Showing posts with label Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai. Show all posts
Manoj Bajpayee on losing National Award to Shah Rukh Khan: "It’s a useless conversation"
8:33 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (September 16, 2025)
Actor Shah Rukh Khan’s win at the National Film Awards for Best Actor for his performance in Jawan (2023) has stirred both jubilation and debate. While fans of the actor have flooded social media with congratulatory messages, a section of critics and cinephiles questioned the jury’s decision, some arguing that actor Manoj Bajpayee’s intense portrayal in Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai (2023), among others, was more deserving of the honour.
Breaking his silence on the comparisons, Manoj dismissed the backlash surrounding the award decision. While speaking to India Today, the 56-year-old said, “It is a useless conversation because it is gone. When it comes to Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, yes, it is a very special film in my filmography, and so was Joram (2023). But I don’t discuss these things because it is a very loser conversation. It is in the past, and it should be left alone.”
Manoj, a four-time National Award winner, has also raised concerns about the evolving nature of film awards in India. He suggested that many awards, including the National Awards which are awarded by the government, may be losing their artistic credibility in favour of commercial appeal.
He said, “It’s not just about National Awards, it’s about all the awards that used to be revered. They should seriously think about how they are operating. Because it is not about my respect, I take care of my respect very cautiously when I’m choosing a film, but each and every organization has to think of itself. That’s not my job.”
He added, “I think for me, the idea of an award show is wrong. It is just a piece of decoration in your house. Every day, you’re not going to stand in front of it and say, ‘Wow, I got this’.”
Manoj Bajpayee feels the country's top film awards need to be corrected: "The systems must look within"
9:33 AM
Ahead of the release of Jugnuma, Manoj Bajpayee feels that the top film honours in the country need correction as he reflects on the National Award snub for Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; September 8, 2025)
Pondering about the past is not in Manoj Bajpayee’s nature. Why should he when the present holds so much promise? But, at a point in our chat, we take him back to Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai (2023), which won Deepak Kingrani the National Film Award for best dialogue. The writer had told mid-day, at the time, that he wished Bajpayee too had won the gong for his powerful performance. Did the actor wish the same?
“More than me, the people associated with the film were sad. I don’t feel sad because a few people [comprising the jury] have decided not to give it to me. They must have their own reasons, with which I may or may not agree. It has happened in the past, even at National Awards, where one truly deserved it, but didn’t get it. If I complain about it, I will sound like a loser. All the award systems in the country have to look within. They have to correct their system. I can’t correct it, right? I’ve moved on,” he says.
He certainly has moved on to a glorious project, Jugnuma — The Fable. Twice in our conversation, he mentions that Raam Reddy’s directorial venture sits right at the top of his three-decade filmography. That’s a huge compliment for the film, which also stars Priyanka Bose, Tillotama Shome, and Deepak Dobriyal.
Bajpayee shares, “Magic realism [was the first draw] to do the film because we don’t make this genre at all. Secondly, the spiritual part of the story spoke to me.”
Another reason was Reddy, who made his directorial debut with the acclaimed Kannada film Thithi (2016). The director and his crew persevered through two pandemic-induced lockdowns and some delays to bring Jugnuma to life. “Then Raam took his time to edit it. He is a purist,” Bajpayee chuckles, before adding, “He is full of ideas, and uncompromising.”
Jugnuma has reminded the actor how much he loves collaborating with relatively new directors. “The film matters to them more than their lives. Their demands are high. I like that push because it’s easy to be content at my age. But the actor in me is so famished all the time. I want to be part of stories told by all these young and imaginative filmmakers.”
But does he ever feel egoistic, given his experience as an actor, while being directed by a relatively inexperienced director? “The awareness is always there. It’s up to you how you push it back. I don’t take it seriously. I don’t even watch my films. I do my film and move on.”
Ask anyone who won a National Film Award last year, and most won’t remember-Manoj Bajpayee
4:11 PM
Sonal Kalra (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 6, 2025)
Actor Manoj Bajpayee is making waves for his trademark knack of playing middle-class men and turning the ordinary into unforgettable stories in his latest release, Inspector Zende. Now, he is reuniting with filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma after 27 years.
Manoj, 56, joined Sonal Kalra, Chief Managing Editor, Entertainment and Lifestyle, in this week’s episode of The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra, and opened up on the money struggles of actors across mediums, and how passion, not validation, drives him.
If someone wants to be the next Manoj Bajpayee, what do they need to do?
Very difficult shoes to wear (laughs). I’ve been crazy about acting since I was 10 and I still am. I’m not giving any gyaan, nobody wants that. [But] today, too, I feel every great role should only come to me and no one else. If you want to buy a nice car, live in a nice house, wear good clothes, or tour the world through your acting, don’t go for it. The ratio of people who achieve that is very low. The passion for your work must always be present. If you want to act because without it you might die, then come.
You’ve received many awards. Have you ever felt bad about losing one?
That’s very difficult to judge. Ask anyone who won a National Film Award last year, and most won’t remember. But they’ll remember Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai and Joram (both 2023) as great films, even though they didn’t get any National Awards. What matters to me is how great the films are and how proud I am of my work. Awards are for one evening; your work will be remembered. You can’t get an award to validate your work; if you are doing that, it’s a great injustice to yourself and your films.
OTT stars have the same fame as theatrical stars, but when will they be paid like them?
I never get paid (laughs). And nowadays, even those in theatres aren’t getting paid like they used to because of the risk and budget constraints. On OTT, I’ve been busy for seven years. The biggest advantages are out-of-the-box stories and actors getting respect, and writers and directors getting employed; it’s a win-win situation for all of us, including the platforms. Theatres are slowly making a comeback, but budgets are lower. I really want all mediums — films, OTT, and satellite — to do really well. If they do, there won’t be a monopoly, and that will only be good for filmmakers, actors and all creative departments.
Fans are excited about you reuniting with Ram Gopal Varma after 27 years. What was it like?
I’ve finished one schedule, and I am completely zapped. He is the real OG (laughs). This guy has not gone anywhere; he is going to be back, and how! Ramu’s ability to go beyond anybody’s imagination as a filmmaker, his courage, and his audaciousness have not changed! But he has become very inclusive. Unlike the Ramu I saw and experienced during Satya (1998), Shool (1999) and Kaun? (1999), this one is like a three-year-old kid in a candy store. And even today, he sits down with you and tells you what has gone wrong with him in all these years. The output so far is mind-blowing. A director like Ram Gopal Varma can always come back and throw you out of your alignment; he is that kind of talent.
Which of your roles is closest to your heart, discounting their commercial success?
I’ll be the last person to keep the commercial thing in mind. Very few films of mine have been theatrical hits (laughs). My own personal favourites are Gali Guleiyan (2017; Prime Video) and Budhia Singh (2016; Netflix). Of all the cop roles, Inspector Zende is the most chilled out and realistic. And Jugnuma; I’ve spent seven years on this film, and it is now about to release. It started filming before lockdown, and when we went back, the Delta variant of Covid hit. Somehow, we completed the film. It had a great festival run. That film is very close to me, like Inspector Zende.
The trailer of Inspector Zende looks very interesting. Tell us something about him.
Inspector Zende is a celebrated police officer in Maharashtra for some impossible tasks he accomplished, but the rest of India doesn’t really know him. (Producer) Om Raut’s father always wanted a film on him because he caught an international criminal. But as we researched, we realized his story couldn’t be told as a grim film because he’s such a chilled-out man. I’ve been told he never fired his pistol, yet solved incredible cases — releasing trapped police officers, rescuing people from the mafia. His life deserved this tribute.
Was the team concerned about humour diluting the seriousness of the role?
Nobody is trying to create a comedy here. But everything that will happen will compel you to laugh. Zende was a regular 48 or 49-year-old middle-class man with a team of lower-middle-class policemen. Before their Goa mission, nobody had ever been on a flight. In Goa, they had to blend in but the team doesn’t even have money, so they took an accountant to track expenses. That leads to a very comic thriller. None of us is trying to be funny, but the way things unfolded is very funny.
Most successes of the last few years, leaving aside Shah Rukh Khan’s films, have relatable heroes-Apoorv Singh Karki
9:20 AM
Showcasing Manoj as a heartland hero in Bhaiyya Ji, director says audience now connects with protagonist who looks like the common man
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 27, 2024)
Last year, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai received so much love on its digital première that it was soon released theatrically. This time around, director Apoorv Singh Karki has taken the big-screen route with Bhaiyya Ji, an action film led by Manoj Bajpayee. Despite the switch, the director insists that the size of a screen hardly matters. “I started my career with Aspirants, which the whole world saw on YouTube. A good story reaches its people,” he shares.
Bhaiyya Ji is an unapologetically mainstream offering, revelling in its action and dialoguebaazi. Produced by Bajpayee, it sees the actor as a heartland hero fighting off baddies—an avatar that we’ve rarely seen him in. Karki believes his casting of a relatable hero and treatment of an age-old story set the movie apart.
“Most successes of the last few years, leaving aside Shah Rukh Khan’s films, have relatable heroes. The hero looks like my father, my uncle, or someone who comes from my neighbourhood. KGF and Pushpa: The Rise - Part 01 [2021] work because the audiences relate to the people and the stories. This isn’t a hero who jumps from the helicopter; he gets up from the streets. Films about social injustice and corruption work. The hopelessness towards the system can be rectified by a hero who, in an alternate world, can punch, kill and give us closure.”
Bajpayee headlining the movie is a crucial move in changing the face of today’s mainstream hero. “I’ve always seen him as a mainstream hero. But he said no one offers him such parts. It mustn’t be forgotten that Gangs Of Wasseypur [2012] works because he is a recognizable face,” states Karki.
I knew that our director had made Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai; I was enticed by the possibility of getting an award-Suvinder Vicky
10:27 AM
Glad to step away from cop act after Kohrra, Bhaiyya Ji actor Vicky says desire to win award led him to join hands with Bajpayee
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 22, 2024)
Suvinder Vicky had more reasons than one to give his nod to Manoj Bajpayee’s maiden production venture, Bhaiyya Ji. “To begin with, it posed a challenge,” says the actor, who came into the spotlight after his work in Kohrra (2023) and CAT (2022).
“After those shows fared well, I was beginning to get typecast. I had to turn down offers in which I was expected to play a cop again. But, in Bhaiyya Ji, my look and accent are different. That was another reason to do this project. I knew that our director, Apoorv Singh Karki, had previously made Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, and I was enticed by the possibility of getting an award. I love awards!”
Being in the company of Bajpayee, he was certain, would help him achieve his dream of lifting a gong. “He can teach you [how to pull off] your performance. He can put you on the path to winning a National Award. I was excited to share screen space with him. Manoj has been part of 100 films, but in each film, he has tried to do something different,” he says, recalling how Bajpayee’s act in Gangs Of Wasseypur, particularly a scene in which he is seen “killing a guy with sharp ice”, impacted him.
Even though Kohrra led to a fair share of stereotyping, Vicky doesn’t dismiss the acclaim it brought him. “Before the success, no one would [bother] asking me questions about my approach to a scene. I had no choice or agency. Success has taken away the fear of losing out on opportunities. Now I have the luxury of choice—I can decide if I want to take up a project for monetary purposes, or if I am drawn to the story or the actors who will feature in it. People start behaving differently after [one becomes] successful. The first place it reflects in is your remuneration.”
In the film touted as Bajpayee’s 100th, Vicky plays an Uttar Pradesh-based individual. “It is a world I understand. I had a diction coach at all times so that I could learn the nuances. This film helped me prove that I am more than my mould.”
The shows on TV today are boring and predictable-Rajiv Mehta
8:42 AM
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; March 1, 2024)
Rajiv Mehta, best known for his character Praful Parekh from the TV show Khichdi, says Indian television lacks good comedy shows today. He says, “When I was offered Khichdi many years ago, I had done comedy only on stage. It was a challenge because Hansa (Supriya Pathak) and I had to play duffers in the show. And I had to play the character with confidence. I give credit to the writing because it was not easy to pull off something like that. I think its the casting and script, which made the show a huge success. Now, we don’t see such comedy shows on TV anymore.”
Rajiv says he does not want to act in a TV show. “It is not easy to do a 12-14 hour shift. Of course, if a role can give me immense job satisfaction, I am willing to undergo any number of hectic days, but I don’t see anything exciting on TV these days. The shows are boring and predictable,” says the actor, who is currently focusing on films and OTT shows.”
His film Khichdi 2, which released last November, did not connect with masses. He admits saying, "There were no stars in the film. Today, a viewer spends money to watch a film in a theatre for a star. Occasionally there could be a good film doing well but I have realized that the success of a film and the content are never interrelated. I watched Pathaan recently and didn't find the film to be extraordinary but it did great business. On the other hand, I watched Manoj Bajpayee film Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai and I loved it. Manoj is again an underrated actor, who is getting his due now."
Now, I only do songs that are worthy of my name and time-Sonu Nigam
10:29 AM
Soumya Vajpayee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 28, 2023)
Sonu Nigam is beaming when we meet him at his farmhouse in Karjat (Maharashtra). Reason: this year has been exceptionally fruitful for the singer. As we stroll down the garden, he looks back at the year: “Turning 50 was the highlight of 2023 for me. I really enjoyed entering my 50th year. I was 18 when I entered the industry, so technically, I’ve grown up here. To be around the people of my fraternity as I entered such an important phase of my life felt gratifying.”
Looking back at the kind of work he did in the “incredible” 2023, Nigam says, “I always perform at a lot of concerts. But I am particularly thrilled about the kind of film and non-film songs I did in 2023. From Papa Meri Jaan from Animal, Itni Si Baat from Sam Bahadur, Nikle The Kabhi Hum Ghar Se from Dunki, Ro Lain De from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani and Tu Hai Sheetal Dhaara from Adipurush to Bandeya from the OTT release Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai — I got to sing some amazing songs. Also, my single Afra Tafri for Bhoomi 2023 with (composer duo) Salim-Sulaiman did well. I was seen dancing in the music video after years, celebrating my hometown, Delhi.”
In the industry, lack of visibility is often equated with scarcity of work. Though he had back-to-back releases this year, Nigam says he isn’t running after movie songs. “I have sung a lot in my career. I voluntarily decided to record less for films since 2006. Today, everyone knows who’s busy and who’s not, thanks to social media. I turn down offers every now and then,” says the Padma Shri recipient.
He adds, “I wish to go a little exclusive now in terms of the kind of work I do. Now, I only do songs that are worthy of my name and time. I’m glad that quality work has been released this year. Today, the game has changed due to platforms like Spotify. As an artiste, you need to make sure that your work is of a certain level. You cannot settle for mediocrity, as all the streaming platforms are artiste-driven.”
BETTER WITH AGE!
Though the singer is 50, his voice continues to be on point: “People are also appreciating how I sound now, because usually logon ki awaaz age ke saath depreciate hoti hai. Mujhe lagta hai meri awaz better hui hai. Recently, I had a really bad throat before a concert in Mumbai. But pata nahin show se theek 30 minute pehle maine kya riyaaz kiya that I rocked the show. I’ve realised that I’ve become a much better singer than what I used to be.”
Showing that every human irrespective of the class is vulnerable was fulfilling as an actor-Manoj Bajpayee
11:04 AM
Showing that every human irrespective of the class is vulnerable was fulfilling as an actor
Syeda Eba Fatima (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 27, 2023)
With remarkable performances in Gulmohar, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai and Joram, Manoj Bajpayee surely had a great 2023. Besides earning critical acclaim and several awards, the actor created history as Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai became the first film to release in theatres after a successful run on OTT. Looking back at the year, Bajpayee takes a sigh of relief and says, “I am happy that with this year, all my pre-pandemic commitments are over.”
While one may see it as three back-to-back successful performances, the actor looks beyond that. “What’s remarkable is that within one year, people saw me play three diverse characters — one from the privileged class (Gulmohar), one from the middle class (Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai) and one from the downtrodden class (Joram). That’s my achievement. Showing that every human [irrespective of the class] is conflicted and vulnerable, and that everyone has their own struggles was fulfilling as an actor,” he explains.
Having played such diverse roles, ask if there was a takeaway for him, and the 54-year-old shares, “My takeaway is the education that I get during the making of those characters. It could be through the conversations I had with the directors or during my research for the roles. For example, during Joram, I got to understand about people living on the margins and what displacement does to a person.”
What made the year even more special for him were the film festivals, where his movies were applauded: “It feels good to be appreciated. However, despite all the praise, releasing those films in theatre is a different ball game. After the pandemic, the kind of content being consumed has changed, as most people want to see potboilers. So, when a film like Joram impresses the audience and is liked so much that they become promoters of the film and give shout-outs, it’s far greater than any box-office numbers. It’s an indication of the great time ahead.”
During Satyamev Jayate, people whistled and cheered on my entry-Manoj Bajpayee
9:31 PM
In a chat with us at IFFI, the actor shares why commercial cinema never attracted him, his love for independent films and how OTT ‘empowered’ him
Monika Rawal Kukreja (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 27, 2023)
It has been three years since Manoj Bajpayee had a theatrical release, but the actor isn’t complaining. Instead, he has been making his presence felt in the OTT space with back-to-back releases. This year, his web projects — Gulmohar and Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai — earned rave reviews. As the films were screened at the ongoing 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, Bajpayee is grateful for all the love and adulation.
I have done very few films that gave me a chance to experience euphoria inside the theatre. Satya (1998) was one of them. It gave me a high. I would think that in this industry, I’d only get to do character roles, or play heroine ka bhai or the villain’s henchman. And suddenly, I had a career, which I never thought was possible. Then I got a high with Raajneeti (2010) and the dialogue ‘Karara jawaab milega’. Also, during Satyameva Jayate (2018), people whistled and cheered on my entry,” Bajpayee tells us the morning after his films were screened at a packed theatre at IFFI.
Ask why he feels he hasn’t done many mainstream films and the actor says the medium has never been a concern for him and all he’s cared for is good work. “In cinema, while I was dabbling in different genres, I just wanted to push and promote independent cinema and independent directors who I wanted to work with. And to do that, I needed that power for myself. So, I did a few mainstream films, got the power and then used it for my own independent films, which were quite a lot as I was enjoying my stint in independent films,” the 54-year-old says.
He adds, “I was looking for the directors because I realised that it was nearly impossible for any independent director to approach me. Also, it was evident that the mainstream people didn’t have a solid thing for me. They didn’t know what to do with Manoj Bajpayee. All they could think of me doing was [playing] a villain and that I never wanted to do. Such characters never excited me.”
And thanks to OTT, Bajpayee, who gave a masterclass on Crafting compelling web series for OTT at IFFI, witnessed an influx of diverse and experimental roles, which gave a new direction to his career. Saying that the web space empowered him, he adds, “It came at a time when the pandemic was at its peak and people were inside their houses. So, they got a chance to explore it deeply. Also, with streaming coming in, the choices became way too many [for actors]. And to my luck, The Family Man happened, which changed OTT’s demography. It empowered me. OTT was a turning point for me and many other talents.”
Making the chat with us more interesting, actor Manoj Bajpayee, who’s at the ongoing 54th International Film Festival in Goa for the screening of his films, talks about his upcoming theatrical release, Joram. He doesn’t mince his words, acknowledging that while most filmmakers would think “it’s apt for a digital release” due to the subject, the studio backing the film didn’t hesitate before taking it to the theatres, followed by OTT.
“It shows that makers now have a lot of confidence in Manoj Bajpayee and his talent. And I feel that confidence comes from what I’ve done in these four years. We (actors and filmmakers) have used the OTT medium very well to our advantage, helping expand the fan base and get the audience to watch the content they want,” he says, adding that going forward, his career is going to be a fine blend of OTT and theatrical releases.
“I’m not going to differentiate between them. The box office never bothered me in the past; it still doesn’t. It’s always about the content and the quality of the product that I am part of. This is where the buck stops [for me] because only [a project] that nobody knows how to do would get me excited [for the part]. The numbers will never decide how good the film is, and that will never change for me. My love story with the cinema will be whether it is on OTT or in theatres; it doesn’t matter,” ends the actor, who will be seen in the action-drama Bhaiyaaji next year.
Is web now Bollywood's safety blanket?
8:46 AM
A number of star-led projects these days are headed directly to digital platforms, ditching theatrical release. We decode
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 29, 2023)
What’s common among Shahid Kapoor-starrer Bloody Daddy, Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor-starrer Bawaal and Blind, featuring Sonam Kapoor Ahuja? Its makers ditched a big screen release and took the direct-to-OTT route. Amid the supposed resurgence of the box office, looks like makers consider the web a safer bet to release films.
The box-office performance of Indian films has marginally dipped, though Hindi movies have shown improvement, according to Ormax Media’s bi-annual report. Could this be a reason for the increase in the number of web-first releases?
Trade expert Atul Mohan says, “Makers feel going to OTT is a safer bet and streaming platforms also want big names, to get subscribers. When makers sense a film will not work, they strike a deal with a streaming platform and also save money on marketing. If the budget of a film is Rs. 65 crore, they usually spend Rs. 10-15 crore on promotions.”
FROM THE STREAMER’S MOUTH
According to Manish Kalra, chief business officer at ZEE5 India, the trend has a lot to do with the creative freedom the web offers: “From Salman Khan’s Radhe (2021) to recent hits Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai (starring Manoj Bajpayee) and Tarla (featuring Huma Qureshi and Sharib Hashmi), the [web] space provides creators a platform to connect with the audience, map preferences and bring stories with more compelling narratives.”
NOT A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL CONCEPT
Trade expert Taran Adarsh feels what’s meant for the big screen should head there: “For instance, in the case of Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, a lot of people said it is meant for OTT and that it will not make even Rs. 10 crore at the box office. But, it has made close to Rs. 90 crore, all because the producer took a big risk and released it in theatres. Makers should never underestimate the power of good cinema.”
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Whoever has put in money [in a film] should benefit, irrespective of the medium of release. I’d want all my films to be released on the big screen, but I understand the commercial aspect. So, as long as it is benefiting everybody and reaches viewers, I don’t mind where they (his films) release.
- Sharib Hashmi, actor
Producers are looking at the OTT space as a safer bet over the big screen. And that is fine. As long as a film is released somewhere... Kahin na aaye, usse better kahin toh release ho!
- Anees Bazmee, director
Manoj Bajpayee would often sit in our script reading sessions-Deepak Kingrani
4:45 PM
Winning praise for Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, writer Kingrani on how Manoj played a key role in fine-tuning the social drama’s script
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; June 15, 2023)
In 2017, Deepak Kingrani left his cushy corporate job in the Netherlands to pursue writing. Six years on, the screenwriter is flooded with congratulatory calls for penning Manoj Bajpayee’s powerful social drama Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai. From earning in euros to moving to a creative job in Mumbai wasn’t a difficult shift, he says, as his passion for writing kept him going.
“I got to write Special Ops [2020], which was a fantastic experience. There wasn’t a single day when I regretted leaving my job for this,” smiles Kingrani.
Apoorva Singh Karki’s directorial venture, which sees Bajpayee as a lawyer, is based on the 2013 rape case against self-styled godman Asaram Bapu. Through the ZEE5 film, both Karki and Kingrani wanted to focus on sexual abuse involving godmen.
“Being a father to a daughter, I personally connected with the story. For us, the story began with the idea that we know [there are] bad guys. But when someone you worship and consider god-like breaks your trust, the betrayal and pain is far more. We are all spiritual people, and we don’t like how [faith] gets a bad perception because of these people,” says Kingrani.
What makes him happier about the success of Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai is that the screenplay was a collaborative effort, with the leading man bringing in his years of expertise. “Manoj sir has a rich experience of working with several directors and reading scripts. He’d often sit in our script-reading sessions. Sometimes he would tell me, ‘I need a strong dialogue here to convey the emotion,’ while Suparn [Varma, creative producer] would play the devil’s advocate.”
OTT is not a threat to cinemas, says Manoj Bajpayee on Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai hitting theatres
8:25 AM
As his web film, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, releases on the big screen, Manoj Bajpayee talks about coexistence of the mediums
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 3, 2023)
After much discussion, actor Manoj Bajpayee’s recent OTT release, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, has finally opened on the big screen. Calling it a “symbolic release”, the actor says it is the “first step to wiping away the perception that streaming platforms are a threat to theatres”.
While the movie has been released in select cinemas in 20 locations across Mumbai, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan, it will continue to be available for streaming.
“There was a massive demand from audiences for a theatrical release,” the 54-year-old tells us.
The actor adds that this move indicates that both the mediums — OTT and theatres — “can coexist”. Bajpayee explains, “So far, the trend has been that theatrical releases come out on OTT platforms [a few days after a film hits the big screen]. I hope this move (of his film running in both the mediums simultaneously) changes how people think about these two mediums. I feel theatre and OTT should complement each other rather than being looked at as competition.”
On being praised for his work
“If someone tells me, ‘You have done complete justice to the character’, I would accept that. But, when they say it was ‘good, better or best’, then I don’t take such compliments seriously.”
Not about numbers
“Nobody was talking about numbers when the film was released on OTT. Even now, when it’s available in theatres, people will only talk about the craft, creativity, performances and camerawork. Numbers only matter to producers, distributors and exhibitors. They shouldn’t affect audiences.”
We got calls from distributors saying they wanted to screen Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai-Suparn Varma
8:23 AM
Producer Suparn Varma shares his excitement over the unprecedented move of a film releasing in theatres after its digital premiere
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; June 3, 2023)
The positive response to Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai compelled the makers to reimagine the theatrical release of the ZEE5 film after it streamed on the platform last week. As reported by mid-day (Start small, go big, June 1, 2023), the film, based on the 2013 rape case of a minor by self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, opened in 20 theatres yesterday.
“It’s a symbolic release, but we are hoping that the love of the audience will increase the number of theatres,” says filmmaker Suparn Varma, who is the creative producer of the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer.
Varma insists that not only the audience but also distributors have reached out to the producers to request a big-screen release of the film. “We got calls from distributors saying they wanted to screen it, but there is a certain process in place. We sold it to Zee Studios, which sold it to ZEE5. Due to the high demand, we decided the film should be put out in theatres. It was the audience’s love that got the movie out. I have been lucky and privileged to get love with The Family Man and Rana Naidu, but with Bandaa, it feels like a tsunami,” shares the producer of the Apoorv Singh Karki-helmed movie.
Crediting Bajpayee for an effortless collaboration, Varma says, “Manoj is one of the greatest collaborators in the world because he comes without ego. He is there to give it his all. That is how magic happens because you are coming from the space of honesty.”
Sirf Ek Bandaa Bi Kaafi Hai marks the second collaboration between Bajpayee and Varma.
(Crisp) Movie Review: SIRF EK BANDAA KAAFI HAI by FENIL SETA
11:02 PM
Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, which will release tomorrow on Zee5, is a courtroom drama about a righteous lawyer who takes on a powerful person through his sheer guts and deep knowledge of the law. Inspired by the Asaram Bapu case, the film starts on a great note. Certain courtroom moments are powerful and even funny. The performances add to the impact while the finale is memorable. On the flipside, the middle portions are a bit haphazard and not properly explained. Also, the tension levels don’t go up to the expected levels, especially since the lawyer is seen clashing with those who can go to any lengths to get their work done. One would also wish that the protagonist suffers minor defeats in the courtroom and doesn’t counter every point put forth by the prosecution; that would have added to the impact. Speaking of performances, Manoj Bajpayee is simply outstanding. He rocks the show in the intense scenes but watch out for him when he has to strike a balance between being a fanboy of the defence lawyers and doing his duty. Vipin Sharma (Pramod Sharma) rocks the show. Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha looks every inch the character of Baba and does very well. Adrija Sinha (Nu Singh) plays a challenging character with ease. Abhijit Lahiri (Ram Chandvani) leaves a huge mark, though he’s there for just one scene. Durga Sharma (Nu's mother), Jai Hind Kumar (Nu's father), Ikhlaque Ahmed Khan (Judge), Archana Dani (Mrs Bapat; school principal), Saurabh Sharma (Nu's first lawyer) and the actor playing Venkateshwar Swamy also do well. All in all, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai deserves to be seen for its powerful moments and Manoj Bajpayee’s award-winning performance.
My rating - *** ½ out of 5!
My rating - *** ½ out of 5!
If the children aren’t safe, our future is not safe-Manoj Bajpayee
8:27 AM
Manoj says he fronted Bandaa, based on the 2013 rape case of a minor by self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, to highlight issue of children’s protection
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; May 15, 2023)
Every time Manoj Bajpayee invests in a film that has a social message, he has a singular concern — that a badly made film can render the message pointless. With Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, the actor had no reason to worry as the script surpassed his expectations. When producer Vinod Bhanushali and creative producer Suparn Varma offered him the social drama, based on the 2013 rape case of a 16-year-old by self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, they gave him the liberty to choose a suitable director and writer.
“I happened to see Aspirants by Apoorv Singh Karki and loved it. I mentioned his name in the meeting. Apoorv happily came on board. The way writer Deepak Kingrani and he have written the climax overwhelmed me. It became the most attractive part of the film,” says the actor.
But there was a bigger and more powerful reason for Bajpayee to lead the ZEE5 offering, which sees him step into the shoes of Jodhpur-based lawyer Poonam Chand Solanki, who fought against some of the country’s most powerful attorneys and had Asaram convicted. Being a parent, the actor felt deeply about children’s safety.
“All of us were driven by our concern for the protection of children and minors. We are a heavily populated country, but our children are not as secure. Their safety is a concern shared by me, Apoorv and every parent. If the children aren’t safe, our future is not safe. If a child’s privacy and dignity are invaded, it means so many other children’s dignity is crushed too,” he emphasises.
Even as Bandaa chronicles the events that led to Asaram’s conviction in 2018, Bajpayee is aware that people’s faith in the country has oddly become intertwined with worshipping godmen. In such a scenario, is it risky to tell a story that shows the evil in men, who are fiercely protected by people’s blind faith?
The actor weighs in, “I am a believer. My day starts with a prayer. But at the same time, I have a few concerns as a believer. It’s the believer’s responsibility to keep the bad element out [of his faith]. By [making the film], we are also protecting the belief.”
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