Urf Professor : A Miracle in Hindi Cinema… and yet a tragedy
Lets start out point blank by me mentioning that “Urf Professor” a movie made in 2001 and never released is amongst the top 3 best comedies made in Hindi Cinema in the last 30 – 40 years. Almost at par with Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, this is not one of those comedies that you smile throughtout, or laugh a few here and there or perhaps burst out laughing in one of those awesome scenes.
No Sir. For just like JBDY, Urf Professor gets you laughing so bad, that you fall off your chair, not once, not twice, but a dozen times in its two hour duration, that you go, seriously yaar, what the hell is going on!
Pankaj Advani, the writer & director (co-writer of Kundan Shah’s Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa) – arranged a private screening for PFC in Mumbai last night. Soft spoken such that cotton balls may feel heavier, I could not have had a better and more enjoyable evening in my visit to India.
Laced with cuss words throught out, which actually gel so well with the content flow and infact deliver so much of the rip roaring laughter, the movie takes off with a pre-suhaag raat scene where the husband decides that both him and his wife (Benica) should reveal about their past love affairs to start the marriage off a clean slate.
And boy oh boy. For the first time ever, you end up listening to a woman on Hindi screen daring to say “I had an affair with a boy who had a twelve inch cock… then there was the other one who took me from my backdoor… and then there were the twins who sandwiched me… and then…”
And then, there is never a single second for a breather. Not until the end credits roll in.
The husband (hilariously executed by Bakul Thakker) flabbergast, hires Professor, played brilliantly by Manoj Pahwa, who’s a voracious reader and a hitman. Then there’s Yashpal Sharma (at his comic best) who’s like the operations officer in Mumbai for his mafia boss now residing in Dubai. Yashpal plays the agent who receives contract killings and passes it to Pahwa to execute (literally) the contract.
Cut to the hotel room from where Pahwa arranges his telescopic rifle to shoot Thakker’s wife supposedly in the swimming pool of the hotel. Pahwa, checks the picture of the wife sent by Thakker. Problem. Pahwa’s forgotten his reading glasses.
And then starts a 10 minutes conversation on the phone, where Pahwa calls Sharma for help, who in turn calls Thakker. Probably one of the best comic sequences written in the last three decades of Hindi cinema, this is a 10 minute scene that is so razor sharply written and so precisely executed by Pahwa, Sharma and Thakker, where all three are at the top of their comic game. Making one laugh, and laugh so hard for a full 10 minutes that you fall off your chair, is one difficult job, and Advani, achieves it so effortlessly, that you are hit with a hard question at the end of the film…
Why in the world has Pankaj Advani not seen the light of a Bollywood day yet?
And that’s the tragedy of it all. One of the best comedies of Hindi cinema, will never see the light of the day because the censors will never allow this film to be released. But beyond that, are we that mature as a nation to be able to finally accept a movie of this nature?
Probably not, perhaps yes. We though shall never know. Cause this brilliant film will hardly be seen. An extremely toned down version of the movie, I’m told, was shown on television, but I do not believe it may have carried its hard hitting impact.
The film also stars Sharman Joshi (minus the star status), Antara Mali, Sri Vallabh Vyas (O Boy what a performance!)
With no formula, no story structure and hardly any firm lines drawn to traverse the story flow, this is one extremely brave effort, where the movie moves from one crazy point to another, for no rhyme or reason and yet you sit there glued to your chair, the glue ripping off every 10 minutes because you find yourself laughing on the floor.
Add to that a Kundan Shah stamp all over the story, where comedy has a purpose, an underbelly, a subtle meaning – message – observation, I present to you via this blog post the best comedy I’ve seen in the last 16 years since Andaz Apna Apna and in my view one of the top three best comedies in Hindi cinema, in the last three decades.
Lastly, I pray and hope, Pankaj Advani’s rip roaring thriller Sankat City releases soon (it is supposed to hit theaters in the last week of April) and reaches most of you.
Bollywood never realized what a gem has been lying amongst its midst for over 20 years.
Tags: Comedy, Independent, Pankaj Advani, Unreleased, Urf Professor
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
when will they learn, the corner room charlies?? anyways, to hell with them. after so much praise from oz, i just can’t wait to steal this movie! boy oh boy oh boy!!
oz bhai: how can the mere mortals like us lay our hands on this gem? plz help us. can we have another screening in mumbai / pune, with a prior intimation on PFC, where those who wish to attend can do so?
what better way to realise the dreams of pankaj advani than to spread the good WOM and do our own teo-cents worth of effort to bring this masterpeice to light..!
oz- Reading this makes me feel so bad for missing out the screening.Hope I get to see it sometime soon in some way or the other.
It’s high time that we start some sort of underground circulation of these gems. So much have other people decided what’s good for me, and my fellow men and women.
Aapne agar EK ghante aur ka notice diya hota I would have been able to make it!!!! AAAARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!
Any other private screening of the movie…hell i don’t even mind paying for it…atleast release its DVD…
Sounds kinda cool!
It might now that films like dev.d are releasing
I agree with your review about this movie. I was one of the fortunate ones to see it in its uncut glory. ‘Urf Professor’ isn’t just a movie. It’s an experience. An experience which many were bereft of due to the censor board scissorhands. Looking forward to ‘Sankat City’ and all of Pankaj Advani’s future projects. He’s brilliant at his work.
can we please get a copy? from where? please let me know. i m in mumbai – can come anywhere, anytime, any price for this film…:) please let me know ASAP
can it not be released directly to DVD? perhaps not if the reason is Censor Board…Paanch being a prime example…I’m sure there will be more such movies…is there really no other way?…how abt putting it up on internet for download…a torrent or something?
Saw part of this film in ‘98 at a special screening and couldn’t watch the whole thing. Loved what I saw and been trying to get my hands on it since then.
Why aren’t these movies released on VCDs DVDs or are they? Because if they are ignorance ain’t no bliss.
plz plz plz release this movie on dvd or on the net. i’ll be more than happy to pay to watch/buy it. release an extended trailer on youtube, facebook, orkut, torrent sites etc. there is a market for this i’m sure.
rapchandus chote rapchandus!!!!!!!!
http://members.tripod.com/indieyo/mov/urf.htm
on googling, I found this movie had got praises n awards at digital movie fest in philipines in 2001…
Hope to c this movie during my lifetime…thx Oz for the info…
Why cant he release it on the internet….like Confessions…
Oz yaar, I never miss any occasion and how have I gone and missed this????
Superb!! had heard about this a lot from Hansal Mehta as well…oz bhai, has the movie done the rounds of festivals?
If anyone gets to know when this movie will be screened next, please do post the news here so that those who want to watch it, can. I am really looking forward to seeing it.
Good reading ! If Indian censor board won’t release this movie how the heck viewers can watch this cult piece of comedy! Any place we can buy DVD of this movie?:D
Cheers,
Rajan
Zee Cinema showed this movie in a series called ‘digial talkies’ sometime in 2001 – it was way ahead of its time – hilarious and shocking…
hope to see it sometime again!
I’m glad you saw URF PROFESSOR.
I hope the genius of Pankaj Advani explodes on our multiplexes soon.
Where can we get to see this? Any chance at any upcoming festivals or private screening? I guess nobody will mind paying 400-500 bucks to watch this…if it can be arranged again.
seen this film twice. once standing through the entire show in BYOFF at Puri. it is an outstanding film and more people need to watch it. it is one of the indian films that i would love to recommend to people and watch it as many times over that i can.
“backdoor” reference, IIRC, was made in some Manisha Koirala movie ( Market ? )
Seems to be interesting adult stuff !!
@Oz
just curious, why u mention ‘last 30-40 years’ in this post. What good comedies were there before that? Anything specific in mind…or just a manner of speaking?
can we cut a trailer of this movie and post it online..create/start a buzz..once more?
Why dont someone try to promote this movie in the US independent film circuit and get it realease there. There is demand for Indian films now.
Don’t tell me no one has thought of this till now….
@ all, Hopefully after Sankat City is released, the movie may find an overseas buyer. Until then please hold on. No, there are no DVD copies available anywhere.
@Om, yes it has
@Varun, didn’t jog my memory beyond 40 years while writing this. Itna bhi kya introspection!
@Om (28), Yes it is possible. But lets first wait for Sankat City and by what I’ve heard it’s a hilarious thriller. So everyone is focussed on Sankat City, after which hopefully Urf Professor will find an outlet.
@Ram V, Nah, there isn’t for Indy. SRK yes. Aamir. yes. But a small Indy film with no known faces. Forget it. But besides that, yes it hopefully will be seen by indy enthusiasts in a couple of months. lets hope… and pray.
We should not forgive the CBFC, if good films are banned based on assumed morality…they have been onto this for years together now…the scissor crazy idiotic committee has nothing to lose…while Indian Cinema has…It is great to see that Pankaj Advani did not lose hope and continued his professional endeavor. Salute his courage.
@Oz
Are u still here, in Mumbai? Can we meet up sometime this week? (i know this call is not suited for the comments section…but don’t have ur personal mail id.)
Here is another piece of information on Pankaj Advani. His children’s film SUNDAY won 2 National Awards in 1994 – Best NonFeature Film and Best Music. It was shown in the Indian Panorama Section of the 25th International Film Festival of India, Calcutta; the Asian Panorama section of 8th International Children’s Film Festival, Udaipur and has also participated in various other festivals including Cairo and Chicago Children’s Film Festivals. Also, read some raving reviews about another one of his films- CAPE KARMA.
i wonder if the people at the censor board are really nuts :mad: …
let’s hope we get to see this film soon…
Pankaj Advani is/was a very talented filmmaker. I loved his children film Sunday which never got shown. I believe his Urf Professor was even better.
After reading this article I did some googling on Urf Proffessor and all links where I found any mention of Urf Proffessor I also found mention of another movie called “Divya Drishti” which was also made around the same time by the same production house and also got banned by Censor.
Does anybody have any more information about this movie “Divya Drishti”?
Indraneel, you were in Bangalore. This is the film I called you for
Agree with Anshu, the film is an experience. What I liked best was the number of types of humour used all equally effectively. From slapstick to farce to goofy to black humour, all make you fal off with equal zest!
Way to go Pankaj! Looking forward to Sankat City.
Never knew such movie exists, thanks for writing on it. All I can do best after reading this piece is think ‘ How to get to PFC screening ?’ Can it not be uploaded on YouTube in parts ?
Another movie I am looking out for is OM Darbadar. Dunno where to see such movies.
Cheers!
~uh~
Oye Oz, After listening about it from you last night and now this post, what I would not give to see that 10 minute conversation on phone. Kab hai screening yaar?
Btw, Whats Mail doing there?.. curious…;)
@udtahaathi…..OM DARBADAR…..that’s one movie i want to beg, borrow or steal….wonder how to get hold of it….
Oz…..I am in DC. Can we, in some way, arrange for a screening here in DC? Paanch had had a screening here at the Sackler-Freer Gallery and Anurag had also come for a QA session post the movie.
I could try and coordinate a screening here if Pankaj Advani is interested.
Please let me know.
Have seen Urff and caught a preview of Sankat City. Sankat is better and leaner and pretty much in the same vein as Urff but minus the cuss words…lets hope it releases quick…
I saw URF 2-3 times, it is a good movie.. but ..iss film main aisa kuchh nahin hai ki yeh kaha jaye ki “top 3 best comedies made in Hindi Cinema in the last 30 – 40 years.” sorry..using “maa behan ki gaali’s” and “12inch cock”, “masturbation in the loo..” that doesnt make a film and a script great. film not released till date (except on zee cinema at 1.30 in the night years back ) itself indicates that film is not that great. For me this type of cinema is as same as Modi or varun gandhi speech..they use inflammatory speeches and get instant response. But a good writer, director, or leader, uses his creative talent to make good product with in the parameter of social structure and values. Remember mere dost..bazar main jab nanga baat karta hai..toh sab sunte hain..that doesn’t mean, ki uski baat main dum hai..people just see..because he is nude..and forget..thats why nobody bothered where is the “URF PROFESSOR”
Dear Folks, living in Toronto we get to see mainstream Bombay films about the same time as in India. However, for the rest, we only get to see the others upon multiple demands at the local Pirate DVD Store. Finally got to see Dev D. about a month after release, on a pretty poor copy. I imagine the situation is the same for all other points outside India.
Since I have been holding my breath for Anurag’s Panch for 5 years, and now Urf Professor, I have an idea.
Given today’s technology, can’t the owners of such films msake them available on the net. Anybody who wants to see the film can pay the owner and download the film for their own use.
Someone please, please, please do this, and put the Pirates out of their misery, and at the same time put some cold hard cash in the hands of the long suffering film maker – Vipin.
Jaman is a very good site for releasing these Indie movies, fyi folks!
@ Baldev
“For me this type of cinema is as same as Modi or varun gandhi speech..they use inflammatory speeches and get instant response.”
you know your first two words are your saviors…”FOR ME”..it’s your perspective and you are allowed to have one.Otherwise how on earth an educated person can compare an honest dialogue used in the context in a movie with Modi or varun gandhi speech..ridiculous!
Let me read it again…
– “sorry..using “maa behan ki gaali’s” and “12inch cock”, “masturbation in the loo..” that doesnt make a film and a script great.”
Surely it doesn’t but it does make an honest approach to find humor naturally which is close to reality.(except 12 inch thingy I believe every thing is quite mundane and natural). Sorry…if you need a stand up comedian every time to make you laugh.
– “film not released till date (except on zee cinema at 1.30 in the night years back ) itself indicates that film is not that great”
FACT: The film was not released, because of the censorship.
Fiction: The film was not released because it could not be played in daytime.
We are suffering from lack of good, real,honest and true cinema because people don’t understand the difference between Kama-sutra and Padosan ki suhagrat.I don’t understand why do people hate to see what they think of most of times in their lives.OK, I am talking lots of irrelevant stuff here, but I want to.
– “But a good writer, director, or leader, uses his creative talent to make good product with in the parameter of social structure and values.”
BUL|$H*T, creativity doesn’t follow structures.Do I need say more?
– “Remember mere dost..bazar main jab nanga baat karta hai..toh sab sunte hain..that doesn’t mean, ki uski baat main dum hai..people just see..because he is nude..and forget”
Dude! I seriously wonder, I, being a non conforminst, stupid,idiot,maverick, no-values-for-me kinds…will never ever be able to think of this comparison. bazaar me jab ek nanga bat karta hai, tab bhi tum uski bat sun sakte ho, agar tumhe pata hai ki wo kya bol raha hai, par tumhari aankho par to sharafat ka parda hai, will only see his nudity…no offence to any community but there are saints who abstain clothing (technically nude) and who say good things (pravachans – literally good sentences)and people listen to them…ok this example was just to prove that you are wrong here.
– “..thats why nobody bothered where is the “URF PROFESSOR””
People ARE bothered, maybe you can not see them, or you do not know any of those people..hota hai, we live in our different worlds of our own, but anyways “welcome to our world, we would love to see movies like this and we are bothered, concerned, happy about URF PROFESSOR”.
P.S.: The whole post I wrote is my idea and hence only “FOR ME”. -Sachin
kya urf professor kahi se download ho sakti hai yaa kisi bhai ke pass hai