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Old Hindi songs are loved by almost everyone. And everyone has his own favorites. There have being lot of times, when sitting with a group of friends, we start remembering the old gems, singing them, discussing our favorite singers. Quite often in discussion we debate, who was the greatest or who was better. No one can conclude anything from these discussions or rather speculations.
The same happened the other day, when few PFCites (Somen, Subrat, Vasan, Kartik Krishnan and yours truly) crashed at Phoenixnu’s place after the meet up at Masala Mantra. Fatema has already covered the meet up.
Subrat has a special collection of Talat Mehmood’s songs, around 800 of them out of the 950 songs. The ones he does not have are mostly non film songs. Talat happens to be my favourite too! But I do not have so many of his songs. To get Subrat’s collection, will have …

The school days are so vivid in our memory. Apart from the masti n fun, some nerdy questions. What did I like in school days? Hmm…Drawing, painting and science. What did I hate the most? Languages! Did not really enjoy mathematics that much as it required little bit of practice.
May be the instinct for visual art, got me closer to cinema. Once I tasted more of it in a short film making courses, it has being a hangover.Which grows everyday. The intoxication I am enjoying ever since. No complaints about not drinking or not smoking as I have an alternative :)
The poor flair for languages makes me a poor reader. It is a struggle to read fiction. I have tried many a times, but it is tough. Non fiction on other hand is fun. Newspaper articles, which interest me. Or even a thick book based on subject of interest. …

Talking about Cannes, reminds me of Chetan Anand's Neecha Nagar, the Indian film which won the grand prize in the very first year of this film fest in 1946. Recently the film was screened in Mumbai. The print has its own story. A film personality found the print lying with the bhangarwala (junk dealer). He brought it for dirt. I guess there is no other print and doubt even our prestigious film archives have it. The person then telecined it and made a dvd, which was screened at the venue. I missed the screening. But few friends, who saw the film were raving about it. I so very much want to see the film. If anyone has it please let me know! It is ridiculous how poor we are at documenting our gems. Its not so easy to find films of masters our country has produced. The other winners I …

Its time of the year for the International Film Festival of Mumbai popularly known as Mumbai Academy of Moving Images (MAMI) Fest. The opening ceremony will be held on the eve of 6th March, whose entry is by invitation only. The movie screenings will start from 7th of March. The people who want to register can pay 500rs for the pass and should not forget to bring a passport size photograph. The students and people belonging to cinema fraternity can get the passes for 300rs (guess will have to produce the membership of various associations.)
The best place to see the films is at Imax Wadala.With 4 screens to choose from at a time and best movies playing at this venue. The only problem is the location, which is least accessible by train, bus and even auto. But once you are there its a good outing. You are cut off …

The film begins, with a Stasi (East German Security agency) lesson on interrogation, involving the psychology of the detainee. If he is lying or not. The focus soon shifts to a drama theatre, where spies are keeping a close watch on a set of people. Such is the beginning of the film that engrosses the viewer to observe, what is going on, made to think. A very mature way of story telling.
Soon the plot unravels. An artist couple, Christa-Maria Sieland (theatre actress) and Georg Dreyman(writer) are under surveillance of Stasi spy Gerd Wiesler for their suspected radical views. It’s set up in East Germany at a time, when freedom of speech, expression did not exist even for the renowned artists. Dreyman’s director Albert Jerska, who is blacklisted by the state is one of them. Wiesler wires Dreyman’s apartment, hearing everything that goes in there from the attic. …

A trip to Bihar came up. The place I wanted to visit so much for personal and work related reasons! Lakhisarai city would be my base camp. From where I would move to places of relevance. The very first morning it was decided to go to a small village in Nevada (and you think Americans are original) district to meet an important person.


A Maruti van would be the mode of transport. It is by far the favorite here because of its high ground clearance on roads, which lot of times provide off-roading experience. Got to eat alloo, mutter and lithi paranthas, with chatni, pickles and tea. Have to admit I did over eat a bit.
I sat on the front passenger seat, with a camera in my hand, accompanied by the …

Its time for the annual Third Eye Asian Film Festival.It would be the 6th addition of the festival. This year the Asian Master selected is Akira Kurosawa, with a retro on Tapan Sinha. Competition section consists of debutant Asian filmakers, who have submitted their first or second film.

For details please visit:-

http://www.affmumbai.com/

The films will be screened at the Plaza theater, Fame Nakshtra and Y B Chavan centre from Nov 2 to Nov 8.

Will be going to Plaza tomorrow, hope to see you there!

How does one define independent cinema in our country? What budget limit would make a film indie? How does one control the budget to make it viable? What are the avenues available to sell the film, after it is made? How can we make more people aware of the meaningful films being made here and make them reach? Questions like these have been popping out for sometime now. Here is my abstract take on them.. It off course does not promise a certain solution…
Most often or not the process of starting a project would start, with a director running after the producers carrying a story he believes in and is desperate to tell. The foremost thing Mr. P would be interested is the star cast. Now seeing the recent past, one can see so many examples of films having so called A grade stars bombing at the box office. …

Here are some more pictures from last night!!

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Mumbai Meri Jaan’s (MMJ) latest schedule just started. Ashish Shukla and I were keen on visiting the sets. The shoot was suppose to start at 9:00 am in a studio, but was delayed till 2:00 pm, as the unit had to complete the balance outdoor scenes from yesterday. Shooting outdoors is indeed a challenging task. With little control over the elements any amount of planning is found wanting. It makes the filming even more difficult. One has to take decisions fast and correct. We off course were not sincere to reach at 9:00 am. But were there few hours late. It was still too early for the shoot to start. We decided it was time for lunch. After the meal of Aloo Paranthas and still some time left we decided to look around in the local mall. Ashish just could not control the temptation of buying designer underwears. He bought …

One Sunday afternoon, after a delicious lunch of Rajma Chaval (red kidney beans and rice), went in to my bed room to find my phone ringing. The name ‘Toto’ was flashing. Toto is Anurag’s still photographer in No Smoking. I pick up the phone and go, “ haan bhai Toto Singh”(yeah tell me Toto Singh).The voice from the other side doesn’t sound like him, it goes,” Toto nahin Rohit bol rahan hoon” (its not Toto its Rohit). Rohit Khaitan is Anurag’s assistant and is working as a production manager for a series of short films being produced by the Sahara group. After trying calling me a few times and leaving a sms he was calling from Toto’s cell. He wants me to act in a small role in a short film directed by Manish Jha. I have to be at Gateway of India at 5:00 am sharp the next day. …

Today’s technology is breaking new grounds. Cinema is just another field witnessing the winds of change. Films or rather movies (How can we call them films, when they are shot digitally :) ) like Collateral, Apacalypto, Star Wars, Sin City, 300…..being shot digitally. But is the present technology cheap? The above mentioned films used professional high end digital cameras to meet a particular purpose, mainly to get the ambient light effects, shooting in low light or for the ease of computer graphics. These films (can’t stop myself from using the same word, please do not mind if I use it again) were not cheap, infact much more expensive than the conventional ones shot on film medium. Wouldn’t it be great if we got a digital camera, which would give similar results as the above mentioned films at a fraction of the cost. It would be relatively easier for aspiring film …

“It’s a great film”, we use this term often and,”it’s a really bad film” a little too often? What is there in a film, which strikes a chord amongst audiences? What pisses them off? Off course there will be people who like and hate a particular film. PFC has provided an awesome platform to interact with passionate film-makers. Their company introduced me to the term ‘honesty in film-making’. The outcome of a film heavily depends on this term. The following is the typical situation a film-maker faces
A film maker has a story he passionately believes in. He is desperate to tell it. By the grace of all mighty the day ultimately arrives, when he has the required resources. The shooting begins but alas theres an interruption. The film completion is delayed or the resources get exhausted. Without getting bogged down the film maker waits for the right moment. Does not …

Don’t understand where to start with. Where does this urge to learn everything involved in film making comes from? Can I control it? Will it really help me in becoming a better director? Why does it keep bothering me? Why the heck I am writing this article? Am I trying to show off my mediocre skills or stupidity? Why do I have to convince people close to me that everything in life is predetermined? Why do these people have tough time understanding it? Why can’t we have acceptance in life? May be I am in a mood to ask too many questions today? But to whom? Don’t know? Please take it light it’s a part of journey of a film student.
Lets start. Cinematography is one of the things which captures my imagination..Lot of questions keep coming to me..Why the hell it is like this and has remained like this …

The journey of becoming a film maker has taken me to the initial milestone of becoming an assistant director (AD). The team of Ads is headed by Nitesh, who has been associated with Pavan Kaul in television and films, first assistant Himanshu, who has worked in Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Lage Raho Munnabhai and Eklavya. The rest of us Justin, Ravi, Prasad and myself are first timers. Justin has made a short and is also an editor, who has worked in advertisements/serials before. Ravi is from Delhi and has a few documentaries to his credit. Prasad might be a new comer, not sure of his experiences. To my surprise I realised this is the 4th film I am involved in some respect, learning the craft of film-making. The first being ‘Jo Bole So Nihaal’ where I was production assistant, then sort of a trainee/observer in the post production of yet to …

Anurag’s favorite part of the film has started. It’s Baba Bengali’s legacy, with much awaited Anurag’s very own Gabbar, Paresh Rawal taking the centre stage! An old deserted mill touching the east sea coast in Colaba is the stage for Prayogshala. Its became a favourite spot for Bollywood after the dock scenes of ‘Hum’ and ‘Agneepath’ were shot. For films shot in Bombay vast silent space with high roof n walls within the city limits is ideal for shooting. The studios appear like a warehouse, even warehouses are used as studios ? A film maker inclined towards horror genre would be excited to have the ‘khundars’ here. But, the sets of No Smoking are very different and interesting, and can only be seen in the film. Just to give an example, there is a kind of magic box, where a person disappears when kept in it. Wasiq Khan’s team came …

It took two days to erect larger than life sets on a beach in front of a bungalow in secluded Madh Island. The call time was 7:00pm and went on till the sunrise. It was an elite party set. It required tons of light to illuminate it. Even the coconut trees in the background were lit separately. 30-40 junior artists were called to represent socialites. As the night grew it became chilly. Pavan, Hiroo and other people had come prepared with fleece and jackets. Check out the pics. The actresses were given Shawls.

Some new thing I learned on the setsJ How would the lights show up, when the negatives are developed? How can you judge it during night scenes? Any guesses? I knew that at 24 frames per sec, the exposure time is 1/60th of a sec. May be I could write a separate …

The outsiders think of film industry as extremely risky, where the Stars make billions, while the others are left poor. There are so many money making businesses/professions involved other than acting or directing. One of them is renting out the gadgets used in the films in art department. On the sets of ‘Brahm’ there was a plasma TV, which costed 7000rs/day, a music system 5000/day, which were used for 8-9 days. So imagine after renting for less than a month the plasma is paid for. You make money selling it. Then there are people who have made fortune by just renting out the wood in films. There are caterers, security companies, editing/sound/mixing studios, etc.

A normal make-up artist charges anywhere between 2000-3000 rs/shift. A special makeup man was hired, who belonged to the ad/fashion industry. His charges were @16000rs/shift. Half a day was lost as he had an emergency situation …

‘Brahm’ would fall in Drama genre, with addition of thrill, suspense elements. Dino and Milind are playing the roles of brothers. Dino been the younger sibling. The elder brother is a demi God for the younger one. Sheetal, who is playing a super model, comes into the life of Dino. Her past takes a weird journey in a flashback, creating tensions in Dino’s relations with Milind and herself. Pushing the characters into an illusion.

Sheetal Menon is a model herself and has completed an acting course. Pavan was convinced Sheetal would be able to do justice to the role. Originally she belongs to Trichur, Kerela. Manglore is her mother’s native place. She grew up in Nasik. Now lives in Mumbai. Shirdi is a special place for her family. Her family often visits the temple to seek Sai Baba’s blessing.

On the sets, Pavan, Hiroo, Dino, myself and others discuss Cinema. From Hitchcock, …

{ oz note : here are more pictures from the sets of Bhram, taken by Manjit. Kartik was caught up in work at his office and couldn’t make it to the sets, the next day. So it was Manjit alone getting “all” the attention… Kartik may join Manjit shortly, as soon as his boss at work can give him some breathing space… Oh by the way a short film written by Kartik for his buddies at FTII has received wide appreciation, including from none other than Kundan Shah (this from Kartik’s text message)… Congrats Kartik }

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