To be Howard Roark you have to first kill your family..
This post is sponsored byHoward Roark can not be real.. rest can only be “wanna be him”.. the success of ayn Rand lies in the fact that she created a hero that everyone wants to be but is not.. she herself could not escape life and become one of her characters.. Wanting to change the world is good, trying to change it is sometimes enough, actually changing it is a miracle..
There are a lot of things we say in our interviews, there is a lot more we feel but are unable to say.. Anais Nin says “the role of a writer is not to say what we all can say but what we are unable to say”..what prompted this post is the constant accusations and labels that i am confronted with.. when i answer them in all it’s honesty , they are edited and rewritten often out of context to make it sensational.. an interview about no smoking becomes something else and carries a headline “yashraj takes us for granted”.. definitely i say that , but in what context and discussion is always omitted out.. so the damage it does to me is ok but the point one wants to put across never gets put across.. so i feel let me be unadulterated here.. in last one month or so the attitudes towards PFC and me in particular are bubbling, and fingers pointed are too many.. and lots are having fun over it.. One person called me the “masiha” of new filmmakers.. he said is that what i wanted to be.. no.. in a conversation with ajay ji what came up was a quotable line that i have often used since.. ” yahan jo ho raha hai woh gadar hai, azaadi baad mein aayegi, if there wasn’t a mutiny in 1857 there wouldn’t have been the independence of 1947″.. what’s happening on PFC is not prompted by me, PFC is not me, it is my site because i write here not because i own it, i do not own it, my opinions are not the opinion of PFC, PFC is more democratic than I am..
Yes i want a change, yes i try to bring people together, but i am not promoting friends here.. i become friends with filmmaker after having watched and be inspired by there film.. there is only backslappin that goes on on “KOFFEE WITH KARAN”, where you see the same guests literally pleasuring each other with i love you and your father and your uncle and aunt, where the interviewee when asked to name the biggest star is given choices only between Abhishek, HR and SRK but not aamir, that KOFFE WITH KARAN is the mutual masturbation club not PFC, here what we call is,”pats on the back”.. there are accusations of me promoting my friends films.. well so far five of the films i have talked about have released.. Bheja Fry, Manorama, Johnny Gaddar, Dil Dosti Etc, Loins of punjab.. except the first none have become major blockbusters but they are inspiring and are heralding a change.. they are fresh cinema as far as we are concerned and “NEW HINDI CINEMA” as i will call them.. making them and putting them out in the theatre is mutiny of a silent creative kind, i write about them so what’s happening is recognised by few who are interested.. and there are people who do not like those films at all, few of those critics are the interested parties and rest of the critics are either those who just have different tastes or “ARE THOSE WHO HAVE SEEN BETTER AND THINK CAN DO BETTER”..now the last dissatisfied ones are the people who will get hindi cinema it’s independence.. they are the ones who if they choose to show what’s right by doing it are the ones who will change things.. so PFC doesn’t have a purpose but it serves the purpose.. the next big monument can only be built on the existing ground, and when there is no ground we will have to demolish what’s falling apart to rebuild a new order.. it can only be done by those who either have lived life or seen, and read better so they know what’s in there heart can be on paper and screen.. again quoting the nobel prize winner TONI MORRISON
“If there is a book you really want to read and it has not been written yet then you must write it”
Now the reason to write this post is to state my intention..there is no agenda, but i am tired of mediocrity, what i think is mediocrity, this does not say that i am not mediocre compared to those who are better, i also swim in the same mediocrity but as i swim what i see around me is almost everyone floating, not wanting to go anywhere or even exploring what surrounds them.. there is no point criticising that producer who makes one film just to run the kitchen, you don’t bring a change by challenging and attacking the citizens of mediocrity, you have to challenge the emperor, you need to hold a mirror to his face, either he adapts himself to keep his throne or he has to be overthrown.. I can’t do it, no individual can , till it becomes the call of majority.. if that majority exists on PFC then it gives us power to have our own micronation, which i think is more democratic than the other Dictated sites, that edit my interviews and other’s as well..
I am not Howard Roark or ever can be one, as i was accused of wanting to be on recently.. to be that i will have to first kill my family.. Howard roark could be what he was because he had no emotional attachments to begin with.. we don’t know which womb he came from.. so he could not be attacked except physically.. he doesn’t have to look into there eye.. I have a daughter and she makes me vulnerable , i desire success so that makes me vulnerable, i want comfort so that makes me vulnerable.. i am weak.. so what i am, is just a desperado and what i say is my desperate cry.. and now it has become for a change.. but the first time i cried it was just for survival, my own survival and nothing else..
My first cry was for only to exist ,which fell on deaf ears.. no one heard it, so i had to cry louder and louder til it came to scratching them.. and when scratched they reacted worse than i could imagine.. they were scared of me, they saw me as a potential enemy and so they tried to destroy me.. so i got violent in my attitude and it was only to survive.. and then i found my own little men.. so i could stand.. Nothing wrong in surviving.. what i did not do is to change sides in order to survive.. i did play for them from time to time but did not change sides.. for many it is not us versus them.. for me it became that, because i face them..
How.. i will tell you..
People in Yashraj accused me after the BT headlines “Anurag Kashyap disowns JBJ”
They said “first he abuses us and wants money for JBJ then he disowns it, what hypocrisy”.. i say i want money because i have put in a lot of work and i disown it because they disfigured the baby and they changed it without asking me so i disown it.. when i was not part of that decision how can it be mine.. i will take money for the part that i was your servant(because that’s the respect i got from them as a writer).. if they said we didn’t like your script i would have bought that, but they did, and even send me the completely rewritten draft( that’s how i came to know what was happening and spoke about it at the screenwriter’s conferencs in pune) to help them with it.. they expected me to comply, why because they are yashraj and i am nobody.. that’s my grouse with them.. and when i sms’d the powers who run the place, they send jaideep to talk.. jaideep is the man i respect so obviously i get weak, Shaad was my friend before he entered films so i got emotional..and could do nothing else but sit back and stew..
when my film gets selected to Rome, someone there tries to convince the selection committee that why there is no point taking my film because no one cares about me and take Lagaa .. instead as yashraj will always give the exclusivity.. i can only thank my fortune they did not listen.. but Toronto did when they chose KANK over OMKARA and rejected the latter at the last moment.. they do not play a fair game, they play the power game.. then i say “so be it”..
This is the first time i speak about it because i am tired of being called the Yashraj basher.. i get sick when people say we back slap eachother.. each post that comes here is out of the author’s free will.. i am sorry if no author writes rave reviews of Lagaa.. but they do liked Chak de.. so at the end of the day what prospers here is love and hunger for cinema, my cynicism is my own and if someone doesn’t like it doesn’t have to read it..
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You are fucking interesting…..
We rely on people like you to make quality movies….I sincerely expected a character like you in the Film Industry…to change it for the better…soon many will follow suit….I dont wathc many hindi films…only good ones…i watch tamil movies…even here, i sense a small change in the type of movies made…apart from mass heroes, we do see some quality movies…
Hey anurag, y dont u write a script to suit tamil audience…on the lines of Satya….you would have heard about pudhupettai…..it dealt on gangsters in madras..it was kinda good film..but it could have been done better…i expect you to write a gangster movie in tamil and ask Mani Ratnam/Ameer/Vishnu vardhan to direct it….
Anurag – as usual, no holds barred and covering Anais Nin, Rand and Toni Morrison all in a single post.
“it can only be done by those who either have lived life or seen, and read better so they know what
Hi Anurag,
have been following all your interviews(indiafm) in the last few days…and i can see that the interviewers just can’t wait to get ur views on yash raj & karan….and their intention clearly is to get a sensational headline….which they can use in any which way……Accepting the fact that you are always honest with ur views and most cases right (in my view) …..i also think you are being naive…and you are letting them use u…. Now that NO SMOKING is up for release, and you have people backing your projects….you should let your films do the talking…well thats just my view….You can always use this space to let out your frustrations…atleast here your views will not be edited and used out of context……..Just be careful with the other media outlets….i dunno if i make any sense…. anyway can’t wait to see NO SMOKING….i am doing my bit by promoting the film here in INFOSYS, Bangalore…..by sending them pics,website details n stuff…….ALL THE BEST!!!! hope it rocks at the BOX OFFICE…….and also at ROME!……
k
Anurag,
first & only question,
Why r u defending urself?
Fuck them man, Cinema is individuality
Movies are not product of assembly line, they ought not to be same. They have to be original and different from each other.
And you must be happy that you are creating something different then others.
And thats what Howard Roark had taught us
He was arrogant, rude, hell even a rapist
but
he was original, he didnt care what world think of him, he had a lot of difficulty presenting his ideas to the world. And when it came out, many people dispeled them, but few among them appreciated the importance of his work
we cant b like him, & its even futile to follow him
In fountainhead, all the characters were what they were; they were sychophant like Keating and even propogators like Toohey. They didnt change till the end, they remained what they were.
Keating lived a miserable life, Toohey got job somwhere else.
Except Dominique, who struggled to reach what she was. She lived all her life running from it.
We can’t be Roark, but we can be who we are
And work, like we want to do.
But I alwz thougt u resemble Roark. I also wished that you would burn the jbj print and face trial and give a fiery speech.
but wht the heck
u still have pfc
thats so very true anurag…bollywood has become dynastical… members of the elite club lick each others asses… u being an outsider and one who could bring about a change was treated badly… BUT one that goes up is meant to come down and so will the elite club.. a change is brewing in the industry which has become inevitable now…keep up the good work AK.. all the best for No Smoking.. eagerly awaiting for its release… Kash Laga….
hi anurag this is Jay here,I have been an avid fan of yashraj movies..because they always made movies which one could dream of in the sense they sell dreams..but now the kind of movies they are supporting are simply absurd..Stories are really good but execution is f***all..according to me the thoughts are really good like its exciting to think what if a superstar fails and cant make a comeback(Tara rum pum) and its truth that when two individuals meet accidentally they make up stuff to impress the opposite person(JBJ)…But what did they make of it,just in order to make it grand they just loose the plot…
I think the novelty of the script is ruined..I feel they are not doing justice to story and if so they should stick to their old formula of mushy lovestories which they are good at..because if they say they are exploring they need to grow up..every movie doesnot need a grand look..
The movies that i have liked recently are johny gaddar,bhul bhulaiya(though its a copy of a tamil movie chandramukhi)because in both the movies its the thought that scares you or keeps you interested and not the sound or visual effects(which people usually use to scare in horror movies)…
And talking about scripts i have loved yuva and kaun for the story was great in both the movies..yuva is about dirty politics which is prevalent in society today and again in kaun its the thought of being alone in a house in a rainy night which scares you..
I hope to be a story teller one day(director)..but as of now i am doing my masters in Information management (which according to my dad is a safety precaution if i dont do well in the bad devil world as you described it) in syracuse,newyork..
Finally,i have finished i know i have lost the topic of discussion in between but i feel blogs are supposed to be that way..you dont think and write, you write and think..y the hell did i write this..hehehe..
Hi Anurag- I had planned to write a Project iView post on this but might as well ask you here in brief.
Recently Aaj Tak aired an interview of John called ‘Kiska John? in which you were also present. I don’t know what the deal was with Aaj Tak. I assume it was to give some publicity to ‘No Smoking’ but it was completely bastardised by those guys as they kept haranguing John on his relationship with Bips, Dhoni, Laloo and all such crap.
‘No Smoking’ and you hardly got the time of the day and it was clear they were clearly not interested as the moron interviewer himself admitted that he hasn’t seen any previews of the movie. I don’t know what the thinking was behind that interview but if it was to promote ‘No Smoking’ via Aaj Tak, it would have failed miserably; lost as it was amidst all that filmi gossip talk. I guess its easier to talk from where I am but I think a 15 min. focussed promo interview would have had more bite than what was seen.
And another thing Anurag, I think you need to work on your body language in front of the camera. You seemed to be defensive and a bit uncomfortable. I wouldn’t have said this if you hadn’t mentioned in the post itself that you felt vulnerable and desperate. You have very good thoughts and I think it’s best if you stick to print interviews. Sorry if you think am shooting my mouth off. Just my perception- you can take it or leave it.
I am fully with you anurag..even though me personally and i’m sure many others haven’t had to face the kind of stonewalling and sabotage but having experienced similar treatment from shitheads ruling the roost I say it is time to fight back.
It is time to discredit Bollywood for the incestuous whore house that it is. It is time for them and their apologists to pay the price for corrupting the mindspace with impunity. It is time for them to be dragged in shit for peddling embarrassingly bad soft porn in the name of family entertainment.It is time for the bollywood films to be exposed as juvenile fantasies and teenage wet dreams.
Thank you Anurag for being there as a beacon of hope.
PROGRESSIVE CINEMA IS SOMETHING WORTH FIGHTING FOR.
FOR THAT BOLLYWOOD MUST BE DESTROYED.
hahahhahaha
wow man that was some really deep stuff u said there
well my man wat you are saying is true
cinema has lost its value in bollywood to an extent.
well why isnt cinema cinema any more.
why the whole thing about banners?
seince wen did cinema get classified into banners.
man we need guys who will make mocvies which are maybe not groundbreaking but which makes sense.
something like johnny gaddar. a movie which isnt the typical dance and sing and hero carries heroine off types
people need the true cinema. why abuse cinema by substituting it with gloss, nonsensical songs and practically stupid scripts which tweleve year olds can write with their eyes closed
dear anurag
i don’t know what i want to ask u but only thing i want to share with u is that i m feeling depressed all the life time. although i m working but i never got that happyness and excitement from my life and i have read in mum.mirr that u also is going with this from ur life . how u handle people and how u live
could we meet someday.
Whatever be the reasons – you make films. Commercial films like No Smoking – you use Bipasha’s gyrations to sell the movie. You will say it is for the producer but that won’t count. You work on film projects that you don’t believe in for money – I am guessing here of course but when I see titles like Main Aisa Hin Hoon and all that, that’s what I think. When your excuse is that you are “weak” because of family, I am like he is not just writing Hindi movies but is seeing one too many. When you do things a certain way, you lose your “authority” to complain about other people who do similar things. Perhaps an Anurag at SATYA time could have done it – not this Anurag. So, what I am trying to say is if you have commercial and finance related obligations and limitations, so do others – the scale may be different. Grant that to every one. Even when it comes to get their movie to the fest instead of yours – that’s marketing right? – that’s business – SURF tries to knock out NIRMA. It has to?
But, if it comes to the way Yashraj treats you or any other writer, that is a very limited public fight – which should be dealt with at the writers union (if it exists) level; other wise at a personal level. And then of course, if at the core it is about the money and the respect that you want – if you don’t get it, don’t go there to BashRaj- just like you advice people who don’t agree with you not to read you.
There is something wrong here Anurag, and that is that you are trying to have the cake and eat it too. Can’t do. And that’s what is making you weak and ineffective – and you know it! And, if we are really ready to make sacrifices and do things differetly, ultimately, our friends, family, and the world will walk with us. Until then, all this is just ranting and nothing else. You will be in a very sof bed but will never get a wink of comfortable sleep.
So, start really believing in yourself again, believe in your family and your friends – they will be there with you whether you have one crore or ten; stop the ranting and make movies that will matter. Please, do.
well…blogging aroound from Pixion whn noone is around. AAAHH!
TO Change the system one has to be a part of it that’s why i guess many of us are here…no great qualifications to open my mouth for the time being but……………….chodna yaar…kya farak padta hai…just keep on making good movies thats all wat matters. We will live up the Indian Dream with filmmakers from around the country and quality cinema. NO KANK and JBJ can be stopped. people will keep on making movies what they belive in either by passion or by having too much money. Just keep on believing in yourself and the passion that we all share because somehow NOW i see a change coming in the Indian Cinema.Well……fuck it…..HOping for the besht to happen.
(FAST!)
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UR MY ROLE MODEL MAN….seriously speaking….i wrote about u in my blog under the heading “where is the next paulo coelho?”….i was wondering about whop is the martin scorsesse of indian cinema…who is the bob dylan….where is ayn rand today???? the answer ia in our hands isn’t it…but sadly the world has killed all the new ayn rands n all the scorsesses….ur bang on…..its all about power…i mean has mr.yash chopra tried to do anything innovative…n u r 100 steps ahead of people like karan johar and chopras…..n talking about howard roark…hes my hero like holden in the cather in the rye…..good question…..its very hard to be an idealist in this world…..but im trying my best…..its so true…u might have 2 kill ur parents…..nice post
Hey Anurag,
Howard Roark is pure fiction and bad fiction at that (my pov, please don’t lynch me ppl).
The only thing to do is be in the system and fight it and bring it down. This is what you are doing in some ways now isnt it?
I went to bschool with a batchie of yours from Scindia actually, so have heard of you back in 2000.. Best of luck with No Smoking. I thought the trailers on tv are a bit confusing though.
Looking forward to the movie though!
cheers
Travis,
In short you meant Anurag is hypocrite with the reasons you mentioned and I agree with that. I dont work with them because they are completely commercialized bastards but I want to have Bipasha’s item number in my film because I have to think of producers and distributirs and I am doing it so that one day I reach a position where I dont have to do all these gimmicks to sell my movie. Funny and ridiculous
Howard roark was based on frank lloyd wright…ayn rand removed all the “human” aspects of him and made him god. In reality, frank lloyd was close to bankruptcy most of his life…and had to undergo a lot of suffering in his life.
You are correct…the evil is not yashraj, or kwk….it is that entity that forces us to make compromises and betray our soul….like faust. There are precious few people who manage to defeat that evil….or at least keep it at bay. It is a constant battle, and its very tempting to give in.
Kudos to you for fighting and inspiring all of us to fight. Yes you are not howard roark, but somone even better….because you have to go thru what we all go thru, but you keep fighting and come on tops.
The rishis created the character of rama, not as a superhero, for whom all problems were a piece of cake….but as a prince who had to go through the trials and tribulations of life.
There is another evil though, which makes life miserable….it is called self pity.
Anurag, very interesting post. I totally agree that everyone wants to be Roark, but nobody can actually be like the character created by Ayn Rand and that’s the reason of the success of the book. Such character can’t possibly exist in a practical world, but there are people who believe in doing what they like, what they think is right, they even fight against all the odds to do what they want to do and believe in. I am saying so, because I personally know a couple of such guys.
Hi,
I totally believe that a yashraj can change the face on indian cinema if they want to. they have all the monies and if they invest in more movies like Chak de and kabul express, they can bring in a change. But they dont do it often. In this respect Subash Ghai has backed some good projects eventhough the ones he directs r pure masala kinds but he does push for some good scripts like iqbal n others..
I do agree the 5 of the movies u mentioned didnt turn out to be blockbusters but if given a lot more of these kinda films, one day the audience will surely lap them up..
Even comedy wise many of the big production houses arent coming up wid good scripts. I mean u go for Dhol, Dhamaal n others people are actually laughing at things like someone peeing on the others face, someone falling n such stupid things.. I mean movies like andaz apna apna, munnabhai and others which were truly funny have become very scarce these days.. I hope things change in the future n for the better of indian cinema.
Anurag Bhai,
Ab chodo na yaar – kitna til ka pahad banaoge.
We must do the work we need to do and let others do what they do. You must concentrate on what your intents are and not be obsessed with X, Y or Z.
Ayn Rand is a good read for teenagers. But as you live life, you understand that it is quite difficult to be a Howard Roark.
By the way, i also saw the Aaj Tak interview. The tragedy with the hindi media in India is that it is filled with UP wallah bhaiyyas with little education {No offence meant. I myself am from UP}. That Chaurasia fellow was too star struck to ask any meaningful questions.
If we just concentrate on our work. On what we have to do on a day to day basis, than all the other things just do not matter anymore.
Wish You The Best Anurag, and yes it would be first day first show for me.
Best.
firstly about Ayan Ryand’s “The Fountainhead”::though “The Fountainhead” is a fiction it inspires us in many ways.People who couldnt understand it have to watch it multiple times(talking about the movie).
Yashraj and Karan Johar make films which common man dreams and everyone want to live in dreams,but dreams cant be life.
Everyone know that KANK was a disaster but commercially it was a hit because of the clever marketing and publicity,indians very rarely accept good films.Sometimes i feel sick of watching these films which dosent make any sense,but it is the “talk of the town.”
If we have to change Indian Cinema we need people who have attitude like “Howard Roarks”.Once upon a time Yash Chopra was the msot creative director in BOLLYWOOD after Raj Kapoor,his films WAQT,DEEWAR,TRISHUL etc.. its examples,but money changes everything….
We hardly have directors like “Mani Rathnam”,who mixes everything meticulously and brilliantly.
“i feel that what i have written above is crap,but sometimes crap does make sense”:)
wanna try “We the living”
As a kid, used to love the comic series He-Man. he would point his sword to d sky and shout…I have the power!!! hav wished d same so many times. wish it happens soon. more power to good cinema. more power to people who wants to bhagoo from d daags! n if its 1857 in 2007,lil late but who cares…somehwere its moving n shaking the kjos n adis of d world. N m on seventh heaven!! hav only one fear….so many fingers, so many views…hope u hav ur gear when it turns towards u!
There are still not enough neo-anurag bashers yet in the comment section. Felt dejected. :d
).
Somebody said anurag made a commercial movie “no smoking” and now sermonizes. what does this mean ? let the movie release and then one should dissect the movie’s pluses and minuses and not whether it became a commercial dud or hit (there can be only one outcome, either a hit or flop, and there cant be any debate on that
Hi Anurag,
I have been constantly following ur work right since ur Satya days. Satya was the movie which really changed the way I used to view movies. It was a path breaking movie. Then when I came to know that u were goin 2 make Paanch, I was so excited that I never used to miss out a single promo of the film, whenever it was being aired. The song ” main khudaa” was terrific and kay kay rocked.. And then came the news that the movie was not being released because of issues with the censors. I was damn dissapointed. Same was the story with Black Friday, which I later, sorrily happened to catch on a pirated VCD. I and my friends absolutely loved the film.
What I am trying to say that, for me, ur even a big star than SRK or Amitabh, because ur the goddamn creator.. Ur the brain behind these brilliant movies… I can understand ur frustration and I truly admire ur guts, when u speak out so openly.. By industry standards, u shud have kept mum, when ur movie is gettin released..
I along with some of my like minded friends are completely blown by the promos of No Smoking because it is so goddamn confusing and interesting.. I just don’t know what I am goin to expect in the theatres and that’s so refreshing, unlike most of the Bollywood crap..
This industry is being ruled by bloody businessmen and creative people are rare to find.. I hope that No Smoking becaomes a block buster, which is tough because it is so unconventional.. there can only be success for movies like Dhoom2, Krishsh, Partner, Hey Babyyy,and what not.. Especially Hey Babyy, which was made by Mr. Sajid Khan, who although rips apart other movies but goes ahead mnd amkes the same crap, which he used to criticise.. What a big time looser he is!!! I think that I am loosing the track now, but even I am so frustrated with all these pathetic movies becoming huge successses and also being appreciated by a certain chutya section of movie goers.. Shit man!! We need a CHANGE!!! Is someone listening?? HAIL ANURAG!! U ROCK!!
Wish u all the best for Paancha nd No Smoking!!
Whoa man! I seriously feel ‘No Smoking’ would be dissected into a zillion pieces on this website. If I were Anurag, I would be very nervous, especially of the reaction from PFC…lol.
All Anurag needs now is to be confident of his work.Just hope he doesn’t let the bouquets and brickbats affect his creative vision
Hi anurag,
Sorry to say, bt i m sure u have written this in frustration n u have understood neither Ayn Rand nor Howard Roark. read tht book again, u’ll understand why i m saying this…
Chak De becanme great because tht becane an inspiration for all sports man…Indian hockey team beat down Srilanka at 20-0…Indian cricket team won T20 world cup, Viswanathan Anand became world champion for Chess…the movie taught Indian players “dare to dream”..ofcourse there is nothing great abt SRK’s acting…
I would appreciate u 4 Satya..bt this comment is really fucking crap
mistake..the last line of my comment…”bt this comment is really fucking crap”
its ” bt this post is really a fucking shit”
I think i figured out “No Smoking”, it will be a roller coaster ride like the movie “the Game”
I think i figured out “No Smoking”, it will be a roller coaster ride like the movie “the Game”. Cant wait to see it
After viewing the trailer for “No Smoking” it looks like a glossy Bollywood film complete with an Item number from Bips and might even be “inspired” from an old Stephen King story,but I’ll try to save my judgement until I see the film. It looks appealing to me, but I am surprised most of the Indie-darling posters on here are falling all over themselves praising a trailer that looks like it’s from the very camp that they despise.
“Koffee with Karan – Mutual masturbation club…”
I couldnt think of any better quote than this…
I am just praying that NO SMOKING lives to our expectations….. You have set a bencmark with BlackFriday and I just hope No Smoking comes close to it or even goes beyond it.
I am also praying that it makes money at the BOX office so your financial backers are not disappointed and we can see more of such movies.
Hahahaha
Nice try.
But to be Howard Roark. the first thing you have to do is be competent, to have an integrity in your work that transcends everything around you. To hold your creations sacred above all.
Had you shown that integrity, that intellectual honesty, I’d grant you the right to say what you did. But you haven’t, and hence you don’t.
If you want to see what filmmaking is, wait another few years.
You’ll know.
hi Anurag
no smoking music is off the hook. hats off for trying something new.
film will rock and can
@RGV Impersonator,
…and with that comment you just made PFC/Anurag the New mutual Masterbation Club.
oops…that’s masturbation ,sorry about the spelling
PFC should start a Awards ceremony this year when they can select the best. If Filmfare, Screen can have a Awards ceremony why cant PFC? Anurag, Onir etc can be the jury.
Passion for Cinema Awards, selected for cinematic excellence. Ponder on this thought..
Sauarabh Shetty/Nova,
Read Quitters inc (author Stephen King) – Anurag mentioned that his film is inspired by this short story. Also watch “cat’s eye”, a brilliant film having 3 stories, for each screenplay was written by Stephen King. One of the story in “cat’s eye” movie is exactly what “no smoking” is all about.
Here a smoker is referred by his friend to go to office of Quitter’s inc. This company helps its client quit smoking by bashing him up if he smokes, following him 24X7, torturing his wife/family if he smokes like electric current, cutting fingers of family members etc and in the end the smoker quits smoking. From No Smoking promos, it looks like the Quitters inc office/person is replaced by role of Baba played by paresh rawal. The friend who refers is probably ranveer shorey and wife played by Ayesha takia.
I have seen cat’s eye and thoroughly enjoyed the movie.
Editor Note (D): This is the first and last warning. Jal.. lets stick to cinema and thereabouts here. No personal attacks please
Please follow comment guidelines at PFC.
@Jwalant, have been coming across your comments here for quite sometime and dude you are either a 10 year old kid or a 30 something guy with no brains and only one thing – to fuck anything ‘Anurag’ on this site and then shit on the site itself complaining about anything and everything.
Firstly you put your own meaning into Travis’s comment and now going on this massive re-re-re commenting on how No Smoking is Cat’s Eye. Get some fucking reading glasses or new pair of brains to re-read the whole discussion Anurag has had over the topic.
You clearly have an axe to grind with the site (which I really don’t care) and Anurag (which I do). Did this website kick you out as an author at one point or did Anurag piss you off at one point or the other? Wait don’t answer cause I really don’t care.
Have you seen the movie to come up with such a strong statement? I guess not. Wait I’ll make a prediction too… you daughter (which you have mentioned) is gonna grow up to be ‘Natasha’ a’la Laga Chunari Mein Daag… wait… how do I know this? I don’t just like you don’t… both about your daughter and the movie No Smoking, but you’ll keep banging your head it’s a frame to frame copy…
When PFC provides room to assholes like you to talk don’t keep shitting on them. But it looks like you have nothing else except shit and fucked up comments left to give.
I can understand once, twice or thrice but with the same record of psycho Jwalant playing over and over, you really have some serious issues man.
Jal,
I dont think your comment deserve any response. I am interested to see pfc admin’s take any action or not against personal remarks made by you. Although I dont have any daughter, your comments are a shame.
@Jwalant, my comment does not deserve any response, because I’m speaking the truth. Good guys stay put and don’t speak which is apparent by the so many fans of Anurag on Facebook, Orkut and myspace remaining quiet whenever you came up with your idiotic, stupid and psychotic fucked up comments. No good guy wants trouble. I frankly had enough, even though I can’t understand what stupidity on part of PFC prevents the admins from blocking a psychopath like you.
I haven’t seen you commenting on any other post, but it is always focussed on Anurag’s post. If you have, sorry, I missed it, just like you missed the massive discussion that took place No Smoking – Cat’s Eye.
Yes my comment is a shame, but it is nowhere shameful near your plain naked bastardish comments directed at people who prefer remaining quiet and you Mr. Psycho Jwalant have been taking advantage of this for quite sometime.
Regarding your daughter, it proves you are a huge liar too. Period
@Jal, finally someone standing up. If you remember there was a poll on pfc about commenters and i had voted for I don’t comment cause I’m too afraid to comment in here. You did touch something here. I’ve been reading jwalant’s comments too while reading post and yeah Jal you are right. PFC does have commenters like Jwalant who come here with some agenda to slash and destroy a good thing. The title of Psycho to him is apt and surprising cause I used to call him that whenever I read his comments. And before I’m blasted here, I’m out.
@Jal, Amen! I love the different viewpoints here, but yeah some commenters very clearly come here to comment with their personal agendas. aptly put – “psychos”
Jal thanks for defending me but you are wrong when you include his daughter.. let it be an ideological debate or discussion.. lets not bring families into it..
Jwalant i would say ,”why don’t you reserve your comment about what No Smoking is until after you see the film” don’t want you to look like a fool after 26th.
Bergmantobeat i will gladly wait another many years..yes i want to see what filmmaking is and can be in this country.. I am mediocre compared to what it can be, i feel bad that a lot of biggies give me this shitty superiority complex..
Debasis i think you didn’t even read the post.. we all love chak de here as much and more than you do..
Novadz thanks for reserving your comment till you see the film, will gladly take any criticism of which there will be many..
Rest, this again was my rant..needed to let it out as it was bothering me, thanks for letting me be, feel much lighter
Anurag,
First of all I have not mentioned that its a frame to frame copy of cat’s eye or script is compelte copy of Quitters inc. The similarities I have mentioned may be incorrect but from the information available from John’s comments and promos, it is obvious that my comparison and similarities are correct.
Secondly it is apparent from response to my post by ubiquitous posters show how stage managed things here are. If it is being thought that attack to my hypothetical non existing daughter and then support posts will stop me from posting and the way warning is given to malicious posters would act as a deterrent to all other posters who share the same thought process, well that is correct. It certainly aint worth my time.
Do the words mutual and masturbation go together? When mutual, I think it becomes sex. So, looks like blogging alone is more like masturbation while they (the KJ club) seem to be having an orgy. And then, laughing all the way to the bank! Sad but true.
@Jwalant, “ubiquitous posters” – shouldn’t this include you? Or does PFC know your real identity? You have still not come out straight on your accusation on PFC when oz pointed out that you were wrong in your comment that PFC supports only one kind of cinema. That was childish, immature and outrightly something on the lines which Modi did at the Karan Thapar Interview – look the other way and walk out while keep repeating the same lullaby hoping the baby would go to sleep.
I’m sure you aren’t in real life what you are online here on PFC, cause if you are you are one hell of a lonely person. Thank God, I don’t know people of the category I called “Psycho Jwalant”… you tell Anurag you haven’t mentioned this and that… but you still go on and on and on mentioning the same stupid thing for days and last if i remember correctly weeks – calling on commenters who did not even address you – to say that watch Quitters inc… surely John didn’t say that in his interview a month ago… so did the John interview come in your dream that you started mentioning it weeks ago before the actual interview happened?
Proves my point. Mr. Psycho Jwalant “IS” a big liar.
And if “it isn’t worth your time” why do you keep visiting PFC and comment again and again against Anurag all the time. Don’t see your comments anywhere else… why? Wait don’t answer. Cause I don’t have time for online perverted dual personality idiots.
@ Anurag, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that and did mention my comment was a shame. But when idiots keep hitting you below the belt again and again for months together, I just couldn’t take it anymore. As it is, PFC thinks I’m not doing a good thing and wants to ban me.
@Jwalant
“ubiquitous posters” – that is so not fair. Hell, I don’t even know anyone here. But then it is understandable to go defensive for someone like you, as Jal’s amazing title for you that is a psycho poster.
Wow Jwalant. You keep beating your head against Anurag and PFC with crap and if two posters say something against you they become ubiquitous posters. Wow! Way to go! that is so narrow mindedness on your part
First of all….Anurag, you are too damn good at anything u do
I can’t thank PFC enough for the platform they have provided for real lovers of cinema. As you said the guys here are not in the process of “MUTUAL MASTURBATION”, rather to celebrate the power of an art called CINEMA, and that’s what the they (yashraj’s, johars and all) don’t understand. I agree that they have power and they wanna make money but that doesn’t give them the right to expect “WAH WAH” for every bloody crap they turn out presenting their bhai, dost, maa, baap and everyone else who admit being their slave. I agree most of the ppl would like to see
a movie in which son comes in private helicopter for diwali celebaration, mother has nothing else to do except waiting for her child on the door, father is a casanova and encourage his son to do same, 24*7 everybody is dressed like they r just out of beauty parlour, a world where scooters and cycles don’t exist, money seems to be growing on trees and you can happily do nothing but fuck, eat and sleep…..sounds cool……but Cinema is not your whore….it’s a democratic medium of expressing ideas and creativity and if u don’t have any we are not gng to buy it.
PFC is a temple, much better than real one’s
Wanting to be Howard Roark is like defeating the very purpose of your existence. If you want to be like Howard Roark, or for that matter any one else, you will end up becoming nobody.
I dont understand many of the topics of discussion over here. As far back as I can remember, cinemas of all form have coexisted. Both Manmohan Desai and Hrishikesh Mukherjee used to coexist and make movies. Heck, I loved them both!!Why this sudden call for mutiny then? Whom do people want to defeat? Even today movies of all kinds are being made. If your tirade is against the success of movies like KANK etc, you need to fight the audience, not the film makers.
Anurag, do you watch KWK so closely? Strange!!!!!!!!!!!
I cant even the promos of the new episodes
Hmm Itna Halla isliye ho raha hai kya??
Mujhe to aaj pata chala ki JBJ jaisi Aseem movie se AAP associated ho.. Story development by Anurag Kashyap.. Haila..
They disfigured your baby?? Insaan ke bacche ko kitna bhi disfigured karo Hathi ka baccha nahi ban sakta.. Ye tumhari story ko kitna disfigure kiya gaya ki JBJ bani?? LOL
Sir ek question tha.. Ye yrj films/KJ etc etc ke baare mai aapke opinion pehle aise the ya JBJ ke baad hue..
Ab ye log movie abhi se to bana nahi rahe hai ek zamane se bana rahe hai but aapki saare ANTI YRJ/KJ post to recent hai..
Your post indicates fight personal hai for professional reasons .. watever it means
Mujhe laga it was just difference of taste/opinion but Kahani mai to TWIST hai.. Hai ya nahi?
@Azad, do you read Anurag’s post so closely. Strange!!!!!! Cause I can’t see your reaction to any of the 564 sentences he’s mentioned in his post.
Jwalant disappears, azad enters. Oh the power of the internet!!!
@ Alone – yaar, tumhe internet search kar chahiye before doubt dimaag ka dahi kar de. Anurag ka JBJ pe comment JBJ ke release hone se ek saal pehle aa gaya tha. Maine Pune ka writer’s conference kahin internet pe pada tha jahan Anurag ne yeh statement bahut pehle diya tha. Pehla khoj phir soch
i saw one episode Azad.. rest everyone around me and the papers tell you what’s going on there..
@ Jal
internet bahut kuch bolta hai mai sab nahi sunta…do Darzan alag alag kahaani hai..
Ghoda idhar hi hai i would rather hear it from the horses mouth and believe him..
hahahahaha…
A simple point of mine followed by a simple question, which was written just to clear off some of my doubts, and I have become a punching bag for some. Or dont I have the right to express my POV over here? Is this a forum, where you need to only agree with anyone and everyone? If that’s the case, ban my IP address. I have believed in questioning and I will not change my attitude in order to please some.
@AZAD, hehehe… by the way why do you write your name in Caps. Self Importance that’s not given to you by friends and family? Hehehehe lage raho important bhai
)
@Alone, Yaar teri baat bhi sahi hain. Lekin jo Writer conference ki baat kar raha hoon, usne Anurag ka “quote” liya tha. Link mile toh yahan dal doonga.
Anurag, dont you think its unfair on your part to comment about KWK if you dont watch it. I myself havent seen any of those episodes, so I dont want to agree/disagree with you comments regarding the same.
Isnt this same as labeling you movie as a remake of Quitter Inc or Cat’s Eye without watching all of them??
And people out there who want to punch me in my face, let me tell you, I have respect for AK as a film maker, but that doesnt take away my right to question him.
@AZAD (your name in caps depicting self importance notwithstanding) – Don’t you think it is unfair to ask about KWK when YOU (giving you importance) have not YOURSELF (giving your more importance) haven’t seen “any of those episodes” that YOU (hailing importace to AZAD) have not watched YOURSELF (AZAD’S self importance continued in humble tradition).
And people out there who want to punch me in my face, let me tell you, I have respect for AZAD (self importance tradition to the HOLY COMMENTER maintained intact) as a PFC commenter, but that doesnt take away my right to question him (giving him impotent importance
)
Azad
Good point and i agree with you nobody can take the right to question.. jawab na dena unke upar hai
but dude you dont have to respect his work to be here or ask a question .. nobdy can punch yr face if you dont like his work.
azad it is unfair.. you put on the tv and you do sometimes catch a glimpse of it and you see the same shit and you change channels.. one episode i saw fully was the rakhi sawant one and another second half of it was richard gere one.. but people around me are hooked to it so it plays in the vicinity.. the gere one he didn’t know what to ask.. the man on top of indian power list interviewing one who is not even in top 100 from hollywood and we were the mockery.. rakhi episode was so full of “you poor girl, see how much i feel for you”..
yes it’s unfair of me to comment, but it’s my anger against the media and people who come here and call us backslapping friends and i have not read or heard anyone ever saying a word about KWK.. infact everyone defends it.. it is such a feudal attitude.. “woh raja sahab hai to jo bolte hain waisa hi hota hoga”
my reaction is to how when they ask me questions, my answers are twisted and turned around and made sensational by the media..
and my reaction is to him calling me upstart.. my first film and his released the same year, when Bhiku mahatre lost to salman khan for best supporting actor.. this anger to the unfairness has been since..
Rants are good…i think we should let out our feelings through blogs…I dont care about anything….Anurag..all i will do now…is wait for ur movie…i have been waiting for it…waiting for it for a long time..ill make it point to carry notes to the theater…to critique it…love it …hate it(hope i dont get that chance to do)…frankly speaking …i have a lot of expectations out of it anurag….but i want avoid any expections..i will go with an empty mind. LET GOOD CINEMA PREVAIL.
@Anurag,
I will admit to you and everyone on here that I am holding a grudge for what you said to me on an earlier post , because it hurt me deeply and was not true and it’s really hard for me to get over it, so I’m ranting like you to get it out of me. I poured my heart out about my love for the Indian cinema and then you slapped me in the face just like you were slapped in the face, but I cared and you didn’t.
I watched your “Black Friday” last week and I still haven’t returned it yet to the video store and I hate to give you a compliment but I gave you one anyway and I am actually sad about the Oscar nominations for you(because you probably would have won). I look forward to “No Smoking” because it actually looks like a very well made and slightly commercial looking film and I love those types of movies even if you don’t.
I didn’t realize you had been “inspired by” the Stephen King story and I still don’t understand why in India no one gets sued for that , but they do in the US…that doesn’t even bother me, but I get bothered by all that Yashraj and K Johar bashing, because I don’t know why they seem to bother you and everyone else on here. I understand about changing your story for JBJ and maybe that’s where it all lies….I would be very interested in knowing what your version of JBJ was like, because I may be the only person on the face of the earth that actually enjoyed the movie.
….anyway, I just returned from 4 hrs of hardcore partying, so I’m probably rambling and will feel foolish about this post tomorrow…..:”>
alone before i started blogging .. i wrote this piece in outlook “we are running a donkey’s race” i don’t know how to post a link..
those were my feelings then.. they have been slightly altered now..
Further back in 2001 in stardust i had ranted about the same mediocrity but it wasn’t so much about KJ but others.. tose were my feelings then..
this is now.. feelings change..
Anurag
why give award so much importance when you know woh bhi raja sahab ko hi jayega..kyonki raja sahab jaisa bolenge waisa hi hoga.. aur by the way London mai Salman bikta hai bhiku nahi bikta
upmarket hai yaar.
there is 1 particular award which is all abt praising each other’s butt and nothing else.. agar by any chance one of these guys dont have a release that year ek special award de diya jaata hai.. special award u knw.. for wat.. dnt knw special hai lekin.
NoVaDz.. any cinema from any part of the world represents them.. indian cinema(bollywood) doesn’t.. it is called bollywood because it borrows from hollywood..
As far as no smoking is concerned , it definitely was triggered off by the stephen king story but you will see it is not that from any POV.. that story is just a point of departure for no smoking..
second i want it to be commercial. i wish it to be commercial.. but others don’t think that.. it’s releasing 200 prints all over the world.. commercial films release more than 500.. anything that looks good can’t be not realistic, anyway we are four days from release.. lets talk after that..
And apologies to have hurt you so much.. didn’t think you will be so hurt..
Alone that was our first film.. we were enthusiastic bunch of kids..I had my parents come over from benaras..then the awards did matter.. now we know the truth that it is not about merit.. then we were just kids.. they killed us.. they made us cynical..
That was a shame Anurag @ Manoj Bajpai losing to Salman.
Though I do see a stark truth in what some people have said here about you having gone way below your standards in a few movies purely on commercial grounds I suppose. Nothing wrong with it. And neither does that take away your right to voice your opinion.
And all the commenters here who are questioning Anurag’s right to say what he said here just because he had to compromise sometime with the very entities he has raised a voice against…I’d say no more than the opening lines of a Kishoreda gem…
Yaar humaari baat suno
Aisa ik insaan suno
Jisne paap na kiya ho
Jo paapi na ho.
We all err. We all compromise on things that are not high on our list of priorities. Different story that our lists of priorities are different from each other. So, while IMO, I might be compromising on something minor, for you, it may seem as a complete sellout to the devil.
The best way to get around this quagmire is to keep your opinions objective. Lack of objectivity is the primary reason for tempers running so high on these forums.
Anurag please correct me if I’m wrong here… A few months back here on PFC I recall reading (not sure if it was a post or comment) about how Anurag had written this story about two people who meet at a train station in Delhi and exchange stories, etc etc… Anurag narrated that to Shaad Ali who of course was the director of JBJ… Anurag had clarified at that time that what was meant to be a charming story of 2 individuals meeting at a train station was twisted, turned and blow up to become JBJ… again its been a few months now but I recall reading that piece and thinking “Man I wish JBJ had just stuck to what the initial thought had intended it to be as it would have made for a much more engaging film”…
Anurag,
No smoking ke music pe i had a question on the anxiety blog.. would appreciate your response on tht.
Alone anurag of paanch and anurag now are two different people.. i was much more innocent then..
And my answer to your other question is none of the above,, i don’t know about tomo..
The above comment was in reference to Alones cmnt #57
I also totally agree with AZAD’s cmnt #55, where he wrote:
“I dont understand many of the topics of discussion over here. As far back as I can remember, cinemas of all form have coexisted. Both Manmohan Desai and Hrishikesh Mukherjee used to coexist and make movies. Heck, I loved them both!!Why this sudden call for mutiny then? Whom do people want to defeat? Even today movies of all kinds are being made. If your tirade is against the success of movies like KANK etc, you need to fight the audience, not the film makers.”
I personally agree 100%. I will watch No Smoking (unfortunately on DVD as it likely won’t release in theatres in Vancouver) with as much enthusiasm as Johnny Gaddar and Om Shanti Om. I for one appreciate the variety.
I agree and trust me everyone who saw satya felt the same..
agar Bhiku mahatre ka role abhishek B karta to award jaroor milta..
Lallan ka role agar Bajpai karta to Lalaan ko kabhi award nahi milta ..
Wat really surprizes me is that at times they dont even nominate nominees like B Mhatre..
Random thought
Have the awards always been like this?
Thank you for the apology Anurag, you have made me feel very happy at 3:34am. Just to clarify, I know Bollywood doesn’t represent the Indian people and I had said that in the original post. What I learned about Indians from Bollywood was about family love and strength and some religious customs and Bollywood films led me to you and “Black Friday” and now to “No Smoking”…. I would have never in my life in my life had come this far if it wasn’t for the first baby step.
that also brings up another question
why dont we have a award ceremony for such films
i dont kn0w if i shld call them hatke films or watever but why not have an award ceremony which awards movies irrespective of the budget, star cast etc
any takers?
Chahe woh award ceremony ek room mai hi kyon na ho
say PFC AWARDS
Maine naam de diya koi hai jo isse next level pe leke jaye 
Last year on RMIM we had an initiative (all credits to Vinay P Jain) of starting our own awards, awards by the listeners.. and a jury to take care of the proceedings.. We were satisfied with a few thousands genuine listeners voting and the outcome can be seen at
http://awards.giitaayan.com/2006/indexen.htm
I believe its right time for PFC to start an inhouse (non ceremonial) awards on films..
Haan u can call it the first Bollywood online award
PFC AWARDS
Kya bolte baki log.. Ya to bolo awards are biased ya fir khud chalu karo
and this can be monthly award as well..
We sort of did do the awards thingy last year.
we will also be biased against them..
i say we just vote online, by members and posters and choose and write down our favourite films.. awards eventuall become a farce..
i like to go to festivals where they have cash prizes..
nothing like a cash prize..
Biased kaise honge kyonki PFC includes all kind of ppl i guess..Yaar tum kuch jyada hi cynical ho gaye ho
Yea voting online by members is a good idea.. only 1 vote per category though
Brilliant idea this is. though ppl say that award dosent matter it just a waste of time , but deep down in their heart they really want one.
Awards u know r a real booster a genuine inspiration provided that they are not rigged.
So lets start as Alone said a first Bollywood online award or PFC awards whatever………I think PFC awards sounds good…..THE FIRST EVER UNADULTRATED AWARD FUNCTION.
i have a bias i know.. will take a lot for me to credit them.. if it wasn’t shimit or jaideep involved with chak de and had they believed in it, my reaction wouldn’t have been so ecstatic..
i am sorry for being so immature..but will be honest.. i hate them
winners should make online acceptance speeches.. that will be fun.. and awards should be e mailed..
on one particular time and day all gather online.. and we announce winners.. have online transparent voting for all to see..
We all r humans afterall so no need to be sorry anurag
Theek haina bhai but tum akele hi thoda na vote karoge..if we have Anurag over here we have Suparm too.. net to net balance ho jayega
Atleast you are being honest to say that you will be biased..
net to net balance..:d:d:d:d
the problem is that popular award mai balance nahi hota hai..
actually its true that one cannot please everybody.. its also true that no matter what u do some ppl will cry foul.. but i have noticed in popular awards that some good movies are not even nominated.. except for recently i dont remember the award ceremony but one of them have started including these movies in the name of most promosing director category etc
why johns not ready to accept No smoking as commercial cinema…..Cause i saw urs and johns interview on EQ on headlines today and he kept on saying that it creates a new genre……….WHY
Waiting to see Suparn’s reaction to that.
BTW…Anurag…was your interview in Mumbai Mirror supposed to be a promo for No Smoking? If it was, PB has completely hijacked the purpose.
ekdum balance
over here i guess there are ppl who support all kind of movies
Hatke , Latke -Jhatke, Phatke everything
back to awards
Day finalize karo.. Holi kab hai.. kab hai Holi
it does create a new genre in a sense.. have kept the suspense too long on the film.. reason is i am dying to see the reaction of people when they see the film..
all misconceptions and expectations from the film are bound to change and reactions will be loud and many..
Alone, with a slew of Awards franchises in the market these days, every major production house with moolah in their pockets manage to get a share of some pie or the other. Thats the most disturbing trend over the last few years. Its like these awards functions end up becoming promo vehicles for these movies.
Ever noticed that movies not associated with Indiatimes never do well at the filmfare awards? Ever noticed how a particular clan famous for over-the-top jingoistic stuff always does well at Z Cine awards?
It does put you down.
bhai lekin iska music pro smoking hai anti smoking nahi hai what do u say?
i have put an elabortive question on that on anxiety post..
GOD iam soooo nervous for no smoking…….I know that i will love the movie 200% but how ppl r gonna react to this:o……….seriously anurag the reactions will be loud and many
Narc
sach bolu to i hate TOI for “certain things” but unfortunately i cant do anything abt it and yes i read it as well coz i dont have a choice..
TOI is all about you scratch my back( inaugurate my store, come to my radio station) i will scratch yours ( praise ur acting, movies and give u some pub) .. i have noticed it very closely.
To a great extent i agree with u.
link to anurag’s article in outlook..
http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20040607&fname=Cover+Story&sid=12&pn=1
but u need to register at their website to read it….
BACK TO AWARDS
Anurag says
winners should make online acceptance speeches.. that will be fun.. and awards should be e mailed..
on one particular time and day all gather online.. and we announce winners.. have online transparent voting for all to see..
——
Certain questions and actions required
Kisko vote karne milega .. humare jaise vote kar payenge ??
Date aur time fix karo aur time period bhi..
Movies nominate kaise hogi?
Award for movies ranging from ?? date to ?? date
Can other members or rather the editor add their views
hey anurag,
what was RGV’S reaction when ‘kuch kuch hota hai’ walked away with almost all the awards and ’satya’ was ignored?
i believe ’satya’ is the only film till date to get a five star(*****)rating…am i right?
have you shown ‘no smoking’ to RGV?
Anurag…
I think u one of the select breed of directors who love cinema… I mean REALLY love cinema…. Ofcorse money is an itegral part of the profession… But u r thousand or should i say billion times better than those production houses churning out brainless movies after movies, without caring about the senses of the new-age viewers.
I really thought u r a nutter when i heard that u r making Black Friday. I thought F**k wats there to see in a blast but u r freaking good ma.. the movie CD is one of my prized possesion now.. It Would have been better if the sound was little more audible n better.
I m really looking forward to No-Smoking.. I am sure that u wil live upto my and millions of other sensible moviegoers…
Wishing you good luck.
Regards.
Maniratnam career kick started with the universally appealing “Mouna Ragam”, and later he made some “different” but not very commercial movies. Later he had the opportunity to bring to life all types of stories.
Ram Gopal Varma too started off with Shiva, a huge block buster and later experimented. Sadly, when faced with two paths in front of him, he chose to take the boob road instead of glory road.
Shekhar Kapur started off with a very simple but touching Masoom and then a total commercial Mr.India. Today he has the power to make any kind of movies he wants.
Anurag, I think you should first try to get popular acceptance. Work on a very simple but a touching story. Forget Roarks, Suspenses, Bomb Blasts…Because, unless you are commercially viable, the movement for new age cinema will die. We definitely hope and pray that No Smoking is a block buster, but I don’t think the bhenjis and bhaisaabs of Kanpur will love such stuff. Make a movie that moves people across class, caste and other issues. Solidify your position in the market that even a 10 flops should make no difference to your standing. Or, for every sure fire hit subject, make another movie from your heart so you balance everything. I think you should manipulate and play within the system and bring a change.
Hi,
Am kinda digressing from the topic here.. but i really wanted to talk about the music of No smoking.. Well i remember the 1st time i saw the promos of no smoking.. didnt hear any songs just some scenes here there, very abstract it seemed.. i didnt think tht big of the promos.. then the music was out.. got da music and i remember reading the numbers of phoonk de, ash tray and i was like wtf how can u sing or write such songs..
and then the music started , oh man its brilliant.. Gulzar and Vishal what fuckin magic they have created…
And guys if u get a chance lissn to it wid headphones.. I got one huge sony headphones and man its gr8 lissnin to the numbers n it..
anyways great music , cant wait for the 26th..
Its strange how little “cinema” exists in this country and the slightest attempt at pretentious bullshit passes off as “New age” or “arty”.
One would expect that a sincere attempt by a competent person would do the trick, but sadly, neither exists.
We watch some bullshit starring Konkona Sen and call her the “intellectual actress”. My hunch is that since she is fairly bad-looking and one calls her a good actress to compensate for that.
Point being… In the Indian film industry, even a pathetic attempt is able to pass off as decent. Which makes me sick. If you compare yourself with people like Johar, Bhansali, Chopra etc. then you’ll probably be able to act self-congratulatory. But then you’re masturbating mentally.
Online voting has its own drawbacks – especially in PFC where the user does not need to do a “sign in” procedure.
there are nowadays many ways to give multiple votes by means of macros/proxies/chain-proxies/etc
Not that I mean to doubt the credentials of users, that access PFC/RMIM/etc
KCP
Bergmantobeat *clap clap clap*! You are right on target mate!
hey anurag,
here m geting a lil off the track but ther’s no better way of conversing with u. well u r a brilliant film maker n i’ve seen black friday 20-30 times (b4 its release). no smoking promos make the film look very interesting. man, no doubt u r talented but i’ve got a complain. why dnt u hav the same “different” approach towards animation, i mean why one more Hanuman movie (with due respect to the pavanputra). why cnt our animation industry think of smething international, smething on the tracks of Shrek and Finding nemo and Monsters.inc. till when we hav to watch animated Ganeshas, krishnas, hanumans and to top it all Himesh (as if the real one was not enough). come on Anurag, we’re counting on u.
our small company (thought bubble) has taken a lil step frwrd and we (me n my husband) hav produced an animation music video. we’re trying to get the DVDs to some stores. will keep u informed n hope u’ll go n buy one. it really has an international approach. not boasting, jst confident.
keep posting
shirin
Anurag, writers should not follow their stream of consciesness of thoughts while ranting on a blog.If used cleverly, witticsm can convey feelings very effectively.
Shirin…whats wrong with well made mythological animation?
Hi! Anurag
Its nice to see somebody of your calibre stands to his thoughts and speak.
I know you are not back slaping YRF, SLB and KJO.You think they are in position where they can and should think out of box. You keep your good work.
By the way I didn’t like the AAJ TAK Promotion interview for “NO SMOKING”
All the best for NO Smoking
dear anurag,
some movies are born to succeed and a hint of that can be heard beforehand through their music…a few classic examples would be rang de basanti, metro, omkara…music which actually drags you to the movie theatre to find out the story that revolves around it.
if we apply the same logic….no smoking is already a winner for me ! the music is probably too psychedelic for himesh fans to appreciate but it stays true to the film’s theme and takes you on a thoroughly enjoyable trip…quite rare in bollywood where generally songs are gap fillers.
and this comes from a person who bought the audio cd of black friday the same day i watched it…and still get goosebumps every time i listen to it !!!
last words…howard roark is a figment of ayn rand’s imagination…one who can’t survive in the real world…forget the film industry !
if you are talking your mind out (so called ranting), you are only being truly human in this artificial fake world…which needs real courage and just for that you deserve an oscar !!!
shireen.. hanuman returns is not mythology.. it is hanuman in a modern day world..
won’t say more.. let it surprise you..
and i would not do mythology..
i am disappointed .. why No Smoking is not getting wider release .. i just checked it’s not releasing in the hindi movie theater near me in New Jersey.. that means i will have to wait until it comes out on DVD..
Read some great posts by one Jal and one Jwalant. I mean Anurag shoots off his mouth all the time, whether it is to get noticed, to change the face of cinema or just to let off steam … only he knows.
But it is extremely sad when someone starts behaving like some Rajni fan? Let everyone say what they want (like Anurag does and seldom gets berated).
Surprisingly, Anurag reacts to almost everything that is said about him or is hearsay. I have seldom seen people he talks about react like that. Wow!
All the best for “No Smoking”. “Black Friday” rocked. I hope “No Smoking is another “Black Friday” and we don’t hear any lame excuses or more vitriol against the whole world if “No Smoking” bombs
Cheers
hey anurag i wasnt that excited about hanuman returns…
but now after reading ur comment(#118)…it really sounds interesting man….
when is it releasing..?
Howard Roark was simply a fairytale dressed up for adults.He couldn’t be held to ransom but u and I can be.U have been ever since ur first film becoz u dared to speak the truth.Dear Anurag mediocrity will never let u live coz if they did they know that their days will be numbered.U don’t know it but they do.That is your tragedy, that people will use ur courage,ur honesty & your integrity to fight u.You are the one providing them with the weapons & until u find a way to understand them & negate them I am afraid u will be fighting a losing battle.I don’t know how u r going to do it but here’s wishing u all power,man.
and i read ur interview in mumbai mirror….
..
wat baffled me was anupama chopra’s snide remark .
i always thought that she was saner than the other critics on television..
but not anymore..
wat the fuck she meant when she accused u of selling ur childhood…
does she mean that all those unfortunate people who have suffered domestic violence, child abuse, rape .are selling their trauma when speak about it to the media…….?
ive always believed that the best way of dealing with a trauma is to speak about it..
anurag ur speaking about child abuse serves
a bloody purpose….it makes more people come out and speak up…
i guess mrs anumapama chopra has a different take on it…
shame on u…mrs anupama chopra….
mr. remo…the so called others whom anurag criticizes dont have the balls to reply..
no ones stopping them…
i just hope they dont sabotage his work in return….
who knows they might be trying to do it…
p.s every human being when accused of something tries to defend himself or put forward his point and he has every right too…..
even the others whom u refer to do that…its just that they.. or their remarks are not accessible to us…
Bergmantobeat is right…I find myself cheering anyone who dare to be different but then again if you look at these so called different movies objectively you are bound to have this nagging feeling that they are really pretenders and not the real deal.
Another nagging comparison that comes to mind is the sordid discussion of why India can’t produce a fast bowler among its million or so cricket lovers.
Why do we have to suffer medium pacers and mediocre filmmakers? Could the answer be found in Indians obsession with Howard Roark and Ayn Rand brand liberterian ideas???:-?
I think only a certain type of people end up making movies in India…typified by the bollywood bunch. The tarantinoes or the guy ritchies cannot happen in India given the exclusive mutual ass licking club bollywood has become.
But come to think of it the above mentioned people would lick a goats ass if that would help them make the kind of movie they want to make.
If you have that confidence from the belief in your ideas and that passion beyond anything else nothing can really stop you.
It is about time someone shook up the cinema lovers in India with something special.
And why should an Indian identify with Travis Bickle.
Anurag,
Modern interpretation of Hanuman done by Manoj Kumar is still fresh in my mind.
anurag… u relieved me. with the name “hanuman returns” i was wondering whts anurag kashyap getting
into. chalo, will luk frwrd to it. but still i wld like u to watch our video.
btw my husband was with pralay (greek earlier). may be he can send u the dvd thru Adam n Eddie if u r stil in touch with them and if we r not able to keep
them in stores (lol). u knw whts the scene here. only YRF sells.
shirin
narcisist
thers nuthing wrong with a well made mytholgical movie. bt the idea is used so many times tht its getting abused.
WHY mythology ?? isnt there any other story left to tell???
its more like encashing indian sentiments like Ekta kapoor and YRF.
well i trust anurag if he says its not going to be a mythology.
well i think there is a lot of scope still left in mythology ..but only if in the right hands….
but again if someone goes against the norm all he gets in return is a morcha and a ban for hurting religious sentiments..
neways …
just wanna mention a chapter in hindi we had in 9th std…it was the last conversation of duryodhan on his deathbed with yudhisthir ….
called ” mahabharat ki ek sanjh”…
exemplary alternative work
something like that….wat say?
Unfortunately, I know very few people who go public with everything they hear or do. Anurag is one of them. That is why he has the image of a publicity hungry guy. That must be a virtue in today’s times, since he doesn’t take on as many people as he used to before Black Friday released. Maybe now he can’t afford it since you need more people on your side when you make a 20 crore film as opposed to a 85 lakh one.
Most times, I see a blind faith in whatever is written on Anurag’s posts which is as dangerous as making films only to make money (The YRF agenda).
At the risk of getting hate mail, I still have a lot of hope in PFC since it is the only site in India which has the potential to discuss world cinema. Alas, but that seems to be the last thing on anyone’s minds.
Seriously. considering you’re all here applauding Mr. Kashyap for his “excellence”, its funny you mind the arse-licking he seems to be criticizing. It isn’t much different, is it?
Indian obsession with Roark and Rand? Hahahaha
The entire gamut of subcultures that the subcontinent has ever produced, stand AGAINST the ideas Roark(or Rand) stand for.
It’d do well if someone actually came along and did a Roark i.e. be competent, show excellence and maintain integrity.
Which is where I come in. I happened to catch a link to this post on a Fountainhead forum somewhere and was highly amused by the killing parent reference.
Also by the fact that it is a post by a mediocre critiquing other mediocres. Ta!
@104, can’t open the link..
@Bergmantobeat
We are well aware that Anurag is no Bergman. But he has made only one released movie which by any standards is comparable to world cinema in the last year (2006). Please bring on any movies from last year (from the world stage which you think is worth discussing) for an open discussion/debate. We cheer him, true, because atleast he made Black Friday. If after a few days (after No Smoking releases), we find it pretentious, he will be certainly pulled down from the pedestal he was put based on BF and nothing else. what does arse licking means ? Can we call you Ayn Rand arse licker for your penchant for Rand character’s pop philosophy, which according to me is bullshit.
@B2B
I forgot to mention, I do agree with this comment in 110
“If you compare yourself with people like Johar, Bhansali, Chopra etc. then you
After reading Fountainhead I came out altered but wanted to be Gail Wynand more than anyone in the book. At that point as an writing exercise i even wrote a 40 page back story on him. For me Roark is a unreal fantasy. Ellsworth Toohey is the greatest villain ever created and what is scary is that we have so many Toohey’s in this world.
Talking of mythology in animation, I agree with Ashwin that there’s still a lot of scope in mythological animation if done right. Hanuman was a wonderful effort, though the quality of animation still has a lot of scope for improvement. I liked the fact that instead of going in for browbeaten stories (something that I feel Krishna, Ganesha etc. were guilty of), VG Samant told the story of Hanuman’s childhood. Something that a majority of us are not acquainted with.
I draw hope from the Amar Chitra Katha treasure that I grew up on. 200 odd mythological titles and that’s just the base to start from. So much scope for innovation. What we’re seeing now is simply a rush of me-too men wanting to cash in on the Hanuman wave, and in the process, sacrificing on the only quality that made Hanuman so special – the novelty of the story. Hanuman Returns seems to be an interesting premise though.
Moreover, we have a huge legacy of children’s comics. I fail to understand why the same is not being translated onto celluloid. I would love to see some Bahadur, Lambu Motu & Chacha Chaudhary thrillers, Motu Patlu, Suppandi & Shikari Shambhu comedies and so on. Why aim only for a Tom & Jerry or a Donald Duck?
One thing that’s missing though is any effort on the adult animation front. I saw this awesome movie by Richard Linklater (of School of Rock fame) called Waking Life. And who can forget the cult Who framed Roger Rabbit and Fritz the cat? Thats the kind of work I’d love to see in India.
Saw No Smoking interview on NDTV India…The interview was nice , crisp and to the point. Sometimes I feel John Abraham has the courage to take up films with different issues. He is quite adventurous when it comes to move selection.
You talkin’ to me? /:)
Ayn Rand is a pseudo philosopher and a delusional vindictive cult personality. Far from being works of art her books are intellectual pornography for the likes of B2B to masturbate intellectually.
Her philosophy is gobbledygook that wouldn’t pass simple rational philosophical arguments.
Instead of ass licking cartoons like Roark and putting on a roark persona of i am the paragon of excellence and integrity and feeling all superior i’d rather be real and speak my mind…
Or I could be Travis Bickel and carry on a crusade in blogs against the likes of B2B who pimp ayn rand and spread her filth. Another Rand prototype
..the fucked up romantic hero…randians would lap him up.
Fuck Roark Anurag ..you are better than it ..You are real.
You talkin to me?…Travis Bickle…ur user name everytime reminds of Robert de niros performance.
Hahahaha
I find it hilarious how the mention of Rand always brings out such strong reactions. My theory being that most people who’ve read her books and realize they cannot really live it up, end up feeling bitter towards her.
Sour grapes, I call it.
I DO speak my mind, Travis. Which is what I am saying. Black Friday may be good compared to the rest of shit India churns out, but comparable to world standards???? LOL!!!
Ironic how Iran comes up with a million times better cinema than India.
You compare Black Friday to a film by Panahi, Ken Loach or even Chris Nolan…. It doesn’t hold up a candle.
I am not here to bitch about Mr. Kashyap’s work. i am saying that in order to be able to criticize others, one must have earned the right first, and he hasn’t.
Rand is not a great philosopher, but she did create some very realistic characters and did manage to disconcert people. That is admirable, to me.
Mr Bergmanboat, Agreed that there are some blindly devoted patriot to Anurag, but majority of the ppl praise/criticze/applaud his work based on their own view about cinema..
also please let us know why a mediocre cannot critique another mediocre ??
You dont have to play cricket and hit 50 centuries to critque a batsman..U dont have to be better than michael jordan to critique a michael jordan..
Kya Funda hai Mamu? Going by your statement yaha PFC pe to kisi ko haq hi nahi hai to talk abt author’s work.. Humne to life mai ek min ki film bhi nahi banayee hai.
BergmantoBeat
I pose your question to Anurag back to you..
By your own definition
What gives u the right to criticize Anurag’s work?
Who has qualified your work to be better than his work? Show us the Degree please
thts exactly my point narcisist. if we dig in to our history, our roots we have umpteen number of stories to tell thru animation. indian cinema has to grow up
from the mentality tht an idea which sells once can be sold hundred times. making 4 ganesha movies and nt even one giving quality to the viewers is the saddest phase of cinema.
“Sour grapes, I call it.”
Brilliant…
with a conclusion like that you are exhibiting typical cult behaviour of denial and brain washing.
What’s up with condescending LOL..after stating the obvious …Is that the affected smugness of Roark..
Is it one of randian absolutes that you have to earn the right before you can criticise someone?
Being an unabashed Randian fanboy earns you the right to criticise Anurag does it?
Anurag, Just a simple question. I am just curious how No Smoking was received in Rome film festival. Please tell about that experience
Anurag, the trailors of no smoking do not sound good on the television.na dialogues sunai deta hai na audio track clear hai.by the time someone attempts to increase the volume promo khatam ho jaata hai. i am a promo guy so it hurts more.
// If you compare yourself with people like Johar, Bhansali, Chopra etc. then you
I think the important thing is to believe in your craft – which you obviously do, otherwise you wouldnt have been around for so long..:)
A mind will always have an opinion- only in this case it is attached to a person.
Does it matter? except for what you think of yourself..
I saw Black Friday and except for the final section, where you went preachy (and that itself was a compromise, not on moral but on creative lines, surely you must have known it), it was a superlative film.
No Smoking won’t do big business. I am certain about it. I am also certain that you will make great movies and become a hugely successful filmmaker.
But here’s the nub: I think it is not your failure but your success which will eventually destroy you. Don’t let that happen.
Madhavan…are you the oracle from matrix by any chance?
Anurag,
who is to be blamed for making of all these crap movies like dhoom and jbj ..tararumpum and all….If the audiences would reject these movies …yrf will stop making these craps for simple reasons they are bussinessmen …and the selling will stop if the buying stops. ..
@Anand Kadam ji,
Entertainment is a necessity of normal humanbeing. When good is not in market then they start looking whatever is available but its like going down.
Like any other area, entertainment has to go upwards or atleast should maintain status quo.
Serial of DD days and serials on these days channels suggest clearly that people see good when you provide them good and they have to bear bad when nothing is good.
Hanuman returns to modern times….superb story idea!
His superhuman powers,his vow of celibacy,the chants of hanuman chalisa in the background music……all this should make a very interesting movie.
now anurag that mutual masturbating thing was hilarious…………….now besides that u mentioned some movies of which only bheja clicked n the rest were as goood or even better than bheja but they were box office duds now i saw one of u r interviews where u said that pple want to see good cinema agar aisa nahi hai toh log dvd libraray se filme utha utha kar kyun dekhte hai
@B2B
You name iranian movies but cleverly shirked away the main question, because you havent seen a single movie from Iran last year, I think.
Panahi had only one movie in 2006, its “offside”. Black Friday is indeed better than it.
Now Ken Loach has “The wind that shakes the barley”. I havent seen it so I would ask someone else who have seen it to discuss it with you or you can wait for a few days. I have a high regard for Loach’s movie but his A Fond Kiss is simply bad. How come your favourite director made such a crap because by your definition all his movies should have been classics comparable to orson welles. isnt it ?
Chris Nolan’s 2006 movie is prestige. So should we consider it has beaten Bergman since you only name those directors who have beaten Bergman in movie making
. He has made good movies I agree. Memento, following, insomnia is cult. Batman begins is not.
@B2b
what’s this fixation with Rand ? who even according to you is not the best philosopher. You should be going by Kanttobeat, or Platotobeat, or Freudtobeat, etd
i completely agree with u ..”the narcissist”
and i just read the news guys that amitabh bachchan is gonna work with vishal bhardwaj in his adaptation of “king Lear”…
amitabh and vishal ..now thats a deadly combination
remember rozana from nishabd……….wow..
..encore…
If John, Mr. Kashyap, and ass gyrating, boob twirling Bips can work together, why not Big B and Vishal? Success is the name of the game be it K Johar or Anurag Kashyap!
well,i feel really bad for u r feelin tremedously horrible readin all this tht stands against u…but whatever it is..plez,dn’t ever change urself…i just love the way u r
…uncompromising..always on ur term…n tht is exactly the reason y i love seeing ur films, readin ur interviews (though as u have mentioned that some of it is edited..lol)
ofcourse,u r overly opinated…but tht’s ok as long as u stand by wat u say,rather than switch sides,which is most likely to happen with most of the people especially the ones in this industry…
i’m pretty blunt myself with the others,cos i choose honesty than fake around..wat is tht word that the guy from the catcher in the rye uses…phony???
this world is full of them,so it has to have the necessary equillibrium..n tht’s where we fall in.. thus..HONESTY..
one last thing…it’ll be better if u dn’t reveal much about urself..the personal side…the media will only worsen ur case n u will fall into depression again…when u read stuff tht is made up,try laughin at it…it really helps..infact instead of being depressed,u’ll feel destressed…i have been through it…n it’s funny…i whole heartedly laugh at it…u should try it too…n plez,this time do reply…i ahve commented end number of times…but i never get any reply from u…
take care
>-
n have a good laugh
Omprakash
The wind that shakes the barley is a fine, fine film. The cinematography is breathtaking, and it is an inspiring film. And no, Loach is NOT my favorite filmmaker. I am my favorite filmmaker. And Bergman is the only person I admire. The rest are a distant second.
The prestige was also a good film, better than ANY film to have come out of the Indian industry in over a decade.
Nah, no one can beat Bergman. That’s my job, and I will fulfill it.
Its interesting you ALL assumed I am a male.
Haha
Patriarchy goes deeper than one imagines.
Hello Mr. Anurag Kashyap
Since the day I came to know about your 1 minute film festival, I have nothing else in my mind. I am giving my shot in it. Hope to be your assistant in your next film and learn all I can. I am currently making short films to gain experience.
It doesnt matter whether you are a male or female. Please there is no need to resort to such cheap gimmickry (about patriarch or matriarch society) while debating. It almost sounded like Salman Khan playing the minority card after being arrested for blackbuck killings. :d why this sudden change in stance about “Prestige being better than any film to come out of India in the last decade” and not the best film in the world stage in the last decade, which is what you have been shouting from the roof top.
About last decades Indian movie, I can certainly name quite a few which are way better than Prestige. Will that satisfy your Bergman sensibility. But let me know any Indian movies of the last decade which you have seen. I am surmising that given your eclectic taste on cinema, you will name some worthmentioning movies. This will actually help us to form an opinion about the superiority of your movie taste buds which you blessed on us prophetically.
The wind that shakes the barley, as I said, will have to wait for a few days so that we can discuss on it.
@B2B
I forgot to add, the above post was in reply to B2b’s post. others can ignore.
Anurag, why don’t you make a big blockbuster …albiet your style…..that way you will have money…..name…power….and you can make movies that are really close to your heart without having to run around producers to get funding….that way you will even have Stars willing to Star in your movie..
I absolutely have no idea as to why your not attempting a blockbuster??
@Ashwin :
Vishal’s adaptation of King Lear is unfortunately going to bring up comparisons with the finest cinematic adaptation of King Lear IMO, Kurosawa’s Ran. And I hate to even think of how the overhyped AB would stand up to Mifune’s class act.
IMO, someone like Naseer would’ve done a much better job in that role. I was somehow disappointed the way Naseer’s character was underdeveloped in Omkara and hardly got any screen space, though I’d grudgingly concede that it did work for the film. Just that I wanted to see more of him in the movie.
Vishalbhai….jaago! Please do not succumb to AB’s mass appeal and spoil your record of being the numero uno in adapting from the bard.
//And I hate to even think of how the overhyped AB would stand up to Mifune
Yaar thik hai, jo tu bolta hai sab thik hain. Safai mat de. Jo bol diya so bol diya. Baaton ka batangar bananey dey. Maa chudaye. Hamey kya lena dena. Don’t get defensive. Bas just keep on making the films you do. No Smoking ka intezar kar raha hoon. I have a premonition that I am going to fall in love with No Smoking. So I am having the jitters as well. All the best.
P.S. Howard Roark is like Communism. Both have an inherent contradiction.
Howard Roark will always be an inspiration but you are such an amazing Film maker … dont let the Elsworth Tooheys and the Peter Keatings of the mordern world bother you. They are not even worth giving a thought about …
>-
P.S.. The music of No Smoking is just too good .. cant wait to watch the move
@Sreehari
My bad. I’d read in some Kurosawa interview that Hidetora’s role in Ran was specifically written keeping Toshiro Mifune in mind. And though I’m a huge fan of his, I’m somehow not very well acquainted with his actors save a few like Mifune and Shimura. Thanks for the correction.
However, I still feel AB will still overplay the character. For the same reason, I’m also dreading the portrayal of Khaderbhai in Mira Nair’s Shantaram.
johny gaddar….
wht u say (abt anurag making a block buster n stuff) is true to sme extent. but thts wht is spoiling the industry. its nt abt u create wht ppl like, its abt ppl liking wht u have created.
if all the young directors go on making YRF style blockbusters so tht smeday they cld do wht they actually wnt to, this industry will never evolve. we need to make more movies like black friday, bheja fry and dor to make indian audience more adaptive to realistic cinema.
hi..
u really have a spark in u……..
am dam sure…”anuragh is one guy whoz gonna revolutnize the indian cinema……
he is a guy who has da power to change our “cinema”….
keep rockin…..
“we all r with u”
ranjit (ad)
Hi Anurag,
i have just discovered PFC and am hooked. You are a busy man 9thak god for that), If you could steal a moment and go to upkarsharma.blogspot.com
i have wriiten a short story .. an unfinished sandwich. Would be great if you play a critic.
@narcissist…
without actually knowing that mifune did not work in king lear u were ready to dismiss AB’s chances against him…..not done…..
i disagree with u when u say AB is overhyped…
Ab is overexposed but not overhyped….
according to me ..he is among the few stars who are excellent actors as well ..which justifies his mass appeal….
Great Post Anurag!!
‘mutual masturbation club’ That was funny and true!!
at last got a copy of ‘Cat’s Eye’. Going to watch it tomorrow and ‘NO smoking’ on the weekend.
All the best!!!
now the other day i was in a cyber n the time just ran out so i m completing what i has to say……………….now anurag u also mentioned that pple acuusing u of promoting u r so called frnds movies look we all can see how the biggies i mean the big asss clowns r promoting their movies for eg ranbir n his mother comes on a news channels n talk abt h9s chilss hood anf therer is promotion on the ramp for oso so now if u promoting u r movie on a blog why the fuck they r bothered the only thing i want to day abt the critisicm SUNIYA KA SABSE BADA ROG MERE BAARE KYA KEHTE HAI LOG
Ashwin,
I agree with you on AB. AB and Aamir Khan are the only stars who can act in Bollywood.
^^what crap
Shawshank redemption
(:o:((
really?8-|
Anurag,
Someday the world will see your “Eight and Half”.
We will be silent witness then. Silent but with a heart filled with the joy for watching a new vision, a new blend coming out of Indian movies and making the world to take a look.
Until then,
“TUM JISE KAAL SHULI PE LATAK TE HUYE DEKHAA HOGAA/WAKT AYEGAA JAB WOHI SAKS MASEEHAA HOGAA”
I still remember when you’d come for our workshop at FTII. You’d asked me if I’d read Fountainhead. I said yes but added that Howard Roark is not my idol because Howard roark could be what he was because he had no emotional attachments to begin with.
I am eagerly waiting for No Smoking. It looks like a film not many are going to even understand. But we all know that it was made at a certain cost because of the saleability that was assumed with a cast like John and Ayesha. Frankly speaking, how many producers today are willing to put money in a concept like that? All of us who ahve decided to turn our passion into our profession are ultimately looking for a star value in our film or a backing of houses like Yashraj, Dharma, UTV where at least the film we make will see the light of the day.
Most of the guys here don’t know the “concept” of ‘No Smoking’. Funny, how everybody talks about it.
All we know is Cat’s eye and Darna Mana hain story are reference points – so John gets into extraordinary/wierd situations because he is unable to quit smoking. Is that enough of a ‘concept’?
Having been a prolific reader, Ayn Rand took me to a new level of what books and the world should be. It helped me to understand my own distinct voice among the mass of mediocrity under which we are drowning.
I know men who are like Francisco, howard Roark etc I even know a John Galt (he is Indian) and he is creating a new world . These men exist and that knowledge gives me the strength to be the warrior of excellence.
Just wait for your time anurag sir,what you think..what you believe..what you speak is no normal. You’re a genius..you’re a genius when you think..when you write..when you cry..when you direct. There have been people who’ve got big things easily..there have been poeple who’ve got desired things with time.They’ve given all their self to their art. God is great..he is watching all your effort. You inspire me a lot..just keep going…we’re with you.
@princess: i full heartedly agree wIth u princess…have myself come across INDIVIDUALS like Howard Roark, John Galt, Toohey…etc.etc.according to me though Ayn Rand was a philosopher but her characters in all her novels are very real…the ones we have seen n met with…
One needs to end the speculations as to what No Smokin is going to be like. Two more days to go..so just await it with utmost silence.:d
Inconsistantly Likeable anurag,
u were frustrated nd den u became a cynique.U created yr own brand nd trust me de reason why u hav got this lil publicity is bcoz u hav talked against the ppl who are mst talked abt.Thus,even u had to use mediocre people or entities in oder way for yr benefit.
U say u respect Jaideep Sahani(Who wrkd wid Ramu nd gave us sum good films ,latest being Sarkar nd nw Chak De wid Yashraj)
Nd in dis same post u say dat writers r treated as servants by YRF.If dat is de case,den Jaideep or Shimit r dumbfucks who r wasting deir time and dignity over dere nd dont deserve ny respect frm ‘New’ filmmakers lyk u!
I think Jaideep does believe dat things can b changed bein in YRF(nd mind u he has done it wid Chak De!)Look at Siddhivinayak film which is producing yr fav Imtiaz Ali’s film,Look at UTV which has been producing decent amount of good films.DOnt temme EKlavya wasnt a different effort,dnt temme u think Munnabhai series was a stupid series by Chopras.People r coming here wid good stuff.Look around nd try changin de system by following its rules(dnt gimme yr Shool ka loser mentality.
I dnt need to talk abt Indian Society nd its market opportunities nd why intellectuals in ny field hav failed miserably.U knw it way better dan i do.Its jst dat u PFC guys think dat ritin stuff ona website means dat u hav reached de target audience.
No matter wat kinda films does YRF makee,look at their marketing dept,learn sth frm dem.Dnt sit here nd talk non-sense like YRF or Other Production houses try to sell Shahrukh,rani nd not de stories nd dats y dey suck.
They hav deir own approach anurag,wat de fuck hav u done wid yr marketing approach.Did u sell Black Friday on ny USP to a great extent(refer 2 yr own posts in which u hav mentioned dat BF didnt do dat well on BO).Nd wat r u doing wid No Smoking.Which is de mst talked abt NO Smoking rite nw ,if dere is ny? ‘Bips ke Hips’ in Phhonk de!I dunno lekin Bus stop ke ‘No Smoking’ ke poster mein tere producers log Bipasha photo chipkane wale hain.
I hav been watchin de way yr team has promoted ‘No Smoking’.
Yr team sucked in it!
If this films becomes a hit(dnt worry i am gonna watch it at least twice),well and good.
Bt if it flops ,den dnt blame YRF or SLB or nyone else.Blame yrself for its spiritless marketing.OSO nd Saawariya r relaesing next week.Jav We Met ka hawa pehelesihi garam hai.Tu kya bidi jalaneki rah dekh raha hai tere cigaretterke liye????
U hav survived,u hav foght back.We all appreciate dat,dats commendable.Lekin khudke pantar aju baaju jama karke,dnt jst blw yr own trumpet here nd screw YRF on Karan Johar or RGV case.
kya kar raha hai yaar…kuch kar na!
I agree with Princess and Rekha
[...] Posted by naachgaana on October 24th, 2007 LINK [...]
screw roark screw the world
objectivisim is a fever i had then i became an adult
make good movies,get good performances and have fun with your daughter
REQUEST
CAN WE HAVE LIKE PFC MEETS WHERE WE ALL MEET AND BLABBER CINEMA
im very new to pfc and i already love it ^_^
You know, I am one of those people, who have to read interviews at film sites and post them at our lesser ones. When any of your interview or a story about you comes up, I make it a point to take it, and that ‘Yashraj takes us for granted’ the only reason I didn’t use this line as headline was it was not fitting in the space.
It may not be any comfort but it is not just you, in any story the line that will stand out is taken as headline.
And now just after two months, I am beginning to feel about my professional world as you feel about your filmy world.
PS: I think you really GOT Ayn Rand’s work in Fountainhead.
Man, I am hoping and praying that NO SMOKING turns out to be THE movie of the year so that I can repose my faith in you in bringing abt the solid change in hindi cinema. I support your stand completely, just remain the HERO that you are and miracles will surely happen.
amen!!
@Ashwin
I’ve seen Ran and though I agree that I made a big mistake with the actor’s name, which I even accepted with complete humility, I still feel that the performance of Tatsuya Nakadai as Hidetora is a tough act to match.
I never said Amitabh is a bad actor. Please view my point in the right perspective. I just said that he’s overhyped. He’s nowhere as great an actor as he’s usually purported to be among the majority. Simply compare him with great actors like Dilip Kumar, Guru Dutt, Utpal Dutt, Balraj Sahni, Kishore Kumar, Pran, Amjad Khan & Amrish Puri and you’ll know where I come from. Even today, we have far superior actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Anupam Kher, Paresh Rawal etc.
Talking of it, even Jaya Bachchan is a far better performer than AB. Having said that, I do agree that there’s currently no match for his mass appeal and screen presence.
As for Aamir Khan, he’s the so-called method actor of today. But he too has a long way to go before he can match up to the lineage of method actors like Paul Newman, Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman etc.
This elevation of Amitabh and Aamir to the level of greatness just because they’re the best among the current lot of “stars” is a major pointer as to why good cinema doesn’t necessarily sell in India.
@ narcissist…..
again i have to disagree…..
the actors u mentioned above are all great but personally i feel AB is no lesser if not better…
and to ur argument that good cinema doesnt necessarily sell in india….
well good cinema doesnt necessarily sell anywhere around the world….
taking away from the brilliance of AB and Aamir because good films dont work here is unfair…..
to me aamir is no lesser than a tom hanks or a dustin hoffman
although i think its unfair i still compared AB with the actors u mentioned above and i still find him the greatest..
well as they say…to each his own…
Why is No Smoking not in the competition section of Rome Film Festval? How does that work…is it because you can only enter in one category and it is much easier to be selected in out of competition section???
@Travis Bickle
No
In Rome’s out of competition section, the selection of movies are by juries and has the same criteria as competition section. Atleast that’s what is written on their website
http://www.romacinemafest.org/romacinemafest/pagina.php?pag=36&lang=en&fId=3
Thanks Omprakash,
More detailed info is in regulation section of the fest..posting FYI
4.4. The final selection of films for all sections will be at the sole discretion of the Artistic Directors, which also reserves for themselves the right to decide to which section the films will be assigned, as well as the scheduling of the sections. The Artistic Directors may consult with a network of international advisors during the pre-selection process.
a passage of this post in hindi…
http://chavannichap.blogspot.com/2007/10/blog-post_24.html
Hi Anurag,
Some what out of the line of discussion , out of the movies You talked of as being New Hindi Cinema , I saw “Bheja Fry”.Unfortunately I had a problem understanding what was so good about it.It uses the same old stereotypes and clich
Anurag’s photo from Rome Fest
http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?EventId=77328967
Hi Anurag… This was as interesting and thought provoking as your screenplays… and I am off to watch No Smoking tomorrow… best of luck to you and all of us.
Arun Singh.
oh my god .. what is he wearing ?
I meant Anurag Kashyap
I read that a huge no of studios/distributors are looking for prospective movies. I hope No Smoking finds someone like canal plus or the weinsteins.
a great film has released just a 3 mins ago today:((
but here is what i wanted to say sir ji.
app kyon? un “nachayee-gavaiyon” ki bato me pad kar apna keemti time&thought-quantum unpar waste karte ho.
aree.dont you know? there are kind of people who were always against the man who started walking straight on spine because they knew if he walks spine straight, he will soon discover fire later on will make wheels and the day he does that no one is going to stop him and meanwhile they will be rendered spineless..they have behaved the same ways since ages and will continue to do so….aap bus hamesha ki tarha fandu kaam karte jao-ji :w;baaki sab “bhala uski saadi meri saadi se safaid kaise” wali haramkhori chal rahi hai
oops!typo error must have read
“a great film has released just a 3 mins ago today…bhoo:(( and ill not be able to watch it today”……
full post in hindi…
http://chavannichap.blogspot.com/2007/10/blog-post_26.html
Karan Johar said:
“If Anurag can comment on a living legend like Yash Chopra without having any achievements of his own, I think the poor fellow needs help”.
In a way, it makes sense. Anurag needs to have some hits(money wise)..and if his none of his films work, he cant say Indian audience are immature.
And yeah, I loved Black Friday and Satya…
I dont quite know how to sort things out. I have been working for a radio station that plays old hindi film songs, I have been reading about the early 1900s to know more about adoption of film as a entertainment/business/informative medium (in India) and the pioneers who worked with cinema. Passion was the word, compromise was comrade (odd, aint it?) and audiences were god! The proportions of prioritising all of this has changed from decade to decade. And then came the 70s…
I just interviewed a music arranger from the yesteryears who lamented on this loss to economics. He spoke of producers (humans) and synthesizers (machines) who changed it all. he was talking about songs and melody…but speaking of the medium of cinema in the indian context is mighty complex, but may have a similar simplified solution…the economic returns got bigger and better prioritised.
In any case, who is the true indian filmmaker? Should we make one such idol up? and how should he be presented as? is the inde-movement thats applicable? individuals Vs Corporations model…is it about entertainment? Or shud we ask our academic study brothers who report film as a media and its effects on culture, thought and its consequences? Shall i attribute this to the dumbing down of the audiences? What they require? Who decides this?
Yes, I dont understand mainstream agenda. I mean, i dont understand their means and motives to seduce and sell-out all the time. Didnt some of them start with a passion for cinema? lets talk Yash Chopra since he is mentioned a gazzillion times here… Look at his earlier films- storylines. Examining pre-marital sex in his first venture in the 50s… and then many adult themes and complex relationships.Where is he today though with his dumb and bummer themes? and why?
Passion and purpose lost…
Anurag..keep on going:)>-..fcuk YashRaj..i respect and admire your cynicism because Indian Cinema requires it..every bit of it.
anuragji
i would just like to say, tht whnevr u get frustrated…nd whn critics bother you….u turn out 2 becum domnique….thts wht roark wanted domnique to understand….tht such comments nd ppl shouldnt bother…i know ur right…nd nuthing will change the fact…not khalid’s personal frustration on u, nor taran’s failure to undersatnd ur film….as u said it takes 2 much to becum roark….u dont need 2 becum roark…coz ur kasyap…but next time kasyap should get closer…nd stop letting such comments nd ppl bother him….
u should realise tht u have taken a bold step nd opened doors for aspirant film makers who dare to make honest films….its no bad in loving one self…kuddos:d/
hii anurag…when v talk abt hindi cinema in general ….there are ppl who try to numb the entire conversation by saying ” its 1 fucked up world…its better if v digress….y debate when nothin is transparent ….its useless to speculate”..had to agree on what they felt….cos nothin is… …thanx to ur site which did achieve in shedddin some light onto one of the most wildly debated topics of our era BOLLYWOOD! ….. i felt the best way to react to ur idiosyncratic articles(blame me if they arnt…cos i somwer feel i do relate to ur articles) is by tallkin abt cinema …watched black friday recently and it thoroughly quenched yearning for hard hitttin , “reality bites” type indian cinema…. loved the sequence where badshah tries to comfort himself by checkin to a lodge in kolkata and pauses to give way to a cpl … … felt u wer pretty succesful in achievin the subtelty which could encompass the fact that “badshah was missin out on somethin ….somthin he yearns for”….bravo kashyap……havent watched no smoking yet ….my friends did lik the begginin and wer sligthly dazed with the way the rest went over their head………shall update u with my findins on no smokin soon……cyA
JBJ is an explicit example of how to screw up a good story idea.
A Howard Roark is possible if Howard Roark sees only himself, and not his relation to the world.
He need not kill his family, nor he be detached from them. He is just like everybody else.
All humans live on a ‘priority’ basis. Some want to shoot films, some want to shoot people…some want to make money, some want to spend it….losers are those who cannot prioritize their life to their own satisfaction.
A Roark just knows where he wants things to be, and that is a gift only true believers possess. Believers in the human spirit.
Taking one step a time, day after day, year after year, you will realize at the end of the journey (the only time when it is really pertinent to reflect) that you have not just blazed a trail, you have created a bloody highway.
And on the road you thought you were alone in, you will see millions running along with you, just like in Forrest Gump.
The reason people fail in becoming Howard Roark is because they try to be like him. Stop doing that. Try to be like yourself. This is what Roark would have done.
sareesh
www.theindiefarm.com
well to begin with..maybe you have not comprehended ayn rand well.howard r. is not larger than life..he is one of us….
he choose a certain way of life and lived with it
people around him were running up the wall and going crazy but they hardly existed for him
again it was not intentional they actually never
mattered to him.he choose a certai life and lived with his conviction.Its never easy but thats was the choice he made.He was a happy man.atlas shrugged was ans of fountain head.who is john galt? may be me ..you…..
Hi all,
When v get a site called passion for cinema – one expects to discuss the finer aspects of film making | critisms, and may be even a few great works that one can comb out from the world over; and not something like commercialization and lobbying banners.
step 1: those who watch commerical movies should not comment or rather lamment about it – v r the fertiliser for this over stuffed garbage – so if v stop seeing them v can hurt them harder!!! get the point?
step 2: commerce exists. lammentations will only make this platform a place to download ur fustrations. if u need to do something then stick to step 1 !!!!
thanks to you all.
thnaks to u Mr.Anurag Kashyap:d:)
Anurag ,
You are not in the least arrogant ,if you were then you would not spend time in proclaiming it to the world around you.
The fact remains you need a clique to survive as well.
You are no different than the yashrajs , you are probably better and are refining the art of double think.
Very well said… Love and admire the courage and frankness you possess… We hardly see people (filmmakers) speaking their mind they way you do… One really feels nothing but respecting your honesty and good intentions…
Keep it up…
2 b howard roark you have to first kill your family. nice feeling. u r matching my feelings also. thxa for stating it.bravo.
hi ,
i just jumped out of my bed and stared at my laptop for a solid 2 min.
i stumbled across this site while on imdb.com dev d (brilliant btw) page
i had this epiphany yesterday evening while in throes of lethargy staring at the tv while waitin for power to come back. (sad na… i know)
HOWARD ROARK IS ONLY POSSIBLE WHEN HE GOT NO FAMILY… didnt think some one else will also come up with the same hypothesis. so major wave of shock and now awe.
if he had a punjabi baapu he wouldve got two on his mug … “go back to school u lazy fucker, jumping off rocks all day” end of fuwara head …lol.
ofcourse thats not the premise behind the hypothesis. its wht u said.u can be a fountainhead only when no one else is effected by your apparent idiosyncracies.