PROJEKT iVIEW : Bahut na-insaafi hai ye
iVIEW AUTHOR:
Pavan Jha (Jaipur, India)
EMAIL:
pavanjha [at] gmail [dot] com
iVIEW IS PRESENTED IN HINDI FOLLOWED BY ITS ENGLISH TRANSLATION by the Author.
IN HINDI
Ye Raamu ki aag nahin.. mere dil ki aag hai..
Ek film thi, jiska bahut besabri se intezaar tha…do saal se bhi
jyada.. is dauran bahut si filmon se appointment aur disappointment
hua, magar is chhoti si film ka besabri se intezaar raha… magar aaj
aisa laga ki film baazaar ke maafia ne apne matadhikar ka upyog karte
hue mujhe film dekhne ke adhikar se vanchit kar diya.. pichhale dino
jab suna ki “the blue umbrella” finally 10 august ko release ho rahi
hai to 11 august ki planning pahle se hi ho gayi.. magar aaj subah
subah akhbaar ke darshan hue, to saari aashaaon pe tushaarapat ho
gaya.. Chak de india 9 cinemahalls, Kaafila 9 cinemahalls, Cash 8
cinemahalls ko occupy kiye hue, magar Blue Umbrella ka poori list me
kahin bhi jikra nahin…. yahaan tak ki khel hasino ke, aur doodhwali
(what a name?) jaisi insignificant films in naamo ke saath
cinemagharon ko roshan kar rahi hain.. Magar “The Blue Umbrella” ko ek
bhi hall, ya even Ek bhi show naseeb nahin huaa… Ek baat samajh
nahin aayi sab Baazaar ka khel, magar phir bhi Kaafila jaisi low hyped
film ko bhi 9 cinema hall? aur Blue Umbrella ko ek show bhi nahin..
khair yaad aaya ki film Internet pe bhi officially release huee hai
aur iski keemat bhi jaayaj lag rahi thi aur mujhe lagaa technology ne
mujhe ek raasta diya hai, jis.se main film atleast dekh to sakta
hoon.. magar jab rajshree ki site pe downloading ke liye pahuncha to
dekha, yahaan bhi mujhe downloading ke adhikaar se vanchit kar diya
gaya.. Is message ke saath ki bhaaratvaasiyon ko ye film download
karne ka adhikar nahin hai.. kamaal hai, bharat ki film, bharat me
bani, bhartiyon ke liye, aur unhe hi ye adhikaar nahin ki wo is medium
ka upyoug karke film dekh sakein.. jahaan tak mujhe yaad hai, internet
ki definition maine “Global Village” suni aur padhi thi.. magar yahaan
bhi baazaar political boundaries ke thru apana kabza jaamaye hue
hain..
Yakeen maaniye, main baazaar ka virodhi nahin hoon.. “The Blue
umbrella” jaisi film ko main bilkul thru proper channel hi dekhna
pasand karoonga and will never ever opt for pirated dvd/downloads..
kyonki mera ye mananaa hai aisi filmon ke liye me inko thru proper
channel dekhna hi bahut bada support hai.. kahne waale kahte hain ki
is tarah ki filmon ke baazaar ko yaa to himmatwale nirmata nahin milte
ya phir darshak nahin milte… magar yahaan to dono hain.. Magar beech
ka pool jo hai wo Distributors-Exhibitors ke baazaar ne banane hi na
diya.. baazar dara hua hai.. magar mere vichaar se ek badiya bani huee
baal film se behtar koi baazaar nahin ho sakta.. filmo ki inspiration
ke liye hollywood ki taraf dekhte hain to baazaar ki inspiration ke
liye kyun nahin..
Shaam ko is aag ko bhadkaane ka kaam PFC ne bhi kiya.. PFC pe bhi kai
logon ko is film ka intezaar tha aur mujhe lagaa kuchh responses
zaroor honge film ke baare me.. magar release ke baad do dino me is
film ke baare me ek shabd bhi nahin kaha gaya? Chak de india hai,
Subhash Ghai hain magar no word on this film. Kya is film ka kasoor
sirf itna hai ki ye ek baal film hai.. iske saath SRK, Subhash ghai
jaise brands jude hue nahin hain?.. Ya in maanviya baal filmon me
Spiderman, Harry Potter jaise supranatural elements nahin hain..
Is mod pe ek baat jo main PFC ke maadhyam se Sudhir ji, Hansal ji,
Anurag, Onir jaise film makers se poochhna chaahoona, ve kya sochte
hain “Children Films” ke baare me.. Isn’t making a “GOOD” children
film is as bigger challenge as HKA, DPMLY or a Black Friday? and
believe me it would be a great service to the society if you have that
courage to make a good content for children..
Jahaan tak “The Blue Umbrella” ki baat hai, jab tak film box office pe
‘hit’ ya ‘above par’ nahin hogi, Jaipur ke kisi cinema hall me iske
dikhaye jaane ke aasaar bilkul kam hain.. to mujhe DVD release hone ka
hi intezaar karna hoga…
tab tak
Main nazar se (aansoo) pee rahaa hoon..
meraa jaam chhoone waale
tera haath jal naa jaaye..
Jaipur se, a passionate for cinema
IN ENGLISH
[Originally the article was written in Hindi on Saturday August 09,
2007.. am Translating it in English for the benefit of non hindi
readers too... ]
—————————————————————————————
Bahut na-insaafi hai ye
Ye Raamu ki aag nahin.. Mere dil ki aag hai..
Its about a film, I was waiting anxiously for long.. infact over two
years (a few documents of proofs attached herewith to give you an idea
how religiously I was following this film).. During this period I had
appointment (and disappointment) with various films, but in the list
of all coming an going big names my heart was beating and waiting for
one small film… and finally I came to know it is finally
releasing… But today this excitement could live only for a few hours
and I felt like I was deprived by the Film Mafia of Distributors and
Exhibitors from the rights of watching a film..
This is the story of my date with “The Blue Umbrella” which never
happened.. After waiting for almost two and half years for the film,
last month I came to know about its release on August 10,2007 and the
moment I was made sure that the film is releasing, I planned for
Saturday 11th August for watching the film and vacated all possible
appointments for the day.. Came Saturday morning, and within 5
minutes of reading thru of the news paper, all my planned were
trashed… Chak De India – 9 Cinema Halls with more than 30 shows,
Kaafila – 9 Cinema Halls with more than 30 shows, Cash – 8 Cinema
Halls, Rush Hour 3 – 5 Cinema Halls.. But “The Blue Umbrella” was
absolutely no where… Had a closer look at the list and I could find
even insignificant names like “Khel Hasino Ka’ and “Doodhwaali” (what
a name ?) were lightening the cinemahalls.. But “The Blue Umbrella”
was no where in the scene… Not a Single Hall… Not even a Single
Show…. I could guess the market forces are behind it, but could not
understand how come an insignificant lowly hyped film like Kaafila got
9 cinema halls (probably Apne’s little success was the reason) and
Also trashed by critics and viewers, how could a film like Cash is
still sustaining in 8 cinema halls..
I was disappointed but had not lost hope.. I thought lets try Internet
as I was aware that the film is releasing officially online too on
portals like Rajshri.com and even a rate like $10 seemed justified to
me.. So I thought of giving rajshri.com a try.. I felt like the new
technologies have definitely opened new channels for the viewers and
at least I can watch the film, what if its not on a big screen.. But
when I reached the site of Rajshri.com, I got another hammer…. The
Rajshri site told me, being an Indian in India, you are not eligible
to download the film.. Bullshit.. An Indian film, by an Indian, made
in India, for India and we don’t have eligibility to download it.. I
have been reading for years that Internet has transformed the world in
to a global village… But even here the mafia of box office business
has been playing games using political boundaries..
Honestly speaking I am not against Market or Box Office Business.
Infact I would always like to see a film like “The Blue Umbrella” thru
a proper channel only and will never-ever opt for a Pirated
DVD/Torrent Download.. I believe, watching such films thru a proper
channel is definitely the way to support this kind of cinema.. A
general opinion about this kind of cinema is, either there are not
enough courageous film makers to make such films and even if there are
attempts, there are no viewers… But I can see the presence of both
here… But the bridge between the two (the film makers and the
viewers) has been bombed by the fear factor of baazaar.. The
distributors and exhibitors are terrified with the possible BO outcome
and want to play safe game.. BUT I truly believe there is nothing
Bigger Market than a “GOOD” and “WELL MADE” Children film… Our BO
looks towards Hollywood films for inspiration in script but why don’t
it looks for the formula of success for well made children films in
the Hollywood..
Anyway.. disappointed on both Cinema and Internet front, I came to PFC
(as I usually do) for some responses by PFC members on the film.. as I
knew lots of PFC members had shown great interest in this film.. and I
though at least I can read something on the film.. whether it met
expectation or not.. But could not find a single word said on the film
in even after two days of release.. There is Chak de India, there is
Subhash Ghai… but no word on “the Blue Umbrella”.. Could it be,
because it does not have brand lables like SRK or Subhash Ghai? or
because such human “children” films are lacking supranatural elements
like in Harry Potter or Spiderman for discussions.. Anyway I am
hopeful that I am at the right place and I am soon gonna see at least
a few reviews/messages on the film.. but its Sunday morning and have
yet to see someone writing about it..
At this juncture, I would definitely like to ask film makers on PFC
like Sudhir Mishra ji, Hansal Mehta ji, Anurag and Onir… What do
they think about making film for Children of this country.. Isn’t
making a “GOOD” children film is as bigger challenge as HKA, DPMLY,
Black Friday or Bas Ek Pal.. Dont the Children of this country deserve
“GOOD Films”… Believe me it would be a great service for the society
if anyone has that courage to provide “good” quality contents to the
future of India.. Please, please please, Sir.. give it a thought some
time.. some moment..
As far as my viewing of Blue Umbrella is concerned, I believe as long
as “The Blue Umbrella” wins the BO and even fairs above average, I
feel a very dim chance of its release in any theater of Jaipur.. So
will wait for the official DVD release of the film.. but would surely
love to hear about this film on PFC.. Waiting.. waiting and waiting..
till then…
Main nazar se (aansoo) pee raha hoon..
Mera jaam chhone waale
Tera Haath Jal Na Jaaye
Just another passionate for cinema..
Pavan Jha
Jaipur
and here are some of the proofs of my passionate waiting for the Blue
Umbrella…
Feb 25, 2005 : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulzarfans/message/2638
May 19, 2005 : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulzarfans/message/2926
Nov 10, 2005 : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulzarfans/message/3477
Jul 23, 2007 : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulzarfans/message/5600
Aug 10, 2007 : http://gulzars.blogspot.com
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
Pavan, as a member of Gulzar fans I know how keen you were to watch the movie. However I must say I think the children would find hard to patronize this movie. The slow pace of the movie, hard to follow dialects would go against the film. Of course the film is very well made, a classic I would say. But more than kids this is a movie for the adults reflecting on their childhood when there was no satellite TV or video games.
@Pavan Jha,very well written article.Waise ye haalat har small city aur town me hai,waha pe keval khans,roshans,mithun,dharmander aur kuch c grade movies lagti hai.Waise bangalore me bhi halaat bahut acche nahi hai. Bangalore ke kisi bhi theater ya multilplex me “dharam” release nahi hui thi aur “black friday” bhi keval 2 multiplex me hi release hui thi.
Thanks for sharing your experience.:):)
mere priya oz
aapka post padhke bahut kushi hui.
Bahut khushi hui yeh jaan kar ki bharat desh mein blue umbrela jaisi chitrapat ke liye kisi ka dil rota hain.
Lekin main aapki ek baat se sahmat nahi hun. Woh yeh hain ki Blue Umbrella ko aisa din dekhna pada kyon ki woh ek bal film hain.
Nahi oz. aap galat ho. Blue Umbrella ek bal film nahi hain.
just because it has baal in it does not make it a baal film.
i think blue umbrella yeh ek universal film hain.
Na ki ek baal film
Yeh ek aise film hain to bachoo se le kar budho tak sab ke liye hain. kyon ki uska message universal hain.
aapke post ke liye hardil dhanyawad. aapke aagli post ka intezaar rahega
Rahul,
btw just downloaded Blue Umbrella from Rajshri and am watching it… 
Yeh post maine nahin… Pavan Jha ne likha hain…
@Ankit, @Rahul
I never intended to restrict “The Blue Umbrella” to the genre of Children Film for sure.. I truly believe its more of a “Human Cinema” than a Children film.. Something like Iranian films of late.. or even our own Malgudi Days?
Also I haven’t seen it as yet but I am very sure there is a lot of kiddish element in the film with which, kids from different age groups can identify with.. The songs prove it so as my 3.5 year old son does.. I also do believe there is a good message/ moral in the film for children.. I love Children films and wait for them like anything as I haven’t got to see many good Children films in last 30-35 years.. specially today there is a big dearth (like never before) of “good” “human” children films.. Earlier this was not the case, we had lots of quality stuff and a proper balance in the supra-natural and the human tales.. For every Indrajaal Comics there were Paraag and Nandan.. For every Spiderman (Cartoon) and Giant robot, there were Malgudi Days and Tenalirama… For every 1-2-3-4 there was Kachchi Dhoop too..
but in recent years the balance has gone and only films like Harry Potter, Spiderman and Krrish can reach to Children.. that is why a film like “the Blue Umbrella” is significant for children more than anyone else..
@Shatrughan
boss Jaipur is not a small town.. We have about 10 multiplexes in the city (each with 2-3 screens, plus lots of single screens) and even more are coming (also you can make out about 18 cinema halls had Chak de and Kaafila..)… But I am in complete agreement with you that despite so many multiplexes and also in smaller towns, the smaller films still homeless…
pavan..want ur special comments on my iview post..http://passionforcinema.com/projekt-iview-gulzars-lyrics-old-wine-in-new-bottle/
dipankar..
somehow missed your post earlier.. will surely do it tomorrow
Pavan
arey Jha jee, hum bhi Jaipur se hi hain. aur wahaan ke film selection(ya deslection) se achchi tarah waakif hain.:)
even after all those multiplexes opening up, there seems to little or no encouragement for out of rut films. The last time I went there, I saw ‘pyar ke side effects’ in a ok-filled hall(I think EP), which was empty by the interval with comments like “kya yaar, kaisa ch****a director hai, mallika ko bhi daala aur koi scene bhi nahi hai”
as Shatrughan said, Blore(where I am now) aint much better. Jo hall Jaipur mein mainstream films kha jaati hain, kuchh wahi haal yahaan pe regional filmo ka hai, bahut jhagda bhi hua hai ispe. due to which now we do see hindi releases in time, but english and other outside cinema suffers. for e.g. we still haven’t had Zodiac/The Transformers release here…
anyways, nice to see your love for good cinema. keep the fire alive. cheers!