what we are reading – EightandHalf
It’s been quite sometime since Tigmanshu Dhulia has been silently making movies but there is no news of the release dates. First Shagird, then Pan Singh Tomar and now he is busy with his next film. The first look of Dhulia’s Shagird has been released. It stars Nana Patekar, Mohil Ahlawat and kohl-eyed Anurag Kashyap.
And here’s the theatrical trailer…
Amole Gupte, the writer and creative director of Taare Zameen Par, is ready with his directorial debut titled Stanley Ka Dabba. The film is distributed by Fox Star India. Amole has not only written and directed it but has also composed one of the songs, written the lyrics and has acted in it. It also stars Divya Dutta and Divya Jagdale.
Here’s the first trailer of the film…
And here’s the official synopsis..
Imagine this boy in your mind’s eye. He arrives in school much before any of his classmates to drum away his blues on empty benches. He stuffs himself with water instead of the nutritious food that his schoolmates relish during the lunch break. He covers up for his lack of social rank with the finesse of the most seasoned diplomat. Who is this child? What is he like? Why is he anything like he is? Wouldn’t you like to know? Meet Stanley, the protagonist of the much awaited ‘Stanley Ka Dabba
‘Stanley Ka Dabba’ is the latest offering from the insightful writer-director, Amole Gupte that throws light on the everyday life of a school going child. The character, Stanley, tugs at your heartstrings with his indomitable spirit, while warding off the hostile world he is surrounded by at all times, everywhere. The film reveals how this is child-soldier, rises above his choking real life situation on the way setting a template for all whiners to learn from, even emulate.
Like most others his ilk, Stanley loves to be amongst friends and win the appreciation of his peers and colleagues. He uses his sparkling wit and innocent wisdom to impress everyone he touches. At times spinning-a-yarn amongst friends about his mother’s flight, while on occasion conjuring some heartfelt poetry to impress the lovely English teacher, Rosy Miss (Divya Dutta). There are though teachers like the pungent Science Madam, Ms Iyer (Divya Jagdale) whose rigid beliefs smother Stanley’s innovative science experiment with all the contempt at her disposal. Then there is the gluttonous Hindi master, Verma Sir (Amole Gupte) who emerges as the catalyst in helping the boys bond for Stanley’s dignity and rightful place in the school.
The camaraderie between the boys comes to the fore when they thwart Verma Sir’s desperate attempts to polish off their dabbas with all the guile at their disposal. The gang makes the ‘invincible’ Verma show his true vulnerable self for once as he marches from one possible hideout to another in the school premises trying to binge upon their home made food.
Stanley, the little protagonist of Amole Gupte’s, latest film ‘Stanley Ka Dabba’ shows how, like the proverbial lotus, can one rise above all the filth around and make the world a better, beautiful place to live in.
The way he goes about bringing cheer to his colleagues and his little friends is what makes him the Stanley we all need to be in today’s day and age. Wise and sensitive, loving and mischievous: living every moment as if there is no tomorrow.
Dear Amole, open the Dabba soon! Can’t wait. All the best.
( PS – Geetanjali Rao has done the opening credits for the film )
( PPS – According to Vishal Bhardwaj, if that was Taare Zameen Par, this one is Chand Zameen Par)
Click here to know more about the film.
We often accuse our stars of not taking a clear stand, and of being non-political. So, it makes sense that when they decide to support a cause, we highlight it too. Actor Aamir Khan has written a letter to PM Dr. Manmohan Singh and has expressed his support for Anna Hazare on Jan Lokpal Bill. And the second letter is addressed to Anna Hazare. Read on…
It’s raining trailers and how! Two new trailers are out. Chali Dilli is directed by Sashant Shah ( Dasvidaniya) and stars Lara Dutta and Vinay Pathank. It is also the first producetion of Bheegi Basanti, the banner of Lara Dutta. And it’s written by Arshad Syed ( Dasvidaniya, again).
The second trailer is of Always Kabhi Kabhi (weird title), which marks the directorial debut of Roshan Abbas. It’s produced by Red Chillies and so Shah Rukh Khan is there in the trailer too. But the buzz is that Karim Morani, father of Zoa Morani, is close to SRK and so it’s all about the Moranis. SRK is just the face.
Two new trailers are out. Luv Ka The End – the first film of YRF’s new banner Y Films. It starrs Shraddha Kapoor and has been directed by Bumpy ( Remember Roadies?). Will put a separate post with more details about Y Films.
And here is the theatrical trailer of Dum Maaro Dum. Directed by Rohan Sippy, it stars Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu, Rana Daggubati and Prateik. It’s written by Shridhar Raghavan, shot by Amit Roy and has Pritam’s Music. And click here to read its official synopsis.
WHAT : The 2011 Satyajit Ray Foundation’s Short Film Competition in association with the London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) is now inviting submissions. They are looking for films that show imagination and creativity and reflect the cultural diversity and experiences of South Asians within their own country or the Diaspora.
Regulations :
– All entries should be under 20 minutes.
– Films should express and inform aspects of the experiences of South Asians (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) either within their own countries or the Diaspora.
– All submissions must have been completed within two years prior to the closing date.
– Previously submitted entries are ineligible.
DATE : The closing deadline is Friday 29 April, 2011
PRIZE : Award of £1,000 for the winning film.
– The award will be presented and the winning film screened at the London INDIAN Film Festival’s closing night gala in July 2011.
FORMAT : The films may be shot on any standard format (film or digital), all entries for consideration should be submitted on DVD only, together with an entry form and film synopsis.
ADDRESS : Send all submissions to: Satyajit Ray Foundation Short Film Competition.
c/o London INDIAN Film Festival. 51 Tweedmouth Road. London, E13 9HT, UK
EMAIL : info@londonindianfilmfestival.co.uk
FORM : To download the entry from please click here
To know more about the Foundation and the competition, click here.
If LSD was camera and sex, add paranormal to it and you have Ragini MMS – the new film produced by Ekta Kapoor. and directed by debutant Pawan Kripalani. According to official synopsis, it’s based on true incidents and the film is about an MMS that captures things beyond the realm of human understanding.
The first trailer of Onir’s I Am is out. It stars Juhi Chawla, Manisha Koirala, Nandita Das, Rahul Bose, Sanjay Suri, Purab Kohli, Abhimanyu Singh, Arjun Mathur, Shernaz Patel, Radhika Apte, Anurag Basu and Anurag Kashyap.
To quote from the official release, I AM is about people with fractured lives held together by unbroken dreams.
Click on the play button to watch the trailer..
And here is the official synopsis…
I AM is about issues and dilemmas that bruise the modern Indian society. Unraveling and exploring these tribulations, the film unfolds many a tale of individuals struggling to find their identity, and uphold their dignity in a world that is callous, cold and unsympathetic.
Shot in four different cities across India, I AM is a fusion of stories where the protagonists share a common dream – a desire to regain their lives, to regain an identity which has been taken away from them.I AM AFIA is the story of a single woman who feels her identity will be made whole through the singularly feminine experience of motherhood. Unable to trust or even wait for a man, she is frustrated by a society that demands a “husband” to have a child. Thus her search is defined – does motherhood necessarily require the burden of a man?
I AM MEGHA is a story of two friends – a Kashmiri Pandit woman and a Muslim woman – separated by conflict. Against the backdrop of the ethnic cleansing in Kashmir in early 90’s, this story tells of loss of home and identity. If your own home rejects you, where do you go and where are you “from”?
I AM ABHIMANYU is the story of a broken man, with a proud mask. Abhimanyu is trapped by the demons of his past, a past of sexual abuse. To move forward he must first go back, into a world where hi childhood was stolen from him.
I AM OMAR is a horrific tale of sexual discrimination; blackmail and prejudice is part of the torrid fabric. It reveals how the police use Article 377 (law under Indian Penal code which criminalizes homosexuality) to harass and blackmail gay men. In the current climate of media sensationalism, perhaps this story gains even more poignancy.
And having seen the film, we definitely recco this one. Our favourites – Afia and Megha. You don’t need a Lamhaa to know the Kashmir story, you can do it in a much simpler and better way, and without all the dhoom-dhaam-dhadaap. Megha proves that.
Afia is a story about unique friendship between two strangers. Nandita Das and Purab Kohli bring such a natural charm to it, and bet you never knew that Anurag Basu can act too. Do watch.
Click here to know more about the film.
On July 3, 2003, Deepanker Gohain, the 23-year old student of the College of Visual Arts, Baroda (India), committed suicide, which shocked the campus.
What saddened the students was the way the college authorities handled the matter, shielding the facts from the media.
Deepanker’s batch-mate Amitabh Pandey witnessed the suicide, capturing all of it on his Handycam. Pandey came from a well-connected political family. When college sided with him on this incident, the other half of the story got buried in police records.
Watch it.
F.i.g.h.t C.l.u.b 