Rakhee Gulzar and Prosenjit Chatterjee at the Kolkata International Film Festival

Zinia Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; November 15, 2019)

Ahead of Rakhee Gulzar’s press con at the 25th Kolkata International Film Festival Nandan for Gautam Halder’s Nirban recently, the message conveyed to all by the organisers was, ‘No personal questions to Rakheedi please.’ When the actress came, looking pristine in a beige sari, she not only gave Kolkatans information on their city that not many are privy to, won hearts and became everyone’s Rakheedi by the end of it all.

She said, “I came here thanks to the West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. She remembered me and called me with a lot of love. I had two reasons for coming here. First was the film festival and the second, the film I am a part of. I have worked in films for many years. But this time, I am doing everything to make this film reach out to all. I want people to see Nirban for the story. I want people to appreciate Bijolibala, not me.”

Based on Moti Nandi’s Bijolibalar Mukti, the film has Rakhee playing the protagonist. About how she landed the role, Rakhee said, “I did not know the director. But the day this proposal came, I was at the hospital. My grandson was born. Later, I called him to my farmhouse and when I heard the story, I suddenly felt like doing it. It’s very relevant in today’s time.”

The actress spends most of her time in Panvel, which is a couple of hours from Mumbai, however she does visit Kolkata regularly. “I roam around quietly. I go to the machher bazar, I know Radhubabur dokan, Tyangra, all the roads… Do you know there’s an amazing fish market after crossing Tollygunge? Not many people can identify me and that’s the best part,” she said, adding that she did not want to do more films. “When people can retire from jobs, why can’t actors do that? I wanted to spend my time amidst nature and with animals and trees, but that didn’t happen,” she said.

Not one to watch Bengali films regularly, she said she really liked a recent movie. “During Durga Puja, I saw a film called Bhooter Bhabishyat on TV. It had already started, but it was such a fun watch.”

On being asked why she hasn’t been part of any film by daughter Meghna Gulzar yet, the actress said, “I did not make Bosky (Meghna) an actress. As a mother, it was important for me to understand her knacks. She does films on serious subjects, a lot of research goes into them. Why should I act in it if I don’t fit into a role? Just because I am her mother? Why should I be a burden for her?”

As an actress, Rakhee said it’s important to know where to stop. “I used to work in cinema when it was very different. But I have no regrets about stopping or, about not working with directors I have not worked with. My favourite director is Tapan Sinha, I love the way he made films for everyone. As an actress, I have had the same beliefs,” she said.

‘RAKHEE AUNTY IS A FABULOUS ACTRESS AND A GREAT COOK’

Rakhee aunty is a family friend. She is a fabulous actress and a great cook. One of our films together — Maa — celebrated its golden jubilee. She would cook for me. I remember her playing a small role in Baghini (1968). From there, she went on to essay lead characters in many, many films. It shows where perseverance can take you

— Prosenjit Chatterjee

Ruman Ganguly (BOMBAY TIMES; October 16, 2019)

This Durga Puja, MP and actor Nusrat Jahan insisted, was very different from anything she had celebrated earlier. Getting decked up in her husband, Nikhil Jain’s favourite sari, playing the dhaak, having bhog and then watching immersion of idols — every moment during the five days of Puja has been special. Nusrat sat down for an exclusive interview and shoot. Excerpts:

How different was this year’s Puja?
I was never into pandal-hopping during the Pujas. I would visit some pandals only if I had some professional commitments including Puja inauguration. Nikhil tells me that two years back, I had promised to show him Kolkata’s Pujas. Though I have no memory of that promise, I still wanted to keep my word. Besides, I also wanted to show him how Ma Durga is welcomed in Bengali culture, how the dhaak is played and so on. As a result, this time my Puja celebration was very different.

You even had bhog…
Yes, we did. The best part was when Nikhil played the dhaak, not once did he seem like an amateur. He had a lot of confidence when he played the dhaak and even made me dance to the beats. On Thursday evening, we went to meet Didi (CM Mamata Banerjee) for Bijoya Sammilani. We were offered naru there. Nikhil, who had never tasted a narkel naru before, pronounced it ‘nara’. It was too adorable when I heard him say that. All these sweet nothings made my Puja really special.

We’ve heard that Nikhil even tells you how to deck up and offers you his suggestions…
Yes, he does. The day my stylist wants to tie up my hair, he will just come up and say: ‘Chul baandhbe keno? (Why will you tie up your hair?)’ That’s it. If I keep my hair open, he might say this side is not correct. Initially, we had started wondering if we have a new stylist with us. Now, my stylist, Sandy, has made friends with him and he convinces him.

Trolling has now become common for you. Even during this year’s Puja, you got trolled for offering anjali or playing the dhaak. How do you handle all this?
I have offered anjali earlier as well. Probably, it wasn’t that big an issue. Two years back, I had wished people on Durga Puja and had got trolled for it. That became a topic for national news. I was sleeping at home and suddenly woke up to this news. Mine was a very innocent wish and yet trolls had reservations on that. Trolling is no longer new for me. But yes, life threats are. I have been very strong always. My thought process can’t be hindered by what trolls say.

This year, some clerics have expressed reservations on your Puja participation. It was never an issue then...
It is still not an issue. We have worked hard to be in front of the camera and these people are getting it for free. It is an opportunity for them if the media calls them up and asks them to be in front of the camera for 30 minutes. They will be happy to do that. Those who claim to be custodians of jannat have not fed me. They are all craving for limelight. I am not bothered if these people want to be in the limelight taking my name. I don’t even feel like answering them back. That’s because I don’t want to talk to people who do not have a basic understanding of humanity.

How do you keep calm during such situations?
The best part is that I no longer need to reply to trolls. People are doing it on my behalf. Even those like Javed Akhtar ji and Onir have answered on my behalf.

What was your reaction when you saw that?
Normally, people are not supportive. But when you see people with such liberal thoughts speaking in your favour, it means a lot. I thank Javed Akhtar ji and Onir for answering the trolls on my behalf. It gives a lot of strength.

How did you learn to take everything in your stride?
I think, life taught me that. I learnt all my lessons from life. I get angry only at people I love. My anger is abhimaan. My maximum reaction would be to throw away my phone. These days, I do not even do that since phones are very expensive. I choose things that are less expensive.

Lokkhi Puja (Lakshmi Puja) was celebrated on Sunday. What is your definition of a ‘lokkhi meye’ (the perfect girl)?
Earlier, the definition of ‘lokkhi meye’ was someone who looked like a goddess. The definition includes attributes like good looks, the ability to cook well and be calm. But there are other important qualities, too. Home is a separate world. Professional space is different. I try to balance my home and workspace. Today’s ‘lokkhi meye’ has to know about her parents’ expectations and live up to that. She has to be aware that her sister admires her and needs to conduct herself in a way that she upholds the family’s respect. It is also about acknowledging that there are many others who are inspired by her and taking care of their expectations. After marriage, it is about also taking care of her husband. The perfect ‘lokkhi meye’ has to be able to balance all these with elan. There are many women who actually do that. They take a bus to work, manage professional issues and then return home to cook or even help the children with the homework.

What is the toughest part of maintaining this balance?
Managing time is the toughest part. A day only has 24 hours. That means, I have to compromise on my sleep. I love to laze around. I love being very lazy at times. I have very little time to do that now.

Do you consider yourself to be a ‘lokkhi meye’?
I have never thought of it that way. But I want to believe what my parents have said. I guess, I am one though sometimes there is a bit of a Chandi image, too, that I carry. I think, unless you worship Saraswati, you can’t be Lakshmi. I’d say I have a combination of both Saraswati and Lakshmi.

How important is money (Lakshmi) for you?
It is important for everyone. We are all earning in order to maintain a good lifestyle. We used to have debates in school saying money is the root of all evils. We were asked to choose between crying in a fancy car or smiling in a cycle. I never chose a cycle because I knew that crying or smiling is in my hands. I felt riding in a fancy car was always a better option. I have always aspired to earn enough to fulfil my dreams and that of my family members. I wanted to be stable enough to be able to do that.

What are your dreams now made of?
My next agenda would be to keep up the promises I have made to people.
-----------------------------
ON NUSRAT, THE LOKKHI BOU

She is the quintessential lokkhi bou (perfect bahu) and I am so proud of her. The way she gels with all the members of the family is praiseworthy. She takes care of her team, my parents, her constituency, our home — I’m amazed by her time management skills. The best part is she keeps her cool and dignity despite all odds. As a husband, I couldn’t have asked for more. She performs all her personal and professional duties without complaining. My first Durga Puja with her after marriage was fantastic.We offered our first anjalitogether,played the dhaak,took part in Sindoor Khela and created everlasting memories.

— Nikhil Jain, Nusrat’s husband

Vivek Anand Oberoi in a no-holds-barred conversation about the roadblocks that his film on the life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has faced and the way ahead
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; April 20, 2019)

On Wednesday (April 17), the Election Commission of India (EC) watched the biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as per the directive from the Supreme Court. Though Vivek Anand Oberoi, who plays the central character in PM Narendra Modi, isn’t divulging the response of the Election Commission (EC) after the film was screened for its officials, he stated that he is happy with their answer. The actor spoke to Bombay Times about the various roadblocks that this upcoming project has faced and what lies ahead for him. Meanwhile, a hearing based on the report submitted by the EC is due in the Supreme Court on April 22.

Though your film was cleared by the Supreme Court and the CBFC, the ECI stalled it less than 24 hours before its release. All the promotional material, too, has been pulled off the web. Did you anticipate that you would have to fight so many battles?
No one did! But at least now we are absolved of the allegation that this is a propaganda film funded by the BJP. Yes, it was saddening to see our promotional material vanish from the web-space. It’s painful because it’s our effort, our time and our money out there. But if something is the law, rule or principle, it should apply to everyone. It angers and upsets me that we are being singled out. A web-series on the same subject continues to air. A controversial political drama like The Tashkent Files released and nobody raised an eyebrow. Shashi Tharoor, who is contesting in the Lok Sabha polls, has brought out a book called The Paradoxical Prime Minister, and no one has questioned its sale. If all of this is not influence, then what is? Why is my film being singled out? I want to know who will bear the financial responsibility of this project, and the collaterals of stalling its release hours before it hits theatres. The team was disappointed, but not disheartened. We decided to fight tooth and nail and I believe that justice will happen.

Could you relay what happened on April 10?
None of us anticipated the EC’s move because they were a party in the High Court cases against our film. Their representative had given an oral submission that they have no objection to the film as long as the CBFC clears it. The EC even sent a notice to the CBFC with guidelines of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) that must be taken into consideration while certifying it. They approached it with dual guidelines, and asked for more than 10 cuts. We didn’t contest any of those because we wanted to release the film on time. Despite knowing our situation very well, knowing what their oral submissions have been and that we are not in violation of the MCC, the EC decided to stop our film. Only our film. Our distribution, exhibition and promotional amplification went for a toss. We are still figuring why and how it happened. Arbitrarily, the EC, suo moto took the initiative to stall the release of our movie.

Why do you think your film lacks support from the industry? Is it because of your brazenness?
I don’t think so! This always happens. An iconic filmmaker like Sanjay Leela Bhansali gets slapped on his set and no one says a word. The industry should have shut down in protest. We all should have said that if this country can’t protect its creative workforce and its freedom to express, then what is the point of bestowing awards? Kisi ko panga nahi lena hai. No matter which government comes to power, it’s essential that irrespective of our political views, we are protected against violations.

Lately, we have seen the industry becoming more vocal about their political opinions than ever before, but standing up for another film which could have political repercussions is probably another matter...
These are dark days for the industry. I am not the first victim and I won’t be the last. If I don’t fight and just meekly walk away, it will become a precedent and our judiciary works on precedents. If I don’t fight, it will give overarching powers to bodies like the EC, while the MCC will become the greatest tool in the hands of any fringe group, community or a party. Tragically, this industry wakes up and unites when it’s too late. They don’t stand up for their own people. I know I will get through all of this. We are a strong team. But there will be more victims in the future and it’s a shame and a travesty that industry seniors and power figures are quiet. Where are the intolerance, award wapsi, fundamental rights, free speech, selfie, pro-Modi and anti-Modi brigades? There is no unity here; there are hundreds of factions within the industry. If we were united, the changes we’re making or trying to make today would have happened 25 years ago. When it comes to campaigning for a political party, we have faces, but not for supporting another colleague within the industry. I am a small fry, who promises to stand up for anyone who is wronged like me, probably because no one has stood up for me. Today, I am not asking anyone to help me, but people should remember that we could have banded together and set a precedent for our industry’s future.

You’re openly speaking about lack of support and unity. Won’t that isolate you further?
I’d rather belong to the truth than to a group. I don’t believe in wearing a mask to blend in. I can’t be a chamcha, a sycophant or a groupie. I am proud of the decisions I take, I speak with a lot of thought. Reaching out to people is not a sign of weakness. It’s being brave. I am holding a mirror to the industry and this episode is not the first and last episode of its kind. If I help someone tomorrow, it’s my payback to this industry. We forget that this is all transient. We need to remind ourselves that we are here because of this industry and not the other way round.

Being brutally blunt isn’t easy and you have taken on industry biggies in the past, too, which has cost you dearly. Don’t you fear ruining your chances again?
No! Didn’t this film come to me? Didn’t we make it in record time? I am more focused on what we have at hand. I’d rather be my own truth than being someone else’s lie to fit into a space. The years when powerful people hampered my career and tried to crush it could have made me a bitter person. I could have taken off on an ego trip, but I chose to do the exact opposite. I found peaceful ways to deal with my problems. That is my way of moving forward. Till date, with whatever strength I have, there has been an effort on my part to support new talent without making a noise about it, something that no one ever did for me. I am grateful to those newcomers who didn’t go out and talk about the calls I made for them. That is how I like it to be.

Coming back to your film, you’ve constantly harped on the fact that it’s not propaganda but due to your proximity to certain political forces people tend to think otherwise. In fact, even the trade pundits felt your film was not widely anticipated and that your presence could have hampered footfalls. Are your own political leanings affecting the chances of this biopic?
Today, people might say that viewers were not looking forward to watching my film. These are the same people who will not say a word when my film runs housefull in their theatres. It’s very easy to be flippantly negative. We know what we have been through to make this film well, that too, in record time. And no matter who says what, I know that people are looking forward to the film, more so, after its release was randomly stalled. I find a new conspiracy theory about my film every day. I recently read that Mamata Banerjee’s biopic has expressed its release date as May 3. The conversation around the CBFC clearance and the EC’s clearance is happening now, weeks before its release. The same people knew all along when my film was expected. Why did they wait for the last day (before its release) to stall it?

You’ve still not answered whether you think your political leanings marred your film’s chances?
Counter question: Naseer saab is clearly anti-establishment. He’s one of the top names in the list of 600-700 people, who are dissuading people from voting the current party back in power. But did his film stop? The EC didn’t care for a film that insinuates that Indira Gandhi and Congress were responsible for Lal Bahadur Shastri’s sudden demise. What does this say? Are political leanings their benchmark to assess things? We have decided to fight for justice and we will do that till the very end. It’s funny that as long as the EC wasn’t stopping our film, people said, “EC is playing into the hands of the powers that be.” Today, why is no one saying that the EC is in the Congress pockets? If the earlier statements are true, so is this.

Have you thought about what you will do from this point onwards?
If the ruling is in our favour, we will chalk out a plan for the film’s release. If not, then we will fight it out till the end; there’s no looking back. It takes a lot of money, but everything is not about that. Principles bhi kuch hote hain na...

Dadasaheb Phalke awardee and last of the triumvirate that included Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak, is no more
Jayatri Nag (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 31, 2018)

The legendary Mrinal Sen passed away at his South Kolkata residence on Sunday following cardiac arrest. The 95-year-old filmmaker is survived by his son, Kunal. His actress-wife, Gita Sen, passed away in January last year.

As the third pillar of the triumvirate that included Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak, Sen narrated contemporary realities of life through his films and was one of the pioneers of the Indian newwave cinema.

Winner of innumerable national and international awards, Sen won the highest film honour, Dadasaheb Phalke award, in 2005. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian award, in 1983.

Sen won five National Awards, for Akaler Sandhane, Chorus, Parashuram, Kharij and Khandahar, and one National Award for his Telegu film, Oka Oori Katha (1977).

The auteur made his first film Raat Bhore in 1955, with Uttam Kumar, and gained international recognition in 1960, with Baishey Shravan. Mrigaya (1976), which portrayed the plight of tribals in rural India, marked the debut of Mithun Chakrabarty. His 1986 directorial Genesis, featuring Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and Shabana Azmi, also told a story of slavery and freedom. His last directorial was Amar Bhuvan in 2002.

Born in Bangladesh’s (erstwhile Bengal) Faridpur in 1923 on May 14, Sen had arrived in Kolkata to study Physics at Scottish Church College and Calcutta University. After completing his education, he was forced to take up a job as a medical representative but he eventually returned to Kolkata to work as an audio technician at a city film studio.

President Ram Nath Kovind condoled Sen’s death on Twitter, sharing, “Sad to learn of the passing of acclaimed film-maker Mrinal Sen. From Bhuvan Shome to the Calcutta trilogy, his penetrating and sensitive portrayal of social realities made him a fine chronicler of our times. A loss to Bengal, to India and to the world of cinema.”

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “Mrinal Sen’s death is an immense loss to the film industry.” Filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta called it an “end of an era.” Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore and Sitaram Yechury also condoled his death. Veteran actor Soumitra Chattopadhyay was at a loss of words. “I have no words to express my grief.” Shabana Azmi was distraught. “I am deeply saddened by the news. Mrinal da was a very important filmmaker because he had a maverick streak in him that made his films edgy and unpredictable. He was deeply invested in the society around him and did not hesitate to question his own frailties through his films. He was deeply sensitive and humane. I consider Khandhar to be the film in which I have made the least number of mistakes (as an actress). Undoubtedly, he will live on through his films. My deepest condolences to Kunal and Nisha (Sen’s son and daughter-in-law).”

Lasyapriya Sundaram (BOMBAY TIMES; January 10, 2018)

Recently, superstar Rajinikanth put all speculations to rest and announced that he is indeed all set to form a new party and will be actively involved in politics. This is not the first time that a celebrity with stature and a huge fan-following has stepped into the political arena. Some of them have even gone on to become successful politicians. In fact, several movie stars from the South have been formidable politicians with long-running political careers.

Recently, when BT spoke to one of the biggest Bengali stars, Prosenjit Chatterjee, during his recent visit to Mumbai, he dismissed the thought of joining politics and stressed on the fact that the only thing he desires to be is an actor. In a career spanning more than thirty years, Prosenjit has not just been a matinee idol but has also successfully bridged the gap between art and commercial Bengali cinema. He tells us, “Politics is a big no-no for me. I’m not a person who can go through that journey in life. When the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, asked me about it, I admitted that everyone has a calling and are specialists in doing a particular job. Even today, when I wake up in the morning, I wonder what kind of opportunities as far as acting is concerned, will come my way. I was born to be an actor and I haven’t exhausted myself in this particular field. So, I cannot think of doing something else, as I am consumed by my profession.” Bengal has seen other actors like Roopa Ganguly, Dev, Moon Moon Sen, Satabdi Roy and Tapas Paul turn politicians, but it seems Prosenjit will purely stick to what he knows best — cinema.

Shivraj Declares Ban In MP, Didi Supports Film
THE TIMES OF INDIA (November 21, 2017)

Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday became the first Congress CM to oppose Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Padmavati’ even as his BJP counterpart in Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan declared that he would not allow the controversial film to be screened in his state.

However, ‘Padmavati’ received backing from Congress-ruled Karnataka and Trinamool-ruled West Bengal, with the former even assuring security to Deepika’s family. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said: “These sort of threats, especially towards women, are yet another sign of growing intolerance and bigotry in the country. I condemn the culture of intolerance and hate perpetuated by BJP.”

But the Punjab CM said cinematic licence could not be used to distort historical facts.

Didi condemns ‘super emergency’
With Amarinder and Shivraj joining anti-‘Padmavati’ bandwagon, a total of four state governments have opposed the film so far. BJP-ruled Rajasthan and UP governments have already opposed the film’s release in its current form. Amarinder Singh, the scion of the erstwhile royal family of Patiala whose family members are also married to other royal families in the country, chose to sing a tune different from the Karnataka CM. “I have myself studied history and even been to Chittor. Cinematic licence does not give anyone the right to twist historical facts. Those feeling hurt by distortion of facts had the right to protest. The protests were a justified recourse in a democratic system,” he said.

Hailing Maharani Padmavati as ‘rashtramata’ (mother of the nation), Chouhan said a memorial would be established in Bhopal to display her ‘valor and sacrifice’.

“People working for the betterment of women will be conferred with #Rashtrmata-PadmavatiPuraskar,” said a tweet from the twitter handle CMO Madhya Pradesh, which was re-tweeted by Chouhan.

Chouhan, who met a delegation of Rajputs, said he would not allow the release of Bhansali’s magnum opus in Madhya Pradesh. “An Indian woman can turn herself into ashes to protect her honour. And a film on a character which is worshipped by people should not be distorted. If the character is fictional then there is no resistance, but if facts get mutated, it will not be tolerated,” he said.

The CM, who faces elections in the state and cannot afford to upset Rajputs who number around one crore, insisted that “corrections” in the film will have to be made as per public demand as Bhansali is not “dealing with a fictional character”.

“The film includes distorted historical facts. Rani Padmavati is the reflection of Indian women. For her pride and honour, Rani Padmavati performed ‘jauhar’ (immolation) and made the ultimate sacrifice. A film that distorts historical facts will never be tolerated,” said Chouhan.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said the ‘Padmavati’ controversy was a “calculated plan of a political party to destroy the freedom to express ourselves. We condemn this super emergency”.

Meanwhile, two days after Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje wrote to Union I&B minister Smriti Irani not to screen ‘Padmavati’ without changes, her government sought legal opinion whether a film can be banned before it is cleared by the CBFC.

“Since many people are protesting against the film and demanding a ban on the film, I sat for a review of law and order situation with senior officers of my department. I suggested to find out if in a legal framework we can ban a film before it is cleared by the CBFC,” said home minister Gulab Chand Kataria.

The anti-Padmavati brigade also received support from National Conference (NC) MLA Devender Rana on Monday.

He wrote to J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti demanding a ban on the film in the state whenever it is cleared by the CBFC.

Times View: The ‘compromise’ reached on the ‘Padmavati’ issue is one that has really been forced on the filmmakers by the circumstances they find themselves in. With several chief ministers showing little inclination to back their right to artistic expression or to enforce the law against those handing out threats to them, they have obviously decided that it is better to be safe than sorry. It is a shame that matters have come to this pass. Indeed, it is becoming a depressingly common phenomenon — some group raises a shindig over a book or film and makes belligerent statements threatening violence, the state refuses to take a tough stand against such elements, and the artist decides to back off while the those making the threats continue to roam free, further emboldened by the course of events. It is time governments showed some spine and respect for democratic values. Prompt and severe action against those threatening violence is the only thing that can give artists the confidence to unleash their creativity.

Deems interference in the film, which is yet to get censor nod as 'premature'
MUMBAI MIRROR (November 21, 2017)

The raging controversy around Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period-drama, Padmavati, took a fresh turn on Monday when the Supreme Court dismissed a plea seeking deletion of certain alleged objectionable scenes from the film, terming it as premature.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra was informed that the film has not yet received the certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). "Our interference in this writ petition will tantamount to pre-judging, which we are not inclined to do," the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said.

Advocate M L Sharma, who had filed the petition seeking a direction for removal of all scenes of alleged 'character assassination' of Queen Padmavati from the movie before its release, argued that though the Censor Board has not given a certificate to the movie, the songs of the film have already been released.

Viacom 18, the makers of the Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor-starrer, had released a statement on Sunday, saying that they have deferred the movie's release which was originally scheduled on December 1. —Agencies

'No screening till objectionable scenes removed'

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was quoted as saying on Monday that Padmavati would not be allowed to release in the state unless the objectionable scenes were removed.

"We have been reading about the queen's sacrifice from childhood. Distortion of history will not be tolerated. Unless the objectionable scenes are removed, I will not let the film to be released across the state," he addressed a gathering after a meeting with representatives of the Rajput community. He also announced that a memorial would be built in Queen Padmavati's memory.

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh also joined the anti-Padmavati protests, contending that the Karni Sena's stand is justified. "Nobody will accept distortion of history and those who are protesting are rightly doing so," Singh reportedly said. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also warned the centre of possible law and order problems if the movie is released.

In Rajasthan, the epicentre of the protests headed by the Karni Sena, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has written to the union government asking that the movie not be allowed to screen till scenes that have offended Rajput and other groups are deleted.

Meanwhile, the nationwide clamour has also reached Jammu and Kashmir with National Conference leader Devender Singh Rana writing to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, asking her not to allow the film's release in the state till its contents are verified.

Swimming against the tide is West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has lashed out at the protesters. "The Padmavati controversy is not only unfortunate but also a calculated plan of a political party to destroy the freedom to express ourselves. We condemn this super emergency. All in the film industry must come together and protest in one voice," Banerjee said in a statement on Monday.

Amidst threats and protests from the Karni Sena and other fringe groups, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Deepika Padukone have both been given security by the government. —Agencies

MEANWHILE...CBFC TURNS DOWN MAKERS' REQUEST FOR 'QUICK REVIEW'

According to reports, the censor board has turned down the Padmavati makers' request to quickly review and certify the film.

Last week, the censor board had reportedly returned the review application to the film's makers citing "technical issues" after protests erupted over the film allegedly distorting facts. It was scheduled to release on December 1.

When asked about the row on the sidelines of an event, CBFC chairperson Prasoon Joshi said, "We are trying to follow due process. We should sort out the issue through dialogue, not through arguments."

MUMBAI MIRROR (November 12, 2017)

Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, along with the Bachchan family -- including Amitabh, Jaya, Abhishek and Aishwarya - Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan, inaugurated the seven-day Kolkata International Film Festival at Netaji Indoor Stadium. Tracing the influences of regional music in Indian cinema, Big B gave examples from the works of Sahir Ludhianvi and Javed Akhtar and lauded the “continued inclusiveness” of the film industry “without sectarian barriers”. He stressed that “the most egalitarian and important aspect of Indian films is reflected in the fact that several Muslim composers have set to tune bhajans eulogising Hindu gods and goddesses”.He pointed out that Naushad’s “Madhuban mein Radhika nache re” from Kohinoor is one such glowing example

Like every year, Shah Rukh delivered his entire speech in Bengali and had the audience in splits. “Too much love and fun at KIFF. Love my Kolkata and as always the warmth of @MamtaOffcial, you are the sweetest,” he tweeted later.

Iranian filmmaker Mostafa Taghizadeh’s Yellow was the opening film of the 23rd edition of the festival which wil; screen 143 films, by 135 directors from 53 countries across 12 venues in Kolkata. This year, while Britain will be the “focus country”, the festival will pay homage to late cinematographer Ramananda Sengupta and actors Om Puri and Tom Alter.

One of the big draws is Jean-Luc Godard’s The Rise and Fall of a Small Film Company (Grandeur et Decadence d’un Petit Commerce de Cinema), made for French television in 1986 and released in a cinematic format in France in October. This will be the first time that the film will be screened outside France.

Another major attraction will be the exhibition of camera and other equipment used by directors like the Lumiere Brothers, Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak.

Eight films in Monpa, Konkani, Kodava, Boro, Dogri, Maithili, Khasi and Chakma languages will feature in the ‘Unheard India: Rare Indian Languages’ section. Saibal Mitra’s 2016 Bengali film Chitrakar and Indrasis Acharya’s Pupa (2017), which were never released commercially will be screened in the Asian Select section. There will also be a six-film retrospective of Brit director Michael Winterbottom.

MUMBAI MIRROR (November 6, 2017)

To commemorate the UK-India Year of Culture 2017, Britain will be the focus country for the 23rd edition of the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF). India’s second oldest fi lm fest will also pay homage to the late icons of Indian cinema, actors Tom Alter and Om Puri and cinematographer Ramananda Sengupta with films like Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Sadgati and Headmaster.

Kicking off on November 10, KIFF will screen 143 films spanning 53 countries under 16 different categories till November 17. This will include 13 films from UK with a six-film retrospective of acclaimed Brit filmmaker Michael Winterbottom.

Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan will be present at the inaugural ceremony. Kamal Haasan and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt are also expected to attend the ceremony, to be presided over by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The women’s director’s competition has been replaced by ‘Innovation in Moving Images’ with a prize of Rs 51 lakh for the best film and Rs 21 lakh for best director. The Indian languages competition section has been introduced this year, with 10 films in nine languages in contention for the Hiralal Sen Memorial Award. Eight films in languages like Monpa, Konkani, Kodava, Dogri, Maithili, Khasi and Chakma will be featured in the ‘Unheard India: Rare Indian Languages’ section.

Six films of Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, one of Thailand’s most celebrated directors is also on show, as also an exposition of original equipment used by the Lumiere brothers, Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak.

The songstress and the West Bengal CM 'exchange gossip and gifts'
Subhash K Jha (DNA; October 16, 2016)

Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal was to fly down from Kolkata to Mumbai to personally confer her state's highest civilian honour, the Banga Bibhushan on her phone buddy, Lata Mangeshkar. However, Lata postponed the meeting, citing ill-health.

The songstress tells us, "An illness left me weak. My doctors advised me not to strain myself. So I requested Mamataji to push the date forward from October 20 to November. That's all."

It's a little known fact that Bengal's Didi and Lata Didi are friends. In fact, one hears from sources, that the two women "not only exchange gossip, but also gifts".

Lata laughs, "One doesn't speak about gifts. Their value is lessened by talking about them. But yes, we are on the phone with one another. She is warm, generous and affectionate. She is generous enough to say my songs are so popular in West Bengal that I'm a Bangla artiste. That's an honour, coming from her."

In fact, that's the reason she intimated the Bengal CM of her change of plans directly. "I didn't want her to get to know of my wish to postpone the meeting for the Banga Bibhushan from a third party. So I called her directly. She was very concerned and accommodating. She told me we can do the token function any time I'm up to it. We'll do it in November."

Her Bengali connection
Lata gets nostalgic about her links with Bengal. "I sang some of my best songs in Bengali for Salilda (Choudhary) and Hemantda (Kumar). Later, these songs were also done in Hindi and became equally popular. I was very close to both composers. And of course, my favourite co-singer was Kishore Kumar. He was so entertaining that I'd be in splits during the recordings of even the most sombre-mooded duets. As soon as the composer would call for the final take, Kishoreda would get suddenly serious before the microphone while I'd be still giggling."

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 12, 2014)

She was all smiles as she shared the stage with the Bachchans and Shah Rukh Khan at the inauguration of the Kolkata film festival on Monday evening. But just a few hours, later Tanuja was hospitalised.

The veteran actress and mother to Kajol and Tanishaa, was at the dinner party when she complained of breathlessness. She was rushed to the Belle Vue Clinic in the city.

According to a friend of the 70-year-old actress, Tanuja was feeling uneasy during the opening ceremony and Shah Rukh Khan who was standing beside her, quickly got her a chair and gave her a foot massage. After the function, she left for the party where her health deteriorated.

"We rushed her to the hospital, not wanting to take any chances with her health," added the friend. "She was restless when she was wheeled in and was put on oxygen."

West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, visited her in the hospital. At the time of going to press, Tanuja had returned to the hotel and was resting. A decision on when she should be flown back to Mumbai will be taken today.

Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 3, 2014)