw this one a week ago. But got busy after that...Anywaz better late than never. Hype...hoopla...controversy...superb reviews 4.5 -5 ratings....Is it all worth it!!!!!!

My name is Khan...Kh from the apiclotyis... The film has its moments for sure...The film inspires, teaches, entertains, makes you cry everything but ends up being too long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Atleast for me...peoples’ opinions may differ.

The film follows the story of an autistic Rizwan Khan... and tries to intertwine 9/11 and Katrina tragedy in USA. My problem is that it says too much. All is fine in Rizwans world till 9/11 but post that his family and him are looked upon by others as terrorists. This indeed is a sensitive topic. Sadly Rizwan Khan loses his son due to suspecting people. His wife Mandira (hindu married to a muslim) holds his name responsible. Now his motto is to go and tell the president of US that ‘My name is Khan and I am not a terrorist’. So far so good.

SRK is brilliant in his portrayal of autistic. Any adjectives or superlatives you use for his performance will fall short of giving complete description. I just loved him. I was keen to see Kajol back after a long gap. She didn’t disappoint. Loved music, production design and camerawork.

But now on the flipside I can’t help but think that was the flood episode needed? Yaa it is based on a true story (as a friend of mine tells me). But was it required? And if it was required was Khans passage through that town earlier required??? Even if he hadn’t been there earlier there was enough motivation in the character to rush to rescue those people on hearing of their plight.

Also on her son’s death we see Kajol cry her lungs out for almost 3 scenes. For me it was more than required and the telling could have been more economic. Plus I felt the intercourse for dumbos gag not required.

To sum it up though the film inspires and tackles sensitive issue... Chak De India and Swades were more inspiring. But this is one of the better films of the year so far!!!

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POV

Hi All

The last few weeks have been full of various experiences. Just tracking back and putting my views down.

First of all films. 4 films released on 29th Jan. Ishqiyaan, Rann, Road to Sangam, Harishchandrachi Factory. I, so far, have managed to see 3 of them barring Rann. The week has been heartening if you are a bollywood fan content wise. But there are few things that worry me too.

Ishqiyaa started as a favourite and over the weekend and early part of this week it did very well. It is a good film. Good story,good music great performances and so deserved it.

Harishchandrachi factory was a spring of surprise. Though there were news which said it was a great film but when I saw it.... it was even more than I expected. Very entertaining it is when it could have easily fallen into the trap of being a documentry. I was even happier when I saw almost 70% response. But it was a Sunday and at a place which has marathi speaking audience. Some people whom I know, who appreciate good cinema, were still reluctant to see the movie saying that we will not understand the language. Strangely people will watch world cinema Spanish Japanese Italian etc etc. But they will refrain from a very good Indian film which is not hindi. Strange!!!

Now for Road to Sangam, another excellent movie, good story (for those who complain tat Indian movies do not have good storylines), great performances (Paresh Rawal, Om Puri and especially Pawan Malhotra) and a film with a message. What happens, Friday 1 pm Fun Republic show cancelled because there was no one except me who wanted to watch the film. Finally I catch it at PVR Juhu late night show which also has an audience of 10. So, for me, the notion that the advent of multiplexes has improved the scenario and smaller films are being screened and getting visibility doesn't hold true. Only thing is that bigger films have gotten bigger. The problem is that no one takes a film without a 'star' seriously. Nor the audience nor the multiplex. At a 4 screen multiplex only one noon show for a film that has won a MAMI (ironically after being screened at the same place) is unreasonable. And strangely the audience didn't turn up considering that Fun Republic is in an area full of cinema people. Big production houses and many aspiring film makers and actors there.

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Earlier this week, I had a show of a play 'Lakeerein' written by Gulzar Saab and directed by Mr Salim Arif, for Aman Ki Asha campaign promoting peace between India and Pakistan. This show is one that I will not forget for a long time. It has made lasting impressions on my heart and mind.

As a 10 -12 year old child, once I had visited Delhi, Jaipur etc. At Jaipur we went to Ajmer Sharif. And there, as an innocent child not knowing much apart from the fact that in 1947 when India won Independence, it also was partitioned and a country called Pakistan came up,and further there was tension between the countries . I had made a wish that in the two countries peace prevails. It felt great when a campaign like this came up and even great when I came to know that we have a show to do for the same.

Earlier the show was scheduled in Bangaluru but then it got rescheduled in Mumbai and the auditorium in Mumbai where it was to be performed made it even more special for me because it was at that very hall that the journey had begun for me some 5-6 years back. That time I was a part of a inter college event performing a skit. It felt truly special.

Just a few hours before the show when we were in a run through Yashpal Sir got the news of the sad demise of this father. It was shocking for us and I cannot imagine the sense of loss he must have felt at that time. My heartfelt condolences for your dad and may his soul rest in peace. Yashpal Sir I salute you. And I am proud, that I am working with people like you!

POV - 3 idiots

It has been a long long time since I have watched a film with ‘all’ my friends. 3 idiots was the perfect chance. A film based on 3 friends in a college setting.. and the promos were promising…but the case was not to be…. But still 3 of us from a bunch of 8-10 could manage to get together and see the film to gether.

Arranging for tickets was a struggle in itself. Suncity-chandan-suncity and finally chandan. But in the end ‘aal is more than well’. I would readily struggle for a few more times and wanna see the film already again..ter is already a temptation to bunk gym and catch a early morning show.

The 2 hour 50 odd minutes of yesterday evening are drilled in my mind. This is a victory for any filmmaker…that the film is not over even after the show is over. In the recent past few such films that have stayed long in my heart and mind are RDB, Lage Raho.., Munnabhai MBBS, Iqbal, Chak De. Add this one in the same bracket..

From aal is well to behti hawa sa thaa who all the songs are ringing in my mind. Right from the first sequences where Madhavan gets down from a plane about to take off (faking an heart attack), to the beginning of search (title sequence) where Simla is so beautifully canned, to the ragging scene to the machine scene to the gate crashing at the wedding to the speech on teacher’s day to the twist at interval to the scenes where Sharman jumps from the third floor and then subsequent recovery and revolution in his character..to the twists in the end..each and every sequence bears a stamp of genius. Intro of Sharman’s family is another superbly executed sequence. The suicide sequence gave me goose mums. Madhavan’s attempt to convince his parents has a lot for me to relate to personally. And the delivery sequence is just out of the world

The film is difficult to crack because there are so many emotions and intense ones at that… the chances of mixing up or going overboard are high..but Rajkumar Hirani handles everything to perfection. And the performances are just mesmerizing. Be it Aamir with his aal is well or Madhavan or Sharman (interview scene especially) or Boman Irani or Kareena, every one is superb. Millimeter and chatur are another examples of superb characterization.

In the end it is just a superb film which is universal, it will make everyone smile, laugh and cry!!! Plz plz plz watch it if u havn’t watched it yet.

THINGS TURN AROUND

THINGS TURN AROUND

Just a few years ago, I thought that the place where I reside is almost ideal. It takes 5 mins and minimum fare in an auto to go to the station, one end of the lane is a dead end, so no traffic no honking horns..basically a peaceful life. In an apartment having just 6 flats, water would never be a problem at all. But year by year slowly but surely the things have turned around. Today the same peaceful place is nightmare..so much so that the old or the disabled cannot even think of attempting to cross the road….the horns are a constant nuisance…in the speed of life people are forgetting the basics that when you are passing a residential area you should control the urge to honk…Both sides of the road have been declared no parking zones….and there is no parking lot in our apartment…so now, while the Government is making money fining the car owners, we are at the mercy of neighboring society to allow us to park our cars. The water cut is so much that now there is no enough water for all together not more than 20 people. The irony is that the 5 star hotels , I have seen, waste so much of water and they don’t face a cut. What is the priority, basics or luxury, I can’t fathom!

Just a few years ago, I thought that the place where I reside is almost ideal. It takes 5 mins and minimum fare in an auto to go to the station, one end of the lane is a dead end, so no traffic no honking horns..basically a peaceful life. In an apartment having just 6 flats, water would never be a problem at all. But year by year slowly but surely the things have turned around. Today the same peaceful place is nightmare..so much so that the old or the disabled cannot even think of attempting to cross the road….the horns are a constant nuisance…in the speed of life people are forgetting the basics that when you are passing a residential area you should control the urge to honk…Both sides of the road have been declared no parking zones….and there is no parking lot in our apartment…so now, while the Government is making money fining the car owners, we are at the mercy of neighboring society to allow us to park our cars. The water cut is so much that now there is no enough water for all together not more than 20 people. The irony is that the 5 star hotels , I have seen, waste so much of water and they don’t face a cut. What is the priority, basics or luxury, I can’t fathom!

POV

2 Bollywood movies have released in recent times. Both of them big banner, good (well known) starcast, good ‘stories’, well executed films. What is one more common thing between them? Both very disappointing at the box office. The two films I am reffering to are Saif and Kareena starrer ‘Kurbaan’ and Ranbir Kapoor starrer ‘Rocket Singh- Salesman of the year’.

I think the biggest drawback of the two films is that they are high on story but low on so called ‘entertainment’. Why does every another hit in Indian cinema have to be a story of he meets her, she meets him bla bla bla, or judwaas one good one bad or reincarnation. Nothing against those films at all. They were good films in their own way and got success that they deserved. But what is hard to digest is the receptivity to something unexplored. In the west, films like ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ have been path breakers. So why does a Rocket Singh, a film which has so much to say and is yet so simple doesn’t see the light of success? What went wrong with Kurbaan is beyond my understanding, it is one of the better executed films of the year, superb performances, great direction, formidable script and is high on drama and tension. It has good music too..yet the trade pundits have to put it down as a losing proposition. Strange are the ways of the world!

Coming back to ‘Rocket Singh…’, the film simply makes me feel proud of Indian Cinema. Here we have a director who has so much range that he gives you ‘Ab tak Chappan’, then ‘Chak De India’ and then ‘Rocket Singh’. Though none are formula films the first two were hugely successful but the third one is no bad either. Another positive from the film is Ranbir. He can pull off Ajab Prem and then superbly portray Harpeet Singh!!! Kudos !! Success or not, it is heart warming to see that such films and stories are being made!!!