cmyk
cmyk
Friday 18 February 2011 25
Tuesday 22 January 2013
quoterie PAL DO PAL... Continued from Page 17
Bengaluru Chronicle
Anil Kapoor addressed the media
“I think the audience here is the same as any other urban Indian audience — bright, sophisticated, wellread people. I was going to say ‘people like me,’ but these people are smarter!” he smiles, “I am fond of the city’s architecture. People here do clever things. You have Jagriti going on, and then there are all those guys from California with their confusing accents who come and start a green business venture. There’s a lot of software conversation… a lot of IIT, MIT going on. In Mumbai, it’s all about, ‘Look, here is Akshay Kumar’ — it is very down-market. Bengaluru feels very hip.” Chaos Theory is a play of Anuvab’s that has done more than 1,000 shows around the world, having started in New York. Rahul da Cunha’s company did the play in India. “I had just finished two books, and my publishers saw the potential of Chaos… as a novel,” he says, “It’s about two professors who are in love for 50-60 years, starting in Delhi University to Colombia where they teach. It is a love story, It’s about two but really, it is about two people and the moments professors who they spend with each are in love for other.” On the screenwriting front, the author 50-60 years, is working on a romanstarting in tic comedy right now. “It is untitled but it is for the Delhi Excel people — Farhan University Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani... those guys. Also, I just finished the draft for a horror comedy, for UTV,” he offers. As a stand-up artist, Anuvab’s last two shows The Nation Wants to Know and Nothing Like Anything were varyingly called brilliant and hysterically funny. His new show, INJIA-The Many Highly Effective Habits of Indian People takes a look at the role of English in India. But who does he think are the funniest people — wittingly or otherwise, in the country? “Abhijit Mukherjee, Ajay Devgn— he’s so serious, and I find it hilarious… he punches tigers and stuff, Anil Kapoor. Fashion designers — they always say stuff that has no meaning! ‘This summer black is the new red’ — what is that? Of course, there is Arnab Goswami. Once, he asked a guest on his show for his name, and before the man says ‘My name is…,’ Arnab is shouting ‘Don’t deny it!’” he laughs, adding, “These people are taking away our (comedians) work! They make it too easy.” For someone who makes his daily bread out of being funny, we wonder how Anuvab unwinds. “I eat a lot. I cook sometimes. I am a Bengali so I am useless at any sport,” he chuckles, “I travel a lot. The year 2013 is going to be gruelling. But I am hoping it holds the key to my retirement. See, again, I am a Bengali so I can’t enjoy what I have… I have to complain!” he concludes.
Film promotions ascend to new heights as the makers of Shootout at Wadala staged a shootout scene for the fans in the city
sdfsdfsd
Anil makes his rapping debut
(Left to right) Pawan Kumar, Akash Srivatsa, Hrish Thota and Raghunandan
PAPIA LAHIRI DECCAN CHRONICLE
The VIP parking lot of one of the biggest malls in the NCR became the venue for a staged ‘shootout’ scene. Thousands of people apart from the media gathered to witness the spectacle. As a car burst into flames, leading to a mock riot, cop Anil Kapoor arrived in a jeep and set things in place. The crew and cast of Shootout at Wadala enacted this scene in five cities — Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad — as they released the first look of the film. Dressed suavely in a grey suit and black aviators, Anil Kapoor said, “I think today we have created history. For the first time, five cities of the country have witnessed simultaneous the first look of the film and stunts performed by the cast. John Abraham in Mumbai, Sonu Sood in Hyderabad, Manoj Bajpayee in Lucknow and Tusshar Kapoor in Ahmedabad performed the ‘shootout’ stunt.” The film has been in news for retaining the The staged “shootout” scene for the promotions of Shootout at Wadala in the city real names of gangsters like Dawood These young actors rub off their energy Hollywood on action, we would be at par Ibrahim and Manya Surve. On being asked and keep me fit,” said Anil, who plays a cop with them,” adds Anil. In a scenario, when the entire nation is whether such authenticity would spiral into in the film. “I have also rapped for the first a major controversy, producer Ekta Kapoor time in my life for the film. It was a fun talking about how violent and regressive, we have become as a society, wouldn’t a film on puts forth, “The film is based on Husain experience,” he added. Talking about the concept of films reach- gangster wars glorify violence Zaidi’s book Dongri to Mumbai that has have negative ing the 100 crore club, Ekta said, “I and used the names of Dawood and Manya. would like to start a 200 crore club impact? “Just tell me If that book is available in the pray all my films reach that one thing we have market and has not created any Numerous films and mark. A film should be enter- televised versions of controversies, then why will are made taining and reach out to its Mahabharata and our film create any,” said audience. These marks and Ramayana, which Ekta. with social clubs are just a number for teaches positive valWith this film, Anil Numerous me. They hardly influence ues. Kapoor returns to action messages. Why films are made my decisions.” after a long gap, so how can’t people get Action sequences have with social mesdoes he manage to kick come a long way in sages. Why can’t some butt at his age. “Yes, I influenced by Bollywood. Yet, if compared people get influreturn to action after them? to Hollywood, they have a enced by them? a very long time and long way ahead. What does Is it only that I thoroughly enjoyed — EKTA KAPOOR Anil think about action violence and shooting the action sequences in cinema? “I think action influsequences. To fight oppoour action directors are doing pretty e n c e s site fitness icons like John Abraham and Sonu Sood, one needs to well with the kind of budget they are allot- them?” asks get into a certain fitness mode and stay fit. ted. If our industry could spend as much as Ekta.
— AV
Susheela Raman will perform this year
25
IN THE PINK OF VERBOSITY Continued from Page 17 Last year, about 50,000 people attended the fest. This year, they’re expecting 200,000.” The avid reader is kicked about meeting the authors she admires. “Each section has fabulous, inclusive discussions. Even the audience gets to be part of a revolution, and participate in something amazing with literary giants,” she effuses. Chirag, a young entrepreneur from the city, is part of the team that puts together the festival. “Although I may not have the time to sit for all the sessions, I am looking forward to the speech by Michael Sandel, who is thought to be the most famous teacher of philosophy in the world,” he smiles, “There’s good music too. The collaboration between Susheela Raman and Kutle will be great.”
This year has more presence from Bengaluru — There’s Anjum (Hasan), Nandan (Nilekani), Rohini (Nilekani)
my trusted DSLR and am hoping to capture some great shots.” Apart from the book lovers heading there, this year will see more than the usual number of writers from the city, making their presence felt. Vikram Sampath, an author and the organiser of our city’s own Literature Festival, will be — VIKRAM SAMPATH, Bangalore speaking at the event on January 26 and 27. AN AUTHOR “One session will be on notes and notations to be used while writing about music. The other will be a poetrywallah session where And then there are those who confess to I will sing 14th century Kannada poetry,” going, not so much for the books, but for the he says. “In terms of participation from overall vibe. Sharan Hasan, a software authors, this year has more presence from engineer, admits, “For me, it’s all about Bengaluru. There’s Anjum (Hasan), soaking in a global atmosphere that is filled Nandan (Nilekani), Rohini (Nilekani)… in with great energy and culture. I am taking all, I think there are about six of us going,”
he muses. Does he think youngsters are heading to Jaipur this year? “Well, maybe. But, people complain that with a footfall of around 60,000 people, the festival is becoming chaotic. Since we’ve brought a slice of Jaipur to Bengaluru, we’d like to think not too many people will have to go there after all!” he smiles. This festival, will be kickstarted with a cricket match! The Royals XI are all set to take on Authors XI in a friendly game, to be held at KL Saini Ground, Mansarovar. Among the participants will be a mix of cricketers and writers — Sreesanth, Shashi Tharoor, Tarun Tejpal, Sam Carter, Nicholas Hogg, James Holland, Anthony McGowan, Alex Preston and Charlie Campbell.
Oprah Winfrey at last year’s fest
Dancing on the roof top with films gets, now has two mainstream Sandalwood films to his credit. His current cinematographer was introduced to him by an ex-IITian he had befriended at BRTFF. He says, “I remember it used to be a 12 hour marathon. We’d start at six in the evening and watch about five movies, taking breaks to chat about them.” By 3 am, the whole lot would be slipping in and out of consciousness, he chuckles. “Slowly, it evolved into a safe place where we can showcase our own movies without fear of judgement. The interaction AYSWARYA MURTHY was the best part of BRTFF,” Raghunandan says. Akash Srivatsa, who has worked as an At the first glance, it’s just another weekend evening at a coffee shop in assistant director with Ramesh Arvind, is Koramangala. But on closer inspection, you premiering his tele-movie, Sulle Sathya (a notice all these young men scattered around 40-minute relationship drama based in the engrossed in discussion, an unmistakable city, into which he has miraculously Bohemian aura hanging about them. You squeezed in five songs) here. It’s a sentimenfeel like you have walked into an Old Boy’s tal thing. “I screened my first short film I Association party. Raghunandan Kaanadka, made here too — Timepass. I made it with a handycam with a budget of `500.” Almost one of the original and longstanding six years later, Sulle Sathya is travel“volunteers” at the BRTFF, is ling the globe and will be screened kicked about getting the old at film festivals in Mumbai, gang back together and once I screened Berlin, Cannes and Venice. again for the same reasons. Raghunandan and Hrish “This was a platform my first short Thota, who held together the where independent filmfilm I made BRTFF till 2009, went on to makers got together to create Flange Media watch good cinema and here too, Productions, which is dedicatoften screen their creations Timepass ed to creating short films for in exchange for some genNGOs, corporates and for genuine feedback. Remember, AKASH SRIVATSA, eral entertainment. One of this was a time when AN ASSISTANT their films, that was made for the YouTube wasn’t big yet and at DIRECTOR University Grant Commission, BRTFF, new filmmakers could won two national awards from Kapil get an audience and a superb supSibal and Sam Pitroda. “There are some port system,” recalls Raghunandan. This hasn’t changed. The community is need- stories which only independent films can ed more than ever, he feels. “A ‘like’ on say,” maintains Raghunandan. The evening Facebook or a ‘hit’ on Youtube doesn’t mean ended with the screening of the Tamil sleepmuch to someone who is still getting a handle er hit, Pizza whose director Karthik on things,” he says. “That’s why I felt the need Subburaj was also actively involved in BRTFF back in the day. Unfortunately, to revive the old festival.” Three years hence, many of them are ama- he wasn’t able come in himself but the teurs no more. Pawan Kumar, then a “jobless audience got a treat of a different kind — filmmaker” with tall dreams and short bud- free pizzas.
The Bangalore Roof Top Film Festival last met in 2009. At their reunion recently, it’s heartening to see how far those amateur filmmakers have come