There are a number of stories about how Gulzar, who has been awarded the 58th Jnanpith Award along with Sanskrit scholar Jagatguru Rambhadracharya, became one of Hindi cinema’s most celebrated lyricists after being better known in his years as a struggler after Partition in Mumbai for his expertise in re-painting cars mauled in crashes.
The one that seems most credible, however, has come from him. Despite his skill with car colours, Gulzar’s first love was the written word and he was a regular at the Progressive Writers Association (Pwa), which was then a creative hub of just about every Titan in Hindi and Urdu literature.
It was at Pwa meetings that the undiscovered poet struck up a friendship with lyricist Shailendra, who introduced him to Bimal Roy, who, in turn, told him that he was wasting his time and talent at a car workshop.
Roy drafted Gulzar, till...
The one that seems most credible, however, has come from him. Despite his skill with car colours, Gulzar’s first love was the written word and he was a regular at the Progressive Writers Association (Pwa), which was then a creative hub of just about every Titan in Hindi and Urdu literature.
It was at Pwa meetings that the undiscovered poet struck up a friendship with lyricist Shailendra, who introduced him to Bimal Roy, who, in turn, told him that he was wasting his time and talent at a car workshop.
Roy drafted Gulzar, till...
- 2/17/2024
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Leading Tamil filmmaker Mani Ratnam shared deep insights and filmmaking secrets from his illustrious 40-year career in a master class at Mumbai Film Festival, moderated by self-confessed fan and Hindi film director Imtiaz Ali.
In a standing room only session that lasted nearly two hours, the celebrated filmmaker started by talking about how he was working as a management consultant when the films of masters such as Akira Kurosawa, Guru Dutt and Bimal Roy inspired him to seek a career in cinema.
“At that time, the only way you could become a director was to work as an assistant director with some big filmmaker – that would be a period of some seven or eight years and I was not patient enough for that,” Ratnam remembers.
“So I thought I’ll write a script, convince a director and learn everything about filmmaking that way. But when I finished writing, I thought...
In a standing room only session that lasted nearly two hours, the celebrated filmmaker started by talking about how he was working as a management consultant when the films of masters such as Akira Kurosawa, Guru Dutt and Bimal Roy inspired him to seek a career in cinema.
“At that time, the only way you could become a director was to work as an assistant director with some big filmmaker – that would be a period of some seven or eight years and I was not patient enough for that,” Ratnam remembers.
“So I thought I’ll write a script, convince a director and learn everything about filmmaking that way. But when I finished writing, I thought...
- 10/30/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Following four long years of pandemic shutdown, India’s Jio Mami Mumbai Film Festival made a triumphant return Friday night with a glitzy opening ceremony packed with stars from the Hindi and South Indian film industries, including Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Kareena Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Sonam Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar, along with Tamil cinema legends Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, among many others. Held inside Mumbai’s shimmering new Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, which opened just in March, the ceremony featured two hours of impassioned speeches and the dolling out of awards, all of it presided over by Chopra Jonas, this year’s festival chairwoman.
In her opening remarks declaring the festival officially open, Chopra Jonas emphasized the role of women in the Indian industry, saying: “We’d like to acknowledge the pivotal role of women in front of the camera and behind – we have some of the most amazing women,...
In her opening remarks declaring the festival officially open, Chopra Jonas emphasized the role of women in the Indian industry, saying: “We’d like to acknowledge the pivotal role of women in front of the camera and behind – we have some of the most amazing women,...
- 10/28/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Stars from both the Hindi and South Indian film industries turned out in force for the opening night of Jio Mami Mumbai Film Festival, including Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Sonam Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar, along with Tamil star Kamal Haasan, who presented the Excellence in Cinema Award (South Asia) to director-producer Mani Ratnam.
The two leading figures of South Indian cinema also announced their first collaboration in 36 years – Kh 234 – to be produced by Haasan’s Raaj Kamal Films International and Ratman’s Madras Talkies.
“We’re producing the film together – he’s directing it and any job that’s going I’m willing to do, including lead man,” joked Haasan after presenting Ratman with the award. “I’ll keep that in mind,” Ratnam retorted.
Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman and cinematographer Ravi K Chandran are also attached to the film. Haasan and Ratnam last collaborated on gangster drama Nayakan in 1987. A teaser...
The two leading figures of South Indian cinema also announced their first collaboration in 36 years – Kh 234 – to be produced by Haasan’s Raaj Kamal Films International and Ratman’s Madras Talkies.
“We’re producing the film together – he’s directing it and any job that’s going I’m willing to do, including lead man,” joked Haasan after presenting Ratman with the award. “I’ll keep that in mind,” Ratnam retorted.
Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman and cinematographer Ravi K Chandran are also attached to the film. Haasan and Ratnam last collaborated on gangster drama Nayakan in 1987. A teaser...
- 10/27/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Mumbai Film Fest To Honor Luca Guadagnino & Mani Ratnam
The Mumbai Film Festival will honor Luca Guadagnino and Indian filmmaker Mani Ratnam at the upcoming fest, which runs from October 27 to November 5. The former will win the Excellence in Cinema Award (International) while the latter is handed the South Asian version of the same award. Both directors will attend the festival to receive their gongs and conduct masterclasses. The festival will also screen Ratnam’s recent Tamil-language historical dramas, Ponniyin Selvan: Part One & Two, and Luca Guadagnino’s Golden Globe-nominated I Am Love. Previous receipients of Mumbai Film Festival’s Excellence in Cinema Awards include Darren Aronofsky, Sharmila Tagore, Fernando Meirelles, Jia Zhangke and Chen Kaige.
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The Mumbai Film Festival will honor Luca Guadagnino and Indian filmmaker Mani Ratnam at the upcoming fest, which runs from October 27 to November 5. The former will win the Excellence in Cinema Award (International) while the latter is handed the South Asian version of the same award. Both directors will attend the festival to receive their gongs and conduct masterclasses. The festival will also screen Ratnam’s recent Tamil-language historical dramas, Ponniyin Selvan: Part One & Two, and Luca Guadagnino’s Golden Globe-nominated I Am Love. Previous receipients of Mumbai Film Festival’s Excellence in Cinema Awards include Darren Aronofsky, Sharmila Tagore, Fernando Meirelles, Jia Zhangke and Chen Kaige.
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- 10/25/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Italy’s Luca Guadagnino and India’s Mani Ratnam will receive the Jio Mami Mumbai Film Festival’s 2023 Excellence in Cinema awards.
Ratnam will receive the Excellence in Cinema (South Asia) award and Guadagnino the Excellence in Cinema (International) award. The awards will be presented at the festival’s opening ceremony on Oct. 27. Both filmmakers will be present and will deliver masterclasses during the festival.
The festival will screen Guadagnino’s Oscar and BAFTA nominated “I Am Love” (2009) and both parts of Ratnam’s magnum opus “Ponniyin Selvan”.
Guadagnino’s films include “A Bigger Splash” (2015), the Oscar-winning film “Call Me By Your Name” (2017), “Suspiria” (2018) and feature documentary “Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams” (2020). “Bones and All” (2022) won Guadagnino the Silver Lion for best director at Venice. He made his TV debut with the HBO drama series “We Are Who We Are” (2020). His film “Challengers,” starring Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor, is...
Ratnam will receive the Excellence in Cinema (South Asia) award and Guadagnino the Excellence in Cinema (International) award. The awards will be presented at the festival’s opening ceremony on Oct. 27. Both filmmakers will be present and will deliver masterclasses during the festival.
The festival will screen Guadagnino’s Oscar and BAFTA nominated “I Am Love” (2009) and both parts of Ratnam’s magnum opus “Ponniyin Selvan”.
Guadagnino’s films include “A Bigger Splash” (2015), the Oscar-winning film “Call Me By Your Name” (2017), “Suspiria” (2018) and feature documentary “Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams” (2020). “Bones and All” (2022) won Guadagnino the Silver Lion for best director at Venice. He made his TV debut with the HBO drama series “We Are Who We Are” (2020). His film “Challengers,” starring Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor, is...
- 10/25/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
TollywoodPawan Kalyan has temporarily moved to Mangalagiri in order to lead the election campaigns of the Jana Sena Party. Directors and producers working with actor-politician Pawan Kalyan announced that they will shoot films around Mangalagiri, Vijayawada and Guntur, given that the actor has shifted his base temporarily to Andhra Pradesh for the election campaign. On Monday, June 12, director Harish Shankar, producers Y Ravi Shankar, Vivek Kuchibotla, Am Ratnam, and Dvv Danayya met the actor-politician at the Jana Sena Party (Jsp) headquarters in Mangalagiri before they made the announcement. The Jsp chief is currently based in Mangalagiri, and will be touring several districts as part of the Varahi Yatra, which will commence from Wednesday. Producer Bvsn Prasad who was among those who met Pawan Kalyan at his office in Mangalagiri on Tuesday, joined the Jsp. “This is the first time that we have come here. We have been shooting in Rajahmundry and Visakhapatnam,...
- 6/14/2023
- by Balakrishna
- The News Minute
Indian actor Kamal Haasan and director Mani Ratnam are reuniting for a film with the working title “KH234.”
The pair previously teamed on gangster epic “Nayakan” (1987). The film was a watershed in both their careers. It was a box office blockbuster, won Haasan best actor at India’s national film awards and was the country’s entry to the 1988 Oscars.
The title of the new film signifies that it is Haasan’s 234th.
“KH234” will be produced by Haasan’s Raaj Kamal Films International (Rkfi) and Ratnam’s Madras Talkies with Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Red Giant Movies as a presenter on the project. Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Grammy winning composer A.R. Rahman will provide the music. Haasan, Ratnam, R. Mahendran and Siva Ananth will produce. The film will release in 2024. No further details are available at this time.
Both Haasan and Ratnam are coming off the biggest hits of their careers.
The pair previously teamed on gangster epic “Nayakan” (1987). The film was a watershed in both their careers. It was a box office blockbuster, won Haasan best actor at India’s national film awards and was the country’s entry to the 1988 Oscars.
The title of the new film signifies that it is Haasan’s 234th.
“KH234” will be produced by Haasan’s Raaj Kamal Films International (Rkfi) and Ratnam’s Madras Talkies with Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Red Giant Movies as a presenter on the project. Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Grammy winning composer A.R. Rahman will provide the music. Haasan, Ratnam, R. Mahendran and Siva Ananth will produce. The film will release in 2024. No further details are available at this time.
Both Haasan and Ratnam are coming off the biggest hits of their careers.
- 11/7/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Tamil filmmaking legend Mani Ratnam takes on the formidable task of adapting Indian bestseller “Ponniyin Selvan” as a two-part epic, the first of which released to excellent box office at home and abroad on Sept. 29. Streamlining the source material considerably, this impressive franchise starter — co-written by Ratnam, Jayamohan and Kumaravel — remains mostly faithful to Kalki Krishnamurthy’s five novels, first serialized in the 1950s in the Tamil magazine Kalki before being translated into multiple other languages, including English.
The books were based on the great ruler Raja Raja Chola, who expanded his empire from modern-day Tamilnadu all the way north to the Ganges. Set to the music of Oscar winner A.R. Rahman (“Slumdog Millionaire”), “Ponniyin Selvan: Part One” boasts great battles on land and sea. The spy-vs.-spy nature of the story suggests a 12th-century Bourne movie, interspersed with song and dance.
In the 11th and 12th centuries, Southern India was ruled by the Cheras,...
The books were based on the great ruler Raja Raja Chola, who expanded his empire from modern-day Tamilnadu all the way north to the Ganges. Set to the music of Oscar winner A.R. Rahman (“Slumdog Millionaire”), “Ponniyin Selvan: Part One” boasts great battles on land and sea. The spy-vs.-spy nature of the story suggests a 12th-century Bourne movie, interspersed with song and dance.
In the 11th and 12th centuries, Southern India was ruled by the Cheras,...
- 10/13/2022
- by Shalini Dore
- Variety Film + TV
I am always weary of directors’ “dream projects”. Those that have been in the making for decades having had many false starts. Why? Simply because, all too often, the director has lost perspective with these projects and ends up churning out something full of faults that they ordinarily would have picked up. Notwithstanding, this was a Mani Ratnam film; I cannot deny that a part of me was nervous on behalf of the ace filmmaker.
With Ponniyin Selvan, Mani Ratnam has taken on the herculean task of delivering a film worthy of the literary masterpiece by Kalki Krishnamurthy, one that would satisfy the cult fans of the epic tale, as well as introduce the epic to a much wider audience who have never heard of Kalki’s novel Ponniyin Selvan.
Having watched the film without any prior knowledge of the Tamil novel, I would classify it as a period political drama.
With Ponniyin Selvan, Mani Ratnam has taken on the herculean task of delivering a film worthy of the literary masterpiece by Kalki Krishnamurthy, one that would satisfy the cult fans of the epic tale, as well as introduce the epic to a much wider audience who have never heard of Kalki’s novel Ponniyin Selvan.
Having watched the film without any prior knowledge of the Tamil novel, I would classify it as a period political drama.
- 10/7/2022
- by Prathna Tiwari
- Bollyspice
The festival returns this month for its sixth edition. Every year Liff aims to bring audiences some of the very best new Indian independent cinema, which includes features, documentaries and short films by both acclaimed and emerging filmmakers. This year’s line up promises to leave you entertained, informed, thought provoking and even in some cases leaving a screen shocked.
We now present the films that will be screened at this prestigious festival
Umrika | Opening Night | UK Premiere | cert 12A
Hindi with English subtitles | 98 min | India 2015 | Dir. Prashant Nair | with: Suraj Sharma, Tony Revolori, Adil Hussain, Smita Tambe, Prateik Babbar.
This year’s Sundance Audience Award winner is an uplifting, rights of passage tale about two brothers from a small village who have dreams of making it big in Umrika (America). Udai (Pratiek Babbar) is the eldest and adored by his hard-working mum. He leaves their hamlet on a bullock...
We now present the films that will be screened at this prestigious festival
Umrika | Opening Night | UK Premiere | cert 12A
Hindi with English subtitles | 98 min | India 2015 | Dir. Prashant Nair | with: Suraj Sharma, Tony Revolori, Adil Hussain, Smita Tambe, Prateik Babbar.
This year’s Sundance Audience Award winner is an uplifting, rights of passage tale about two brothers from a small village who have dreams of making it big in Umrika (America). Udai (Pratiek Babbar) is the eldest and adored by his hard-working mum. He leaves their hamlet on a bullock...
- 7/8/2015
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
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