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Shantaram: And OSCAR may go to Amitabh Bachchan!
Shantaram may bring an OSCAR to Amitabh Bachchan in the category of best supporting actor. If Khader Bhai’s character is given same importance in the film as it has been given by Gregory David Roberts in his book then this character provides a solid ground to AB to play the role in a wonderful manner and perhaps he grabs an OSCAR for this powerful supporting role.
David might have created character of Khader Bhai , the Mafia boss, on the basis of some real life mafia dons of Bombay but he certainly had kept personality (may be on screen persona) of Amitabh Bachchan in his mind while defining traits of this character. While reading the book, it seems at so many places that Amitabh is present in the book in the form of Khader Bhai.
This can be a life time role for Amitabh Bachchan. Film can put screen on fire because first time a big Hollywood star, Johnny Depp and Amitabh Bachchan, the biggest mega star of Hindi cinema, will be sharing screen space. Shantaram is a vast subject and its almost guranteed that a big film w’d be coming out of the material given in the book.
Amitabh gets a chance to expand horizon of his acting skill and perhaps his role will also be remembered in the league of Marlon Brando’s role of Don Vito Corleone in God Father.
Lately AB has not been getting challenging roles. Good roles, which could help him to grow further as an actor, have been away from him. All of his present days directors are not thinking beyond the work, already done by him in the past. And in such scenario Khader Bhai’s character brings a golden opportunity before him to show his fine acting skills.
Khader Bhai is the call of Amitabh Bachchan only. He fits very well in the role in every sense. This is not call of any of the actor Pankaj Kapoor, OM Puri or Naseeruddin Shah as book does not contain their influence on the character.
To select AB in the role of Khader Bhai indicates that Mira Nair is walking on right path and it shows that she has understood the character well.
Shantaram is a very lively book and touches vast canvass. It captures Bombay’s life, sponsored terrorism and deals with unified Islamic power also. It deals with refugee problems, it tackles slums, it covers human trafficking, it shows police atrocities and it describes illegal trades also. Mystery, drugs, sex and violence etc are parts of the plot and bounty of human emotions like love, hate, intrigues etc, are also there and faith and miracles also occupy a place in the plot. Its like combining Shidney Sheldon and Paulo Coelho.
This is a pity that neither any Hindi cinema director could pick up this interesting book nor any big Hindi cinema producer could buy the rights to make a film on this wonderful book. Johnny Depp is doing what biggies of hindi cinema should have done.
Ideally Shekhar Kapur’s name pops up in the mind when handling of such a vast subject comes in to the existence. Its loss of directors like Vishal Bhardwaj and Anurag Kashyap also as the book could have given them scope to make a big and international film. But perhaps it did not come under their interests otherwise they could have selected the book at right time. Its loss of UTV like big producers also. A wonderful book existed right under their nose but they could not see it.
Johnny Depp has selected Mira Nair as the director for this project. It will be first of its kind for Mira Nair and perhaps Salam Bombay could have been the basis for Johnny Depp to decide in favour of Mira Nair as her first film deals with slums in Bombay and Shantaram also covers life in slums. We have to see what kind of treatment Mira Nair gives to this big subject. She has adapted books on screen in the past also but first time she will be handling organised crime which covers burning issue of unified Islamic power also. It’s a wonderful opportunity for Mira Nair as a director, as seldom directors get such a subject where they have to cover different kinds of sub plots also.
To do full justice with this subject one has to have the capability to maintain international treatment of the subject and at same time Indian flavour should not be lost because that is the basic ground beneath the subject.
Book has many parallel threads which even can be filmed independently. Book provides enough material to make a film which may be remembered in the category of God Father, Casablanca, Apocalypse now etc where love flourishes between the violence and crime and humanity raises head on the surface time to time and importance of philosophy in the life is established while taking important decisions in the life.
Right casting is very important in such a vast subject.
(1)Main character Lindsayaka Shantaram :
demands an actor like Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp who could look tough at times and who could also handle emotions well. Johnny Depp is playing the central character. He has vulnerability to do full justice to this role.
(2) Khader Bhai:
Amitabh Bachchan has rightly been selected to play this character. Khader Bhai basically belongs to a ruler family of an Afgan tribe. He controls the organised crime in Bombay. He is powerful, mysterious and yet so many times he looks so humane whenever he is filled with emotions only, towards his dear ones. Different facets of his character are revealed slowly in the book. His character consists of many twists and its difficult for Lindsay to define him in clear cut black and white category. It’s a bigger role than role of Don Vito Corleone. It has more shades and this character has more relevance in modern times because of his association with Islamic powers trying to make a union. His life, from childhood to his death, demands a separate film.
(2) Prabhakar :
He is a young (24-25 years old) Indian tourist guide with whom Lindsay meets as soon as he gets down from the bus after reaching to Bombay. Prabhakar is very important character in the book as he is the first person who introduces Lindsay to India and Indian realities. Prabhakar takes Lindsay to his village in the interior of Maharashtra and where Lindsay actually gets the name Shantaram from Prabhakar’s mother. Prabhakar is first Indian friend of Shantaram. Through Prabhakar, Shantaram’s views about India are formed. He has an emotional relationship with Prabhakar. When Prabhakar dies then this loss is not less emotional than the separation of Jai and Veeru in Sholay, after Jai is killed. Prabhakar’s death leaves a sad void in the plot and in the life of Shantaram also, a void which can not be filled again.
Prabhakar has an infectious laugh. He wants to help Shantaram in any case whether he has capability or not. He first gives him name Lin on the basis of Shivlinga. He calls him Lin Baba.
Vinay Pathak kind of actor fits in the role but he is too fair and aged than the character. But perhaps reduction in his weight and make up can bring him in right morphological shape to play this character.
Deepak Dobariyal and Dibyendu Bhattacharya of Black Friday fame can also lift this character on their shoulders, considering the fact they have to learn Marathi accent.
Otherwise there was a performer in Great Indian laughter challenge, who looked similar to the character of Prabhakar. Perhaps his name was Shatrughan. He belonged to Bihar and as he was not an actor so he certainly needs workshop but if Deepak Dobariyal etc get the role then Shatrughan’s persona suggests how Prabhakar should look on the screen. He is a natural fit in the role. This happens many times that actors play characters on screen better than the person on whom the character was based but real life person triggers off the imagination in the actors and they take some mannerisms from them and expand later while performing.
(3) Abdullah Tahiri :
He is an Iranian by birth and basically he is a fighter in the gang of Khader Bhai. A quiet person by nature and he is a devoted follower of Khader Bhai but dangerous for their enemies. Some years ago this could have been a role suitable for Sanjay Dutt but he is now quite old to play this role.
Hritik Roshan will not play the role because its not a leading role and screen play may not give enough screen space for this character but it can be a very good role for any actor. Saif Ali Khan may also be having similar reservations about length of the role else he was also good for the role as he knows how to act while remaining silent. Abhishek Bachchan can also act without saying dialogues but he has to work on his physique for this character. He needs solid muscular body, managed by regular exercise to play this role of a warrior. Abhishek had missed Namesake but he can do it now and considering his father is also playing an important character in the film, he may do this role. It will only help him and he has no harm in doing this role.
(4) Qasim Ali Hussain :
He is a friend of Khader Bhai and manages the slums developed on the grounds occupied by Khader Bhai. He is also a powerful person but he is calm and caring person in nature. He takes care of the people living in the slums controlled by him. He is chief of the slums in every sense. He is not educated but he is sensible and he motivates Lin to do social works in slums and arranges every kind of help he needs. Nana Patekar, Naseeruddin Shah or Pankaj Kapoor are the actors for this character if he has to be shown in age category of Khader Bhai and if he can be bit younger then Irrfan Khan fits the role.
(5) Prabhakar’s parents,
Neelu Phule was the ideal actor to play role of father of Prabhakar. But he must be quite old now to play father of a 25 years old person. Anjan Srivastava is also fine. One can imagine him asking Lin to touch his bare belly. And Bharti Acherekar or Suhasini Mule or Reema Lagoo any of the female actor can play Prabhakar’s mother. If scenes of Prabhakar’s village, given in the book, are kept in the film also and scenes when they visit slums in Bombay are also kept then these are good supporting roles and have enough scope for actors to make their presence visible and appealing.
(6) Karla:
She is a beautiful European woman. She is always a mystery for Lin. He is attracted towards her but she has always something hidden about her which brings a new facet of hers before Lin and he is left astonished. Kate Winslet fits the role and consideration that she already has enough exposure towards India, adds to her inclusion in the project. After Titnaic, she had visited India and had seen small places like Rishikesh closely and living with Indian family there for days might have exposed her more about India and these things may bring authenticity in her performance. Later, during the shooting of Holi Smoke also she had lived in India. In the book, she has been living in India for years and now its her real home and she does not wish to go back.
Karla and Lin’s love story has western shades and its like a regular love story based Hollywood film where characters meet and separate many times before final union or departure. It’s a mini film inside a big film and will bring an interesting watch specially because of the fact that Lin does not know all things about Karla and he even does not know that all this time when she was dating him, she was working for Khader Bhai. But their love story will bring many interesting romantic scenes, specially when they visit Goa.
(7) Vikram Patel,
He is son of a rich man. He is highly impressed with Client Eastwood and other western films and always appears in that get up only. He makes friends with Karla and Shantaram and Dildier. He ultimately marries Karla’s friend. He is funny at times but he is not scared in going with Lin to fight with criminals. He is also not a character with single dimension characteristics and an actor needs to show different moods of the character. Govinda perhaps will not do it and Arshad Warsi is other name who will shine in this role.
(8) Madam Zhao,
This mysterious madame runs a brothel for rich and powerful in Bombay. Very few people have seen her as she lives in her mansion and does not come out. Many stories are floating there about her. Karla and Lin meet her to take away a friend of Karla who is working as a prostitute in her brothel.
Simi Grewal and Rekha both are capable to play this role if role has to be played by an Indian actress. But they are old now and if some scenes of her youth days have to be shown in flash back, while showing her earlier days in india, then it will be tough and in such case Kangana Ranaut can be used as with make up she may be shown as older woman. She has very bad kind of dialogue deliver, possessed by an actress ever in Hindi cinema but her face may bring her this role considering the background of Madam Zhao in the book. With Proper make up Kangana may look like the character described in the book. Otherwise many aged Hollywood actresses are there to play this role.
(9) Other characters,
There are many characters in the film and in the international gang of Khader Bhai there are several characters which have importance in the plot like Khalid Ansari, and Nasseruddin Shah, Om Puri, Pankaj Kapoor, Pawan Malhotra like capable actors can be used in such powerful roles.
Many actors of Black Friday team can be used in the characters living in slums and who are friends of Prabhakar and Lin.
Khader Bhai loves his nephew and role of this child can be played by any of the child actor Diwj Yadav or Darsheel. They may make this small role memorable.
(10) Kanu the Bear,
Kanu keeps an important place in the book but its not certain that film will also keep this animal in the film. Not sure if shooting with animals is still allowed in India or not? To keep joy factor intact in the film, Kanu bear, should be there.
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One weakness of the book should be refined in the film:-
Book suggests that when, because of heavy rain, Karla is stuck in Taj Mahal Hotel at Gateway of India then Lin goes there with a boat in a taxi and brings her from there. He sees there Rajan, the main man of Madam Jhao and he finds hate in the eyes of Rajan. Same night, police arrests him and sends him to jail where he is tortured to extreme. After he comes out his only wish is to know that who was the person behind his arrest?
Everybody understands that its Madam Jhao, who managed him to get arrested but he, an intelligent and criminal mind, does not get this clue. Author could not handle this sub plot very well. There is no mystery for readers in this case but there are at-least 100 pages covering this angle.
Film should handle it differently and wisely so that mystery looks like a genuine mystery else this important point in the main plot may marr the spirit of the film.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Book is a big one and hope film does full justice to the subject and audiences get to see a great film. Organised Crime, suspense, relationships, philosophy etc are the elements which are found in films which are termed as great films and Shantaram provides dose of each of the element mentioned above. Waiting eagerly, for this film.
Very True! even I visualized Bachchan as Khader Bhai. But for Prabhakar’s role, I had in mind the actor who played ‘Dedh Phutya’ in Vastav…unfortunately I don’t remember his name.
But I am apprehensive of Bachchan winning any awards…its too early to predict anything…I want him to win though:)
@ RK,… Kam likha karo ! Most of the time u write meandering monologues which bore us readers to death ! And u know your english grammer is bad ! Please change ! Brevity is the soul of wit ! Still !
Ok,…back to the subject ! I have watched the Oscars live for the last 14 yrs. religiously. If AB wins an Oscar I shall discontinue the practice. I aint saying the undeserving havent made it,… but AB is not even an actor ,…and he knows it !
Sorry ! Typo @ “grammar”
RK, thats an interesting wish list of cast that you’ve come up with. Mira Nair should read this post, it could help her in finalising the cast of Shantaram.
With Mira Niar at the helm we could expect a larger than life perfomance from AB, some other Hollywood Director would have restrained him.
This book could have been easily adapted by any Bollywood Director, but then buying movie rights of literary works is not the done thing in our Industry. There was a long-winded debate on this in another post recently.
The actor adhik’s mentioned is Sanjay Narvekar.I feel RK has managed to select the right actors for all the roles. I feel Om Puri could do Qasim Ali though,he’d suit the role. RKbhai,u’ve missed out a couple of important characters.U missed out Didier,who’s a very important character :D.
RK sir??? Is it you who wrote this? Status check here… sir, please re-read the prose!!! U know we digg ur articles(all of us!!!)…
Anyways, now that you put it like that, the debate starts again. Ab for Khader bhai!
Do u really mean it?
According to me Paresh Rawal or D Santosh are perfect choice for Prabhakar.
Good post RK. Relived the Shantaram book.
yeah to think of it D Santosh would really fit in the role of Prabhakar…..D Santosh go for it !!!!!
whenever i think of prabhakar the first face that comes to my mind is shreyas talpade. i like his comic timing and he can portray the innocence that for me is a big part of prabhakar
shreyas talpade acts in a very ‘bollywoodized’ way .. not good for an international film
@RK wasnt the film shelved some time back .. or is it back on track ?
shantram must be a heavy man. of big built. imposing physical presence. jonny depp doesn’t fit the bill.
:(
:d
=((
=:)
>:d<
@};-
graameer
i don’t care about grammar. let me tell you since when.
once i was in a discussion with a woman. she was of academic background. i was speaking hindi with perfect grammar and diction. after i have been talking for few moments, i looked at her. she looked almost - what to say - kind of afraid. i deduced that it is because of my language. that very moment i fall back to normal language. relaxation on her face was visible.
#-o
%-(:-t
This kind of post makes me wonder whether the Oscar once again becomes the ulterior symbol of recognition for Indians and Indian Cinema.Why do we need to be recognized by the West to assert our credibility?The Oscar night anyways has long forgotten artistic merit,and prosituted itself to Harvey Weinstein and the likes…
The other thing that worries me is the clubbing of The Godfather,Casablanca and Apocalypse Now..
The three are as different as chalk and cheese.I don’t see any reason for them to be clubbed together except for the fact that Hollywood Studio Ass Kissing American Film Institutes consistently place these in their Top 100 All time Great films.The Only similarity between the first and the last being both are derived from a book–Apocalypse Now more than just one.More importantly I or any avid cineaste would shudder to think of Casablanca as a cinematic masterpiece–it is a mediocre film,that is a pastiche of every cliche,which somehow click in each other’s presence and allow it to enjoy a fan following that would silence even the loudest of The Beatles fans…
Why did Johnny Depp choose Mira Nair for adapting Shantaram?What does she bring to the table for such a project?And why is Khader Bhai being compared to The Godfather?Is he wise and intelligent, an excellent reader of others
Vishrant,
Grammer isnt important. But, its important to make sense..Immense fervour and zippy enthusiasm aside, an article shud make sense..
Playback,
Oh c’mmon brother.. Stop being so judgemental.. Remember, you too were like RK…. 18 years ago..
@French: “This kind of post makes me wonder whether the Oscar once again becomes the ulterior symbol of recognition for Indians and Indian Cinema”–I wish Bollywood would just work to refine their own award functions instead of trying to win an Oscar, but perhaps they are so obsessed with trying to win an Oscar because in the past it has been a challenge and they want to overcome that challenge…
This reminds me of the mistake Jay Cocks made when he advised Martin Scorsese to adapt Edith Wharton’s book into Age of Innocence..
Jonathan Rosenbaum in his review describes this harakiri as follows
“the project winds up a noble failure, testifying throughout to Scorsese’s resourcefulness in plowing through an impossible mission–much better to my taste than Cape Fear, and considerably more likable (if less successful) than GoodFellas–it may be because the subject is diametrically opposed to what he usually does best as a filmmaker. I had assumed that the Visconti of The Leopard would be Scorsese’s key model; 15 minutes into the movie, I realized that Welles’s The Magnificent Ambersons was exerting an even stronger influence. But the fact remains that Welles–and Booth Tarkington (the author of Ambersons), Visconti, and Giuseppe Tomasi (the author of The Leopard)–are all better equipped to understand Wharton’s world, by virtue of their upper-class backgrounds, than Scorsese is. Even a bourgeois type like Antonioni seems better suited to capture the faint tremors and enduring ambiguities of Wharton’s fiction.
Perhaps the tribalism of the New York families is what attracted Scorsese’s interest–a thematic concern that supposedly makes this film the blood brother (if not the blood sister) of Mean Streets, Raging Bull, and GoodFellas. That, at any rate, is cowriter Jay Cocks’s suggestion as to why he brought this novel to Scorsese’s attention. But even if one accepts the loose connection between Wharton and Scorsese as ethnographers of their different tribes, that doesn’t mean that either one is qualified to comment on the other’s territory. If Wharton were alive and working today as a filmmaker, would Cocks have suggested she make a movie about macho rituals among working-class Italian Americans? ”
This makes me wonder,with the kind of trappings Shantaram has,is Mira Nair the right person to head such a project?
Amand: After such a profoundly profound(…et al) sarcastic spin,could we please talk some sense now?:-?
french
please point out the sarcasm in amanda’s post for me. i didn’t find it even after repeat readings.
:((
French,
The age of innocence, as I saw it, dealt with the same set of attributes that ALL OF Scorsese’s revered films have..
Stack Goodfellas against AOI.. They both are essentially films that analyse what it is to be existing in a certain state where there r pre-set definitions of what is considered right or wrong. About what it means when a certain character places his logic, instinct and intellect against that vagaries of the system and makes his own decisions..
And then what it is to be living life in that very system.. even the “Public innocence” vs. “Private Guilt” feeling finds its way in the film like in most his ventures..
I believe that the age of innocence is probably Scorsese’s most underrated film.
As a point of distinction, you could say that the camera was a lot more visible in that film when compared to the others.. But, it still had a very unobtrusive presence..
french
i agree with the point you made about mira nair being the right choice as director. your quote is quite to the point.
suggest alternative
mine
RGV
:-?
:-s
French,
And also… I dont understand the analogy that u have brought up here… Even if u consider Jay Cock’s suggestion to make TAOI a movie to be a mistake… how does that mirror with Mira Nair’s decision to make “Shantaram” into a movie..
How do these two “supposed miscalculations” allign with each other??
@Vishrant
Vidhu Vinod Chopra but BIG B shouldn’t play any role if any of them is directing. Yes, I am still optimistic abt VC’s directorial abilities.
@ adhik
yes he made parinda
:)
oscar or no oscar, if this film ever gets made with AB as kader bhai, it will be the role of his lifetime. kader is an epitome of good for many as well as for evil for some. the contradiction of the character will be a treat to watch.
Johnyy Depp is ideal for the role or linbaba.
I believe, Marla Singer has been finalized for the role of Karla, and she is well suited for that role.
Abdullah taheri reminds me of Aamir Khan of Earth, but I guess you need a taller person for that character. A new comer from Iran might fit the role perfectly.
For prabhakar, I had always visualized Rajpal yadav. His built and natural flair for broken english will suit him more than any other actor around in bollywood.
Irfan Khan is best suited for Qasim bhai.
Vishal might have suited better as the director, but Mira nair too has the capability to pull it on.
Vishrant: I never got around to reading Shantaram so I don’t know who would be the appropriate choice,but(Sreehari your answer lies here)I doubt somone who is known for for creating nicely realized characters but is rather heavy handed in handling societal landscapes is the apt choice.
Sreehari:I’ll take you back to Rosenbaum’s review for your answers
“Scorsese’s street-smart, Little Italy origins are no disgrace; they simply point his perceptions in a certain direction. But trying to focus on Wharton’s world inevitably places him in the role of a drooling paisan with his nose pressed against the window. It’s one thing for Wharton, in the midst of a 362-page novel, to describe a dinner that Newland Archer, the lawyer hero, shares with his employer: “after a velvety oyster soup came shad and cucumbers, then a young broiled turkey with corn fritters, followed by a canvas-back with currant jelly and a celery mayonnaise.” But it’s quite another for Scorsese, in a 133-minute movie, to highlight each of these items in a separate decorously lit and framed shot. The novel is already consumerist, to be sure–Wharton’s method of mainstreaming Henry James is very much a matter of simplifying the style and amplifying the set decoration–but what figures as a fleeting aside in her prose becomes a TV ad for Gourmet magazine in the movie. ”
For the “unobstrusive camera movements you talk about,
“Much later in the film, after Archer is married and he and his wife are giving their first big dinner party, there’s an elaborate camera movement to set the scene that seems to come straight out of Sternberg’s The Scarlet Empress–an overhead pan up the laden banquet table to Archer at the head of it, then a backward track past the same opulent array of foodstuffs, then a crane up and away from the end of the table. In Sternberg’s movie, the point of such a show-off maneuver is the spectacle of conspicuous consumption at the court of Catherine the Great. But in Scorsese’s movie the key point is supposed to be Archer’s inability to communicate more than superficially with the woman he secretly loves, whose farewell party this is, before she returns to Europe. (”He was a prisoner in the center of an armed camp,” says the offscreen narrator.) Both conspicuous consumption and private grief are articulated in this scene, but given the studied grandiloquence of the opening it’s the former that takes the upper hand, overwhelming the dramaturgy. Thanks to this kind of emphasis there’s a lot to “ooo” and “ahh” at in this movie, but much less to sink your teeth into, and still less to think about afterward.”
If you were to aske me,I’d say Scorsese cuts to too many distracting angles and such shifts don’t correspond to a dramatic or analytic point; they were the nervous tics of an awed director who wasn’t entirely sure what to do with his camera in relation to a scene but liked the visual pattern yielded by a bird’s-eye perspective on all this splendor. There’s nothing criminal about these cuts if mannerist doodling is all that’s intended, but I don’t think it would Welles or Visconti would think of doing such a thing unless it corresponds to something they wanted to assert.
IMO Scorsese’s most under-feted films would be King of Comedy and Kundun,but it doesnt really matter because his Casino,Goodfellas and Raging Bull are gloriously over-rated.
rectified typo:
Helena Carter for the role of Karla. I wasnt able to recapitulate the name and so looked up in imdb. Instead I picked up the name of her character from fight club :o
French,
Lets just leave TAOI just for the time being. Cos your opinion seems to be based on some critic’s POV of the film, rather than yours..
But lets just focus on this other point you have brought in here..
//If you were to aske me,I
Sreehari: I used Rosenbaum’s critique just to pit out what the issue was with Scorsese doing this particular adaptation,rather than to form an opinion.From a purely narrative point of view I feel that a kind of unifying vision and strategy was missing from the film and Scorsese never quite got around to telling the story,for all the spectacular commentaries he offered,and those cuts to such distracting angles were symptomatic of that in the Age of Innocence,as opposed to being a pervasive influence over Scorsese’s oeuvre.
RK saaaab,
a bit tooooo presumtuous are we today??
movie bana nahin banne ka chances kam hota jaa raha hain (with the same cast) aur aaap oscar ki baat kar rahe hain!!!!!
French,
But your previous comment was a generalized one bidding for a common deficiency that U THINK ails most of Scorsese’s film and not just TAOI. Cite sequences that u thought suffered from this deficiency.
Start with Raging Bull…
@Animesh,My cousin owns the book.Really good book,but my advice,go for the paperback rather than the hardback ;). Lovely pics and stuff,but came out too early
now amitabh wants a frigen oscar for shantaram ?!
how did the pandath put it?
gaya bhains pani me
jonny depp on shantaram
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1waEbGJneOg
mira nair on shantaram
http://tinyurl.com/2klhr8
This article reminds me of the time when Lagaan was contesting with movies like Amelie and No man’s land in the oscars foreign film section. Even people who have never even bothered to take a look at the credentials of the oscar winners until then, were so excited to forward the Internet poll links to their friends.
Wake up bollywood..!!!!!
@PLAYBACK
But AB is not even an actor…and he knows it!
I am not sure whether AB knows it or not but it seems you definitely know it…awesome!
Ok the more reasoned response.
IF amitabh does not chew up the scenery like he did in cheeni kum, last lear, rgv ki aag….
IF mira nair gives him a mother of all makeovers that doesnt involve him looking like sean connery in man who will be king,
IF the production company has the wearwithal to push for a supporting actor oscar
IF the academy voters suddenly turn non racist
and IF AB shuts the crap up about his performance in shantaram being oscar worthy,
I can actually think of circumstances in late 2009 when shantaram will prove soo popular that it may be in contention for more than the odd oscar nom.
If Amitabh needs an oscar bad, though, he should work his contacts for a lifetime achievement oscar, which is easier for him to get imo.
Sreehari: That is a gross distortion of my arguments.I did never posit that Scorsese does not know how to use his camera,the point was just that he was not the right man for this particular adaptation(for the reasons given above).
My problems with Raging Bull,Goodfellas and Casino are purely ideological/from a narrative POV,and completely irrelevant to the post.
Casting of Shantaram : thats quite an interesting topic.
Here’s my take -
1)Lindsay/Shantaram - Johnny Depp is doing it.
Lin is physically well built,not so good looking,
vulnerable american/austrialian guy.
Somehow feel Russell crowe could do more justice to the role.
2)Kaderbhai - character is iranian who has moved to india
& become a underworld don/messiah.
Philosophical/mystic ways.Strong voice.Powerful screen presence.
AB suits it -but dont know if he can pull it for the character is too deep.
3)Karla - news is Helena carter has been finalized.
i dont think she fits the bill - character is indianised firang.
kate winslet comes close.
4)Prabhaker : character is Maharastrian young taxi-driver/guide.
He is funny & very friendly.
Sanjay Narvekar/Rajpal yadav/Atul kulkarni(?)
5)Abdullah taheri : iranian young guy,physically well built
Neil nitin mukesh ?????
6) Qasim ali : Pankaj kapur or Naseerudin Shah
7) Kavita singh : Bipasha
8) Dildier : Ralph fiennes
9) Vikram patel : Kal penn/Arshad varsi
10)Prabhaker’s mom n dad - Rima lagu n pankaj kapur(if me misses qasim ali)
Why don’t we step back, stop being judgmental, and look again at the premise of the post?
For those who have read one of RK’s previous posts on the yuppie fiction, this post doesn’t come as a surprise.
He’s read a book. He liked it. He wanted to share *his take on the book* apropos of the upcoming adaptation.
If you re-read this post with the above facts in perspective, the confusion ceases to exist.
And yes, about the Oscar-to-AB-wala observation… it’s tad rich. Agreed.
But… SHUSH… in the grand scheme of things, all the other things being equal, anything is possible, ain’t it?
And to all those who complain about the length, breadth, depth and other semantic dimensions of the post… three lines.
1. It’s not like you were forced at gunpoint to read this, was it?
2. Some worship Shashi Tharoor and some Vikram Seth.
3. Be a green thumb in your mind garden; and
4. Floss regularly, capise?
And, that makes it four lines.
Peace!
All those people who hate AB….please state why you do so…coz I think he is the kind of ACTOR SUPERSTAR that is such a rarity in the Indian film industry…people, criticism just for the sake of it doesnt help anybody…PLAYBACK dude I kno u r this ‘Lets-start-a-fire’ kind of guy..but seriously half of the people who hate AB do so just because he is a superstar(and we all know everybody wants to look cool((sometimes subconsciously))by belonging to the opposite group)…
@ Avijit Pathak,…Dude, how do you know I am this “Lets-start-a-fire” kind of guy ?
And my reasons for saying what I did about AB is based on pure technicalities of acting which almost all our Bollywood performers are igorant of,…save a few.
But then its understandable,…we are a nation which fed off “nautanki” for centuries and havent quite come out of it. We cant make the distinction between acting and “chhamiya dancing” & “jamboora” slipping on banana peel.
Sreehari Bhai sorry ! …and I extend my apologies to RK too !
Avijit ^ 42 // Hate is a pretty strong word to describe my discomfort with AB, so, no, I don’t hate AB. Can’t speak for others but I’ll tell you what I think. Thanks to the exposure they have been getting during the past 15 or so years due to the MSM, the actors are no longer the same enigmatic and celestial beings they used to be. Their personalities are exposed, their off-screen behavior is now known to public, and the aura that makes them the stars wears off, slowly but surely. On the other hand, public is now aware of the roots of *inspiration* behind every desi movie. We watch, we learn, we grow. In my case, the mental image of AB I had when I was a 5 year old no longer matches the real image of AB I see now, and that is about it. Let’s just say that there are better actors, and I know that now. Make no mistake - he is a fighter and a good actor. But his work no longer evinces the same euphoria, and he perhaps should take it easy.
Avijit, i agree with u.
:d/:d/:d/
Casting of Shantaram :
1)Lindsay/Shantaram - Shahrukh Khan
2)Kaderbhai - Shahrukh Khan
3)Karla - Deepika Padukone
4)Prabhaker : Shahrukh Khan
5)Abdullah taheri : Shahrukh Khan
6) Qasim ali : Pankaj kapur or Naseerudin Shah
7) Kavita singh : Deepika Padukone
8) Dildier : Shahrukh Khan
9) Vikram patel : Shahrukh Khan
10)Prabhaker
Qasim Ali bhi - Shahrukh Khan :d
I would cast as follows:
1)Lindsay/Shantaram - Gotta be slightly rednecky and big…growing older through the film…can even be somewhat latin/chicano.
Danny trejo comes to mind.
2)Kaderbhai - feroz khan
3)Karla - Hard bodied femme fatale. She should be young white , of the streets but should look like she can kick ass if she must.
Anjalina jolie or lindsay lohan.
4)Prabhaker : Nana patekar
5)Abdullah taheri : Shiney Ahuja
6) Qasim ali : irfan khan
7) Kavita singh : deepika pudukone
8) Dildier : who else? jean reno
9) Vikram patel : jason schwatzman
10)Prabhaker
“But then its understandable,
or karla: maggie gyllenhal
this is my shantaram and karla
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2077464832/nm0001803
@adhik (1),
I dont exactly recall the actor of Vastava. Bad memory:(
—
Basic idea behind such post is to accelerate the imginative power of an individual as a casting person. Many a times we read the books and they look visually appealing and in such circumstances idea to imagine possible actors who may play certain characters come in to the mind. It can also differ from person to person but so many times, different people reading the books in different times think about same actors.
One possibility remains that we recall someone from the past who could play best the said character and we give a sigh that what if the film was made in his/her time or if such book was written in that time when actor was active or alive or in right age group to play this character.
Second possibility comes to look for most suitable actors in contemporary times.
It can be fun and may be a learning experience for those who are going to work as casting people in film making process.
and casting remains an important area in film making.
and this guessing game does not harm anyone rather may bring fun for many. :)
@PLAYBACK
Technicalities of acting…Dude seriously now ITS ON…what technicalities are you talkin about man..give me examples and iam pretty sure I’ll be able to counter each one of them….really..I’ll accept defeat if you give me examples where Amitabh BAcchan has acted poorly…and please cut out SURYAVANSHI and movies in which he is nothing more than a passing blur…
P.S–Just look at him in BUNTY and BABLI…the scene where he is threatening a guy(some BAND-WALLAH) who helped BUNTY(Abhishek is the one who cant act)…that I think is a lesson in effortless acting….and sorry PLAYBACK for the ‘Lets-start-a-fire’thingy…:d
When I read this book 3 years back. I thought Vijay Raaz would fit the role of prabhaker…any suggestions???
@Playback(2),
Thank you Sir for joining and Sorry for troubles you went through.
One question: kam likhne se grammar achchi ho jayegi?;)
and kam likhna means in one post or number of posts?
or should I stop writing at all?;)
because I find grammatically I can not touch the ideal mark in all the 3-4 languages I know (read/write/understand):), its not possible even in mother tongue.
If I should write occasionally then other possibility is that you copy and paste the above article in word and send me the refined version and I will also follow copy and paste method.
a constructive collaboration.:d
and if not then there is one indirect method also.
Titles what I decide (you may select one out of three) and you have to write your article in 1-1.5 hour time and make it an article having atleast 50 lines. and send me back within the time limit. Funny game and I will learn how to write good content which is grammatically accurate and which is written fast.
- - -
14 years religiously watching OSCARs!
That trait may make you schnook, which you are not then what is the seceret that film stars are pulling you so easily to watch same drama again and again over the years?
Thats funny :)
- - -
Are you relative of a lady politician of India? She also had vowed that she w’d go bald if certain lady politician became PM of India.
;)
@Playback(3),
Grammer- Grammar,
It may be typo mistake but its very much possible that you will write a comment having 3-4 lines and it will have 1-3 typing mistakes. Mind works faster than the hands on key board and eyes read a word in its collectivity ofcourse through a back up understanding about that word in mind.
@Arun (4),
Mira Nair reads it or not, Thats not a concern. Its for us to have fun and apply some casting abilities.
Surely book can be adapted by hindi cinema people also. If Johnny Depp does not make it then also someone may buy rights from him.
Hritik Roshan may play Lindsay and whole cast can be collected by remaing in India only. There is no dearth of foreigners wanting to work in hindi films now. One needs money to make such project every other thing will fall in order. Thing is producer should start thinking big and should welcome different ideas. :)
@Vikram (5),
Ya I left many characters like Didier, Karla’s friend, Kavita, two friends of Prabhakar living in slums, Rajan and many others under the hope that some people will search suitable actors for them along with alternative actors for characters I have listed in article.
Surely Didier is important character, afterall he is one who is giving grounded philosophy to Lindsay. and he makes an interersting character. Alcoholic, sad inside but experienced and wise. If no foreign actor does it, our own Tom Alter may do it very well.
@Ravaptor (6),
Hope you will excuse me to ask you because its not clear from your comment if you have read the book- Shantaram or not. Because if you have read then its bit strange question for me because Author has decorated his Khader Bhai with on and off screen mannerisms of AB.
Even if Khader Bhai was not having any inspiration in his behaviour from AB, then also I would have suggested AB’s name to play such a character.
But more things I can write if I know your reservations. Please write them and I will try to respond accordingly. :)
@KCP(7), Brother Prabhakar is merely 24-25 years old. Paresh Rawal may play his father’s role though. :)
—-
kcp, axw11(8), they should take screen test for Prabhakar’s role, where Vinay Pathak, D Satosh, Deepak Dobariyal, Divyendu B, etc try their chance:)
@Babasko(9), Thanks for your comment. ya we different people may visualize different people for same character depending on what traits of character have appealed to us. :)
@filmibhai(10),
I also had my reservation about Shreyas. His comedy skills fall in obvious category. Prabhakar’s character does not try to make others laugh knowingly and this is in his inherent nature. That may be too subtle and thus hard work for Shreyas. But it depends on his imbibing power also. he is an actor and actors have enormous possibilities to explore their talent pool, (if they wish to explore).
I am not sure about the final shelving of the film. I guess making is under progress at some level. There is no such declaration from producer or director that project has been shelved.
@Vishrant(11),
Johhny Depp is very vulnerable actor with a big potential. He can easily switch between different kinds of roles.
@French (13),
No you are reading too much. There is no need for hindi cinema to look up to OSCAR for recognition. Hindi cinema basically brings a vareity in international cinema (not all films). It has been different and OSCAR, no matter they say it international award is still decided from American specs only. What they think falls in their definition of good cinema or suitable cinema is awarded. First its not necessary that they can understand all the films made in Hindi cinema as for that a background is must.
- - -
But Shantaram is an international project. Book is written by an Australian, rights are purchased by Johhny Depp , a hollywood star and director is Indian. They can not treat Shantaram as an Indian film. They have to accept it as their own film because a big studio will be backing it.
When AB is working in Hindi films, he certainly does not need to look up to OSCAR and he has not done it in past also but when he works in a hollywood production then criteria are different, paradigm is shifted. There they have to assess him on different basis. They cant ignore him there.
that is the basis behind mentioning of OSCAR.
- - -
With all your questions regarding Shantaram, I must guess that you have not read the book hence your comparison between Khader Bhai and Don Vito C of God Father is not justified. I have read the book so its justified for me and for all those who have read the book.
I dont know in which context you are seeing clubing of Casablanca, God Father and AN. You dont like one or all of them is your prerogative and your personal liking/ disliking does not affect status of these films for other cine lovers. Why you like any of them and why you dislike one of them, you may describe in a separate post, and then its possible that some people may support you and some may change their views because they find sense in your arguments and its also possible that if you are open then you also change your views about these films because you also see some new argument which makes more sense than your own understanding.
- - -
To continue discusssion on Shantaram you must read the book. and there is possibility that you like the book. then let us see what are your views.
as without reading the book, I dont understand why you are bit angry?;)
- - -
Johnny Depp as a producer has right to select his director and he is in film business since long so he must have some sense also.
So lets wait for film before attacking Mira Nair. :-?
@Sreehari (14),
I hope your case will be managed by antacid only at this stage and perhaps Fire extinguisher will not be needed.;)
few more times you may enjoy being a schnorrer :)
@Amanda(15),
OSCAR is market from both sides (Hollywood and Hindi cinema both) and things have to be taken in that perspective only.
Is any actor personally trying to win an OSCAR? They may try for their films as that comes under their market startegy in present world economical situations.
OSCAR does not define the ultimate quality. Many have been in world cinema who never got it because their films were never released in the way, which was required to win an OSCAR.
OSCAR is also an award with limited range. Its not searching quality cinema rather its deciding among products available to them at a given time. Though possibility always remains there that much better products exist elsewhere at same time.
@Azad (24,26),
Thats so true about AB and Khader Bhai, a life time opportunity.
Raj Pal Yadav as Prabhakar - for his physical work based method of doing comedy and his type cast present situation sends fear of ruining the character’s innocent requirements.
ya if somehow this project is shelved and Hindi cinema makes it then Vishal B will be in top league who may handle the project.
- - - - -
as I mentioned in post I see more merit in Kate Winslet playing Karla. Mira Nair, Johnny Depp and their casting people might have their reasoning. Lets wait for the film.
@ RK Bhai,…Sorry bola na… aap ki izzat bhi karta hu. Par thoda brief post likhenge to mein shukarguzar rahunga.
@ Avijit Pathak,….before I start ,…what do you know about acting ?
@Dpac Sir, (30),
This is true that
Soot na kapas Julahon mein lathi chale
(even raw material is not awailable but weavers start fighting)
this may be presumptuous to think that film is not going to be made. Once a reaction has been started it reaches to its ultimate point. Birth starts a life and it can be prolonged but death cant be avoided. Death is ultimate point.
same way when idea has been developed to make a film then it will be made and if not by this team then by some other team with some other actors.
Tu nahin koi aur sahi, wo nahin koi aur sahi.
Bird has come in to forest and it has to sing now.
:)
@cdrakenc (33),
You remain in sense only when you make a post and thus at receiving end. Please make posts frequently. It may be good for your real life.:d
@Krishn(34,35),
Thanks for links, will see and read.
- - -
JRV(36),
There can be other motives behind this article. Please read some earlier made comments. :)
@cdrakenc (33),
You remain in sense only when you make a post and thus at receiving end. Please make posts frequently. It may be good for your real life.
wat?
spekee anglais
@Yogesh(40),
Thanks for using creative input:).
Khader Bhai is Afgani, Abudllah is Irani in the book.
Neil Mukesh will be quite young to play the role.
a man in mid 30s. Akshay Kumar like physically fit person. normally a calm person but mysterious and occasionally violent. Someone like Mithun was in his young days (Hum Paanch), silent devoted powerful minus rebel outlook.
@PLAYBACK
Bachchan is non-actor! You mean to say any one can pull of Namak Haraam, Mili, Abhimaan, Deewar, kabhi-Kabhie, AAA, Kala-Patthar,or a Main Azad Hun? Sir, please enlighten us what is acting?
@Wb(41,45),
Thanks brother. Many read the premise rightly and many decided to deviate from the topic and talked other things. They have different mind set up, different intentions.
- - - -
45- hope present era’s conflicting situations between on and off screen images do something good for actors, viewers and whole system.
@KCP (47),
That should be unique film where every single character is played by SRK and they have technology now to make it possible.
then Shantaram will be Shanta Ram Khan =S R K,
Is not he acting in some film like My name is Khan?
and then Shantaram may surpass experimentation level of Yadein of Sunil Dutt Saab. :)
@Anand (54) Vijay Raj is thin and bit taller than Prabhakar as described in the book. But he will be very good for a friend of Prabhakar living in his neighbour. Cant recall his name, may be Manoj. Whose wife dies in disease spread in slum.
or His other friend Johnny.
@Playback
Agar AB actor nahi hain, to SDB music director nahi hain, Guru Dutt director nahi hain, Sahir lyricist nahi hain, Tendulkar batsman nahi hain, Manmohan Singh PM nahi hain, main main nahi hoon, aap aap nahi hain.. :-) no flames yaar, just my thoughts.
aur PFC = passion for cinema nahin….
Yes RK was hesitant to write Paresh Rawals name for Prabhakar - for the age factor. But if not the age he was perfect man. In fact Prabhakar impressed me a lot in the book and these 2 names came automatically to me :)
Amit, Shailesh(78,79),
Everything = nothing,
sab maya hai (everything is illusion).
and then Bashir Badra saab has written,
Log tut jate hain ek ghar banane mein
tum taras nahin khate bastiyan jalane mein
[ People just spend whole life in making one home,
you dont feel hitch in burning the whole colony]
sab maya hai.
@KCP(80),
ya Prabhakar is an impressive character in the Shantaram book. He brings life in the book and his death leaves a void. a powerful role for any actor.
you mean Deepa Shahi (maya memsaab???)
:d:d:d:d:d
@Shailesh (83),
No not Deepa Sahi,
if one takes her as an illusion and takes liberty he may be in trouble :)
but life as life of Maya in Maya Memsaab
@RK: There are a few actors who are personally trying to win an Oscar (for their films) :( Sadly, this includes Aamir Khan–he was in the news a while ago saying that he will make a Hindi film and while making the film the first thing he will keep in mind is that it needs to win an Oscar (I wonder if TZP is the film he was alluding to). I agree with you, winning an Oscar “does not define the ultimate quality.” But, it seems as if overall, the Bollywood film industry is really dieing to win an Oscar, and I don’t think Hindi cinema needs to try so hard to get an Oscar aka a Hollywood seal of approval…
The cast which initially boasted of Bachchan with Depp now has, among others, the rapidly-rising Konkona Sen in a very special role.
Divulges Mira, “In addition to Johnny Depp and Amitabh Bachchan, I’d confirmed Irrfan Khan in a major role and Konkona Sen for a one big dramatic scene. I’ve also been in talks with Prabhudeva, Arshad Warsi, Shreyas Talpade and Ranvir Sheorey. I’d also love to work with Pankaj Kapoor. We have such an extraordinary bunch of great actors in India!”
more here…..
http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/12/15/10610/index.html
“Say “oscar” to the indian actor and its like dangling red meat in a shark pit. they’ll sign any intellectual property agreement and put teji bacchan’s ashes on top for the chance.
;)
well that’s the calcullation anyway…
@cdrakenc…agree, u hv got gr8 sense of humor…but plz leave the departed soul out of this discussion…its not healthy discussion.
@cdrakenc(88),
ya a calculation but very indecent one:(
- - - -
You know many things, you have means and common sense suggests that why you should follow indecency? but practical reality is you follow indecency and takes pleasure in it.
Reasons, you may be knowing better.
Sorry but there should be some civilized limits while present on a place/forum where others are also present. In forest nobody is going to stop you, whether you are naked or clothed and how you are shouting.
- - - -
adhik
im not joking
rk
im not shouting
thanks.
@cdrakenc(89),
yes you were not joking as there was no joke there and if there was any then a bad one and jokes are to make people smile, which bad jokes cant do.
you were not shouting. that was to indicate a possible “address” where anything can be done in any manner.
Thanks for understanding. @};-
rk
actually,I was telling adik I was not joking , because the proposition I presented is quite literally true.it needed presenting correctly.
all the rest you write…I didn’t understand.
thanks for understanding.
lol… an oscar without a single day being shot! ^:)^
@ PLayback..
are u an english teacher…coz u appear like one…
and can u please enlighten us with the technicalities of acting that u are talking about which the lesser mortals like AB and the rest of his breed are not aware off.
p.s I apologize in advance for any grammatic errors or typos ….you see ‘english is a very funnnny language’.
@ RK….
interesting post…..
i had read that the movie got delayed due to the writer’s strike.well as the strike has been called off quite some time ago…i hope the movie falls back on track….
Our Cinema is not going global. Its not revered globally. As of now, It in no ways has the power to inspire film-makers internationally towards absorbing facets of it and using it in films of their own….
We talk about ringing in huge funds to import technological advancements thus constantly displaying our myopic belief that its the non-availability of proper technology that separates the best of world cinema from ours..
But we dont realise that we r yet to learn how to even edit our films properly (An art that doesnt require huge amount of money to be exercised correctly). Most people who make films here dont even know what truly are the dreams, the fears and the fantasies of our own people..
Enshrining our actors at Madame Tussad’s or getting a reception at some tooty-fruity release centre overseas isnt an example of our cinema going global.
We should realize that we are harbouring a belief that is going nowhere. We would never reach that true point of reverence we are aiming for because our basic understanding of what the world expects from us is in its base a misalligned notion to start off with..
And “that pessimism” is our “only hope”
The only window for shooting Shantaram was Winter 2007-2008 which got scrapped due to the strike and the script not being final.
It’s not possible to shoot in Bombay during the summer or monsoon for an international crew so the next earliest available time it can roll is Winter 2008-2009.
with postproduction etc, a fall2008 release..if not later.
if it goes to toronto it gets panned.
it can’t do cannes
the best bet tie up a thanksgiving release in the us forget toronto.its going to be ignored there Johnny depp and all. if its in english it may have to shoot for mainstream, not foreign language oscars, you got enough visibility and the film does well enough in the american critics circles( mira nair maker of hysterical blindness.) it might beat out the late’for oscar’ films…
unless, of course she gets marqee at cannes/venice then shell. make plenty of money with the film and hopefully buy an oscar nom or two
body guard of khader bhai = pawan malhotra, …. sanjay dutt,
kavita (film unit girl)=rimi sen,… amrita rao…
lrader of lepors (who giv shantaram medicines)= raghuveer yaday…
rajan = person steals aishwaryas letter in jodha akbar….
i don’t think the leader of lepors and many such small characters are going to be in the film.
6 ghante ki picture banayengi kya.
it could be a new point.
which characters are going to be in the movie, which ones are going to be left out.
:-?
@Pratim (92) Not your fault, many see trailers only to guess about full film. Though no denial that since begining of life on earth people have been there for whom it has been mentioned that
Lifafa dekh kar khat ka majmun bhanp lete hain
[ they can tell about the matter written inside the letter by seeing the envelop only ].
I used to know a person who was well versed in selecting and then to declaring that these chosen letters were love letters (among the crowd of 200-300 letters), just by seeing the envelops, handwritings and style.
But in this case it seems like sitting at bounadry line conditions only, with less effort to observe diffusion pattern inside. ;)
@ashwin (94),
ya Johnny Depp and Mira Nair both have been seen and found to quote this reason and they have insisted that project is alive.
Shantaram is nothing before long term making of Mughal-i-Azam (7-8 years) and Pakizaa(14-15 years) and flops like Love and God (20-25 years):)
1-2 year delay is nothing before such a big project:)>-
@Sreehari (95),
(1) No cinema is global, it never was and it never will, cultural difference will always be there in the medium like cinema. Its not that whole of India or China will go on liking films (Hollywood) which are termed as greatest films. Many will never like them because they can never associate with the characters, content and treatment.
(2) To be different is enough to join a big club because it adds an additional chapter in overall variety. Again point comes, cinema for whom?
(3) There will always be exchange between different faces of cinema. Those who hold power over business factor of cinema, they dont care about purity and they will try to include as many segment of people as its possible. Transition phases never become role model for defining any thing. They pass and later dont find a place in over all evaluation other than a mere mention about the turbulant phase.
(4)To see own characters, own stories is essential need for a cine lover and temporarily one can go away with this indigenous touch but not for ever. Its like food need. One can be experimental but inner desire needs the own food after some time. People spread all over the world, define that need of cinema. absolutely unaware audience will never welcome any new thing. By chance one may come across a film and can appreciate it but a name, an image of someone associated with that film is must. This is very much possible that an audience who does not know anything about Kenji Mizoguchi may not like “The Lady from Musashino” but once Kurosawa’s appreciation towards filmmaker is known to him he may try to see something significant in same film.
Many a times, Films, music and books need some appropriate mind set.
(5) Even Indian industrialist were not appreciated globally some time ago but that did not stop them to strive for betterment. Though not all are like this. same way not all in films, will be following same traits.
(6)What was different in india, like old things which is not modern, or say folk things have always been getting liking globally because they were different than what other country people did not find anywhereelse. and there no economical competition was there. Can not recall the name of a globally famous European fashion designer who used to visit Rajsthan to have clue about colours and design prevalent among villagers.
(7) everything lies what one thinks about self.
@Mithun, cdrakenc(96-98),
2008, 2009 what difference does it make. making is important awards are secondary thing.
@krishn(99),
Pawan Malhotra (and/or Sanjay Dutt) : PM is some casting. Khader Bhai’s bodyguard has to deliver through eyes and silence only most of the time. he speaks with Lin first time when Lin is brought from Guptaji’s drug place. Sanjay Dutt is also good because it needs man of well built but will he do some small role.
Raghuveer yadav is good.
was he a man or woman in Jodha Akbar?
But someone like Sapru brothers (with coloured eyes who used to appear in every Rajiv Rai films), should become Rajan.
:)
mira nair,Johnny depp amitabh bacchan?
this film will get made clinton or obama.
what difference does it make whether they win oscars?
buddy you said it not me.
YOHOO! Mr B!! RK sez….
hehehe
@Vishrant(100),
Meeting with lepors reveals social service chapter of Lindsay’s life hence it will certainly make it place in screen play. Whatever makes Lindsay’s character a Hero will essentially be there. Though it can be small. But he will be shown to meet lepors. After all this touch will remind many Benhur.:)
@cdrakenc,
no difference it makes if /when its released or it misses Oscar’s criteria.
Thats your focal point to focus. You are stuck at surface man, unable to see things beyond something.;)
me? im stuck NOWHERE.
;) im in and out EVEREYWHERE smoothly, and happier for it.
since the title of this topic is amitabh…oscar… shantaram, i thought id talk about minor details like timing and selection criteria instead of focussing on the big picture (that RK sahib wants it to happen)
@cdrakenc,
ya thats true, I appreciate your surival instinct.
If you may take it lightly and not on personal level and read the things with real meanings only, then Astrology should include Cockroach also.
People fall in some animal’s category. Like they say someone falls in Horse category, some in rabit or snake or scorpio etc etc.
But they have not inculded Cockroach and modern studies say that cockroach has strongest surviving capacity and it may elude even destruction by nuclear/ atom bombs etc.
So you have that survival instinct which is searched in cockroches. What your horoscope says, if you may reveal it?
erm… wat?
spekee anglais…
if youre point is that im a “survivor” like a “cockroach” , I (1)dont think it’s true,my survival skills are poor I perish often. (2) This doesnt make your article about AB and oscar any better, now that im a cockroach (3) I wonder if you think of yoursrlf as a hawk or something,for you to go around calling other people names(for which you can always email me instead of wasting bandwidth like this…
I think youre a hawk(or something that sounds similar)…
I was gonna work on the film as a trainee rigging grip and was damn excited but then it got scrapped.
Sigh it was my only chance at working on a Union film for a long time.
@cdrakenc,
you mentioned (109)[i m in and out EVEREYWHERE smoothly, and happier for it.]
and considering your general activities on PFC — hence point of your survival quotient entered. Most of the time you behave like a man with no responsbility.
There are always two things, what you think about yourself, and your image for others. It may differ as you are also mentioning that it differs in your POV. and its proved also by your irritation now. You dont have cockroach’s survival instinct. that was a faulty observation. I take back my words.
(2) and (3) Though I had already made it clear that take the right message. I mentioned Cockroach like survival instinct and did not make you like a cockroach. There is a difference.
- - -
If you dont make comment which is related to topic then your presence adds nothing to any article, leave alone this article. Your comment adds or subtracts something in/from your image only, for others. Article is not an issue. You came on your own, you read or pretended to read and commented on your own. Its entirely your area, nothing to do with me.
- - -
I am not in to name calling.
why I should email you?
[a] first I dont know you in those terms so that I should email you
[b] second you are making comment on an open forum so you will get response here only.
You are talking bandwidth of a forum ! life’s bandwidth is going waste, with such stupid activities.
Live and let live others. @};-
You are not like any other person. You are just cdrakenc or xxxxx (your name).
Do you have anything to add to topic? mention that and enjoy and if not then why you are wasting your time and energy ?;)
@Mithun (113),
Chances will be revived again when ever its in action again. and if not this then somethingelse with similar scope will come your way:)
Even i was going to work on this film, but it got scrapped and i had to move on:(
didnt understand a word of what youve said here.nor your point.
I think(if I were to speculate) my “activities” on PFC are not up for debate,even if you want them to be, but theyve been pretty responsible. (I stand by all my utterrences) if somewhat unpopular with people like you, who write complete nonsense, sometimes).
my posts have usually been on topic and have been entirely relevent to the issues at hand. Im just not cowed down by your bullying. is all. that angers and frightens you at the same time.
if you have anything to say about shantaram amitabh and the oscars I can continue posting in this thread…you are free not too ,of course being a hawk and all,…
@Suchita,
Seems many dreams are shattered with delay of Shantaram.:(
Good luck for other project or other time of same project.
@cdrakenc,
I am liking your irritation:)
But tell if you suffer from high BP then I will not like it.
- - -
- Wise dont go to waste time on nonsense.
- there is a saying that Nange se bhagwan bhee darta hai. sensible simply try to avoid it. those with compassion, try to bring nonsense people in to main stream.
- One has to go by self image. If you think that your comments are mostly on topic then it will earn you good. atleast I dont try to bully you, I dont see anybodyelse also doing it.
- will wait for your constructive input here or at any other post. Its always welcome@};-
RK, thanks…I loved the book, and i like the way you have described the characters, refreshed my memory:)
Well the thing is I’m gonna be in LA for at least a couple of years and I can’t work on union gigs so me working on a huge budget film is pretty remote.
Hell forget huge budget anything over a million is union nowadays. Will have to stick to commercials and music videos.
Already been thrown off one union film which was a real bitch coz it was the adaptation of “Choke” which is one of my fav books.
rk 121
but i wasnt irritated… more like ….trying to figure out precisely what the fuck you were saying…but thats par for the course in all your posts….so nothing special…
tumse mujhe darr nahin hai. pehene jo ho tum langoti, itne ded sari labzon ka…
@cdrakenc (122),
First symbol of irritation is -
change in language, person goes towards harsh side
second symbol,-
under the anger, person stops seeing right and reads wrong (check right no of comments) and it affects immediate memory also.
in your case both are happening, so no need to reveal more symptoms:)
:d
(123) is also revealing more of you.
i changed language so that, maybe you will understandwhat I’m saying, insteado of making posts in thin air.
Also, one day I’ll think you are uniquely qualified to analyze my state of mind. that day is not today.
123 is just to tell you…abhi tak maine aap ko pure nanga kiya nahin…aap abhi apne shabdon ke langoti pehne hue hain…
regards..
what was that about amitabh and shantaram and oscars?
@cdrakenc(125),
Ohh Sir its very scary here reading your threats. :(
One day , that day, that final day of decison:-?
Its not today, its away. ok. what a relief:)
- - -
Can you do anything with others? That is highly capable thing!;)
- - -
But I will be knowing your mental state??? no it will not happen. Because you are insisting it needs uniquely qualified ability. Which I will never get. I am not going to work in some special places reserved for some special kind of people.
;)
yes what about A, S and O? seems its truncated:-?
somone else talk to rk here. his capacity to fill his own threads with bjunk exceeds my capacity to make sense from spam.
@Mithun,
If I may ask.
what is your expertise area in filmmaking or which area you are trying?
Have not read “Choke”.
@cdrakenc (127),
Sir, Its a new change in you. by the way, its very simple. stay away from here. Enrich some different land with your Aura. Many other posts are waiting to be blessed by you @};-
:-h
Beware of anyone who claims himself to be a genius / expert before the world says so. Anybody who claims to be an expert in filmmaking is a megalomaniac or deranged.
I’m a student of cinematography.
That btw is how Vittorio Storaro introduces himself and I cheerfully and shamelessly copy him.
rk talk to mithun for a while… itll do you good.
ill wait for you to start talking about the topic again before i post on your spam…uhhh topic…
@mithun
“Beware of anyone who claims himself to be a genius / expert before the world says so.”
beware of anyone that claims to be a genius, period.
‘
@Mithun (130),
Cinematography, thats good. But you have not made any post covering cinematography of a film or I missed it?
say Cinematography of Apocalypse Now.
It will be a pleasure to read many things about films having rich cinematography.
Do you plan something like this to share your knowledge about technical areas of filmmaking
:-?
I would love to read about the cinematography of The Prestige and The Fountain.
I don’t write reviews or analysis of films coz I don’t see the point of me doing it. There are other much better persons to do so.
I love talking bout techniques and technology but aesthetics are so subjective that writing bout it is merely an academic excercise.
How about analyzing the technique of love story 2050? Amazing visuals man!!!:o
@Mithun,
ok got it.
though your expert comments can find place in posts covering films known for cinematography also. That will be good. Manjeet is another PFCian who has been exploring area of Cinematography.
Some day it will be interesting to see both of you revealing cinematography of some film :)
mithun,
link to your flickr page if you have one.
@Suchita
Look familiar ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrOe1Eq1N6U
@RK
I’ll try but it’s like asking someone to describe the smell of rain. It’s a personal experience.
It would be great if someone like Santosh Sivan talks bout it coz of his credentials but me waxing eloquent would be facetious.
@cdrakenc
Sorry no flickr for me.
Ok lemme try anyways but dunno if the idea comes through.
I used to be extremely homophobic but just the visuals of this video made me rethink my ways and now I’m much more tolerant. It’s probably one of the most emotionally stirring and beautiful things I have seen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgSrMUQyhwQ
that video is all right! did you shoot it?
Me shoot a Sigur Ros video ? :d
I wish. Not gonna happen for a while.
its not impossible.
youre in LA. you talk the language of someone whose held a camera. even if youre not credited(and I have no way of checking that,) you could have shot/edited it…
i shot it and i’m a genius/expert.
so there.
In the words of Bela Lugosi from “Glen or Glenda”
Beware…beware! Beware of the big green dragon that sits on your doorstep. He eats little boys…puppy dog tails, and big, fat snails. Beware, take care….beware!
RK,
First things first. Its really tough to decipher what u have tried to say thru your counter-comment…
But from what little I was able to make out..
Emotions in a movie if presented with correct amount of discresion and pertaining to correct logistics of it, actually does break a cross-cultural frame of reference…
Martin Scorsese had once said about Satyajit Ray’s works,”Satyajit Ray
Railway station bana nahi.. Coolie pehle aa gayee…
Just by reading the book they are even distributing the oscar’s :D
Frog in the Well…
quote - that our idea of what the world expects from us is a misalligned notion.. - unquote
why we think that world expect something from us.
what do we expect from hollywood.
what do we expect from timbaktu
what do we expect from mangols
i don’t expect anything from martin scorsese
i don’t expect anything from venezuela
i don’t expect anything from ronaldinho
we all have been in school
there are two types of students
one type is of the studious - people expect something from them.
they are told time and again that there are things expected from them.
and there are second type of student. who also is told time and again that no body expect anything from him.
see the connection.
if people expect something from you
you gotta be good.
we assume that world expect something from us.
because how can world not!
we are such a great country!
world must be expecting something from us?
reality is
no body cares
feel free
:p
“First things first. Its really tough to decipher what u have tried to say thru your counter-comment
cdrakenc, the same way you do. besides, if you ask most around here, RK is a wealth of knowledge, and his writings are anything but rubbish.
didnt talk about his writings which are the dark shade of lucid but theyre still ok/readable.( i do understand that some people are more knowledgible than they care to expess clearly)..
it’s his comments that im still trying to disentangle/understand..
thanks for the clarification tho..
Vishrant,
What the world expects from us, is what cinema is expected to deliver on a global basis. A personal voice that can assume a universal connection in time..
And if u don’t have it in u to deliver that you just dont make up assumptions about those expectations..
Which is why when a Hrithik Roshan comes on some channel and talks passionately about his dreams of making an Indian movie that uses the best of technological advacements as if that is the only thing lacking in our movies, it doesnt quite add up… Like I said, we dont even edit our films properly.
Its like some baby being asked to put on a diaper with beepers and shock-absorbers to inculcate in it the basic toilet manners..
cdrakenc,
Maybe he’s doing it on purpose. Like spoofing? You dont criticise spoofing accusing it of mediocrity. You are supposed to enjoy it.
I am all for RK :)
Trust me he’s not spoofing.somewhere inside that vast echoing carvenous mind, he actually has a coherent thought.
but it needs finding.
rk tell us your spoofing, won’t you?
i havent been in the place long enough for me to know if
“Ohh Sir its very scary here reading your threats.
One day , that day, that final day of decison
Its not today, its away. ok. what a relief
- - -
Can you do anything with others? That is highly capable thing!
- - -
But I will be knowing your mental state??? no it will not happen. Because you are insisting it needs uniquely qualified ability. Which I will never get. I am not going to work in some special places reserved for some special kind of people.”
is actually a cunning spoof of …somebody…
Striker,
Knowledge when not counterbalanced with proper insight is a bigger pain in the posterior.
Cdrakenc/ Striker,
I dont have an issue with RK. But I find it very weird when he goes out of his way to teach people where and when a comment is to be made, the correct commenting technique, blogging ettiquettes and stuff like that..
He was once asking someone not to write comments in (in his own words) employing an “SMS like technique”.
Trust me, and I know I sound like a pig here, but he is not the kind who shud be making such comments :)
First time ive run into the fount of knowledge. wont be the last.
this reminds me of all those “flame warriors” that used to infest the internet at the early stag