Showing posts with label Abhay Kumar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Abhay Kumar. Show all posts
Bombay Talkies back in business after 62 years with Gandhi vs Aazaad
8:01 AM
One of India's oldest movie studios gears up for its 103rd production, a historical drama that pits Azad against Gandhi
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 4, 2016)
Bombay Talkies, one of
India's oldest movie studios, shut shop in 1954 after making 102 films,
the last being the Dev Anand-Ashok Kumar-Meena Kumari-starrer Baadbaan.
Now, Abhay Kumar, grandson of Raj Narayan Dube, one of the studio's
founders, is set to revive the banner with their first production in 61
years. Titled Gandhi vs Aazaad, the historical drama features him in the
titular role of nationalist Chandra Shekhar Azad, with several
newcomers as other freedom fighters.
“I developed an interest in Partition history as a student at Nashik's Bhonsala Military School. My film looks at it from a modern perspective in a bid to understand what went wrong because of certain stubborn decisions made by Mahatma Gandhi,“ says Abhay, who is also directing the film that pits Azad's ideologies against Gandhi's. “I am not targeting anyone, I just want to highlight some facts about our freedom struggle that many Indians may not be aware of.“
Abhay recalls how Gyan Mukherjee's Kismet was written after Subhash Chandra Bose wrote the studio a letter encouraging them to make more patriotic films. “Films have the potential to bring a change in society and I want to create an impact with this one,“ says Abhay, who started scripting in 2010 and wrapped up the shoot a few months ago.
Abhay is now gearing up to take it to the Censor Board. Is he worried about cuts? “Our film narrates a true and meaningful story. If they create an issue, we can always go to court. I will release it with absolutely no cuts,“ asserts the actor-filmmaker, determined to keep the Bombay Talkies banner active from now on.
“I developed an interest in Partition history as a student at Nashik's Bhonsala Military School. My film looks at it from a modern perspective in a bid to understand what went wrong because of certain stubborn decisions made by Mahatma Gandhi,“ says Abhay, who is also directing the film that pits Azad's ideologies against Gandhi's. “I am not targeting anyone, I just want to highlight some facts about our freedom struggle that many Indians may not be aware of.“
Abhay recalls how Gyan Mukherjee's Kismet was written after Subhash Chandra Bose wrote the studio a letter encouraging them to make more patriotic films. “Films have the potential to bring a change in society and I want to create an impact with this one,“ says Abhay, who started scripting in 2010 and wrapped up the shoot a few months ago.
Abhay is now gearing up to take it to the Censor Board. Is he worried about cuts? “Our film narrates a true and meaningful story. If they create an issue, we can always go to court. I will release it with absolutely no cuts,“ asserts the actor-filmmaker, determined to keep the Bombay Talkies banner active from now on.
Fire at Bombay Talkies office destroys master prints of 60 legendary films
8:30 AM
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 2, 2014)
Indian cinema lost some of its greatest milestones forever to a fire which broke out at the Borivli office of the legendary film studio, The Bombay Talkies Limited, on Thursday.
Mirror has it, masterprints of around 60 films were reduced to ashes. These included Jeevan Naiya (Ashok Kumar's debut film), Achhut Kanya (Ashok Kumar's first hit), Neel Kamal (Raj Kapoor's first big break), Jwar Bhata (Dilip Kumar's debut film), Ziddi (which launched Dev Anand's career as a leading man), Andolan (Kishore Kumar's first film as a hero), Bandhan and Jhoola (two of Ashok Kumar's biggest hits).
Founded in 1934, the studio, which produced 102 feature films and was the launching pad for some of Hindi cinema's biggest stars, was the country's first public limited film company.
Rajnarayan Dube known as the 'Pillar of Indian Cinema', financed all the films produced by the company. Now, his grandson Abhay Kumar, is reviving the banner along with Johnny Walker's son Nasirr.
When contacted, Abhay told Mirror, "It took around 45 minutes to douse the flames. The fire was set off by a short circuit. I was in Delhi when it happened. I returned to Mumbai only on Monday morning. If I had been here, may be I could have minimised the damage. I am shocked beyond words. I have lost my treasure trove. Fate can be so cruel at times."
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Gaurav Dubey (MID-DAY; July 2, 2014)
On Thursday night, a fire gutted one of the floors of Bombay Talkies film studio. Says a source, “A fire broke in the building’s basement. As a result, a lot of valuable documents pertaining to Indian cinema were reduced to ashes.” Bombay Talkies is a studio of historical significance as it has witnessed the making of pathbreaking films in the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s. Established by Himanshu Rai in 1934, the studio shut down in 1954.
According to a few people present at the spot, there was a short circuit in the basement after which a major fire broke out. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. “It is being said that around 650 negatives, 102 film reels, as also several photos, agreements and records were lost in the fire,” says a source.
Abhay Kumar, grandson of Ashok Kumar, confirmed the news. “Many documents, including letters from Subhash Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore and other personalities were lost in the fire. We can’t blame anyone for this ill-fated incident,” he said.
Bombay Talkies to launch its own music label
7:49 AM
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 27, 2014)
Not so long ago, Bombay Talkies announced its plans to revive the production house with its 103rd film. Now, the banner is all set to launch its own music label, Bombay Talkies Music.
Confirming this Abhay Kumar, founder Rajnarayan Dube’s grandson, who is now heading the Operations department at Bombay Talkies, says, “We have been closely associated with music. We want lyricists, singers and composers to get their deserving royalty which other music companies are depriving them of. The label will come into effect very soon.”
In 1949, Bombay Talkies produced Mahal made Lata Mangeshkar household name with Aayega Aanewaala. Even S D Burman made a huge impact with Mashaal (1950)—another film made under the same banner.
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