Showing posts with label Shonali Bose son. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shonali Bose son. Show all posts
I wrote Amu around a mum and daughter to tap into my pain-Shonali Bose
11:11 AM
Yashika Mathur (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 10, 2025)
Shonali Bose has faced two devastating losses in life — first, as a daughter, when she lost her mother. And then, as a mother, when she lost her son. Ahead of Mother’s Day tomorrow, the filmmaker talks about how she has channelised her pain into her work, over the years.
Talking about her mother, Junie Dass’s death in 1986, Shonali shares, “Losing her at 21 was devastating and it changed my life. I have explored themes such as mother-daughter relationship and death in Amu (2005), Margarita With A Straw (2015) and The Sky Is Pink (2019). In Amu (her directorial debut), we consciously wrote a story around a mother and daughter to tap into my pain. Writing from the depths of your pain can be powerful.”
While Mother’s Day was a painful occasion for her for years, it changed when her son, Ishan was born. However, life dealt another blow when he died in 2010. So, when she directed The Sky Is Pink, there was a personal touch to it as well. “His death took me to another place… I felt a deep peace about death. In The Sky is Pink, the character played by Priyanka (Chopra Jonas; actor) wears a vibrant pink scarf to her daughter’s funeral. Just as I had worn red. To celebrate. Not mourn,” says Shonali.
Meanwhile, she takes us back to shooting for Amu, which starred her maternal aunt, politician Brinda Karat: “She just wouldn’t tear up. So, when a scene was being shot, I crouched under the seat of the car and after calling ‘action’, I took her through the memory of my mum’s last moments in the hospital. And, she couldn’t hold back her tears after that and we got the shot right.”
Shonali Bose with her mother, Junie Dass
I spoke to my kids about masturbation, sex, homosexuality when they turned 12-Shonali Bose
7:52 AM
Director Shonali Bose on her latest film that wowed TIFF, and her previous film's 'A' tag
Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 19, 2014)
Nine years after Amu, Shonali Bose is back with another tale of a woman on the path of self-discovery. While Amu saw a woman confront her past and the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, Margarita, With A Straw revolves around a woman with cerebral palsy exploring her sexuality.
Fresh from her win at the Toronto International Film Festival where the Kalki Koechlin starrer won the NETPAC award for Best Asian Film, Shonali speaks to Mirror from Los Angeles. Excerpts:
After all the problems you had with Amu-even Doordarshan refused to air it despite two National Awards-one would have thought you'd play safe with your next.
I tried to be light and brainless but it's not in me! My films are passionate and intense. Each one takes me three years, from idea to screen. I give birth to them. I'm open to a comedy but I need a script. Within myself are untold stories, usually about women.
Margarita, With A Straw is inspired by your cousin Malini. What was her reaction to it?
She loved it, has watched it several times and howled each time. Right now, she is organising the European premiere after-party in London's Leicester Square where we have a red carpet screening at the BFI London Film Festival. It's a margarita and cheese party funded by her employers. It'll be special and emotional to have her there.
You picked up the script after a break, following your 17-year-old son's death. How much did the experience affect the film?
My co-writer, Nilesh Maniyar and I had spoken about the story, but I started writing the first draft on Ishaan's birthday, January 20, 2011, four months after his death. On that day, I was able to celebrate him even though he was no longer there, and that gave me the courage to go back to writing
How much of you is part of Laila's mother Shubhangini?
I'm the least like her and most like Khanum. Shubhangini is a traditional Maharashtrian housewife and Nilesh who grew up in small town in Maharashtra shaped her. I spoke to my kids about masturbation, sex, homosexuality and being comfortable with their bodies when they turned 12. Yet, when I tried to get into my kid's hotmail account one day and a porn site emerged when I typed 'hot', I was so shocked by the visuals I shut down the computer with the same expression as Shubhangini's.
Kalki was the first to be cast, what convinced you that she is your Laila?
Her smile. Nilesh showed me this picture of her. She can look childlike. She's also a powerhouse of talent and understands the discipline and hard work needed for such a role. She immersed herself in it for three months.
And how did you get the nod from Revathi?
The second she read the script, she wanted to do it. Years ago, in Mani Ratnam's Anjali, she'd played mom to a child with cerebral palsy. Now, it's a daughter grown up with it.
Will the NETPAC award help the film in getting a wider theatrical release?
Our Indian release was in place before TIFF. I don't care for international festivals; I had my share of them with Amu. I'm thrilled that my film will be getting a nationwide release in early 2015. We'd also sold to Japan before but yes, the award will help. Audiences coming out of all three screenings--75 per cent of them non South-Asian, said it was the best film they had seen at TIFF this year.
Tigers was the film everyone was expecting to win. What did you think of it?
I liked it but I didn't consider it competition. There were amazing Iranian, South Korean, Japanese, Thai, Malay and Palestinian films which I thought would win. I didn't think we had a chance and left for LA a day before the awards.
Margarita, With A Straw...How did you come upon the title?
I finished the first draft on February 20, 2011, and the title came organically from the script. It arises from the thought that when life hands you lemons you can be bitter or sour or you can make nimbu pani or better still, a margarita and raise a toast.
My sister Malini is a boozer. When we go out to a restaurant, I ask for a whiskey-soda or rum-and-coke in her plastic sippy cup with a straw. It's ironic and funny, you'd think that someone would drink only juice or milk from that kiddy cup.
Now that we have a new government, will Amu be at least shown on TV now?
I'm in the process of changing the censor certificate to U/A. It got an 'A' even though it has no sex or violence, because the censor board, under Anupam Kher, argued that young people shouldn't know a history better buried. It is outrageous that our films can be rated by the government on political grounds. Films with an A certificate cannot be shown on TV so even though it won two National Awards, it could not be shown on Doordarshan. But this is the 30th anniversary of the genocide and several cable channels are interested in screening it.
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