Nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category in the upcoming mid-day and Radio City Hitlist Web Awards, Pankaj Tripathi reflects on his Criminal Justice role
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 17, 2020)

Pankaj Tripathi is a man of few words. But mention Madhav Mishra, his character in Hotstar's Criminal Justice, and his eyes light up. "When Sridhar Raghavan [writer] came to me with the script, I knew I wanted to do it. I saw the possibility of adding layers to the character and enhancing it," he says of the show that has earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the upcoming mid-day and Radio City Hitlist Web Awards.

Over the last few years, the actor has been the face of some memorable characters in digital entertainment — be it Kaleen Bhaiyya of Mirzapur or Guruji of Sacred Games 2. He analyses that the long-format shows give actors the opportunity to delve deeper into their roles. "I drew personal parallels with Madhav. To me, he is the same man that I was 10 years ago. He is a struggling lawyer like I was a struggling actor. So, I mirrored my own feelings on screen."

Tripathi, who has already shot for the second season of the Vikrant Massey-fronted series, admits that he has maintained a studied distance from the British original that it is inspired by. "I wanted to approach it with a new vision. I don't believe in referencing from movies or series. Our show is filled with scenes that have been improvised on set. There's a scene in which I ask Vikrant to plead guilty to the murder, but he refuses to do so. In the next shot, my character comes home and notices that his eczema is spreading rapidly. The scene has no dialogue, but there's such depth to it. Many of my NSD [National School of Drama] friends called to tell me that they enjoyed the show. Since they are formally trained in acting, they noticed minute elements of my performance. They called it one of my most nuanced acts," he beams with pride.

More About Criminal Justice
- The show is an adaptation of the 2008 series Criminal Justice, which also inspired the miniseries, The Night of (2016), starring Riz Ahmed
- Jackie Shroff and Dibyendu Bhattacharya play arch-rivals in the series. Interestingly, in the past, both actors have played Chunni Babu in two different adaptations of Devdas

Cast Your Vote For The Hitlist Web Awards
Pankaj Tripathi has been nominated in the Best Supporting Actor (Male) category for Hostar's Criminal Justice.

The other nominees are:
- Rajesh Tailang (Selection Day S02; Netflix)
- Vinay Pathak (Made In Heaven; Amazon Prime)
- Neeraj Madhav (The Family Man; Amazon Prime)
- Sharib Hashmi (The Family Man; Amazon Prime)
- Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub (Rangbaaz Phir Se; Zee5)
- Gopal Dutt (The Office; Hotstar)

- There are 14 categories that the public can vote in. Log on to www.hitlistwebawards.com to cast your vote.
- You can also vote via SMS. Send HITLIST <space> category name <space> your choice (a/b/c/d as on the website) to 57575.
- Voting lines close on March 8.

L-R: Ravi Udyawar, Namit Malhotra, Allu Aravind, Madhu Mantena and Nitesh Tiwari

Filmmakers to direct a live-action trilogy in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu for Madhu Mantena, Allu Aravind and Namit Malhotra
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 8, 2019)

Mirror (May 10, 2017) was the first to report that Madhu Mantena, Allu Aravind and Namit Malhotra have joined hands to bring the Ramayana back to the screen as a live-action feature film with an estimated budget of Rs 500 crore. It will be made in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, shot in 3D, and released in three parts. Now, we have learnt that Madhu has got Nitesh Tiwari of Dangal fame and Mom director Ravi Udyawar who will be helming this ambitious project while Sridhar Raghavan is writing the screenplay. It will be made with actors from Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati and Punjabi films as the makers are targeting a pan-India as well as a global audience.

While admitting that it is a huge responsibility because the Ramayana is not just a revered ancient text in Indian mythology but also an integral part of our culture and more relevant today, Nitesh informs that they are ensuring that whatever is said and shown has the stamp of authenticity. Explaining his reasons for doing the films, he says his primary focus is the story and if it pushes the envelope while challenging him as a filmmaker further, and finds collaborators who share his vision and passion, he is happy to join the team. All three criteria have been fulfilled in this instance. “Madhu and Ravi have been friends for years, Allu sir and Namit are legends and Sridhar has fabulous credentials as a creator. All we have to do now is zap the world,” he laughs.

Ravi, not just a filmmaker but also a painter, is equally excited about the project. “I heard these stories from my grandmother and mother and passed them on to my children. Everybody knows the story of Ram, Sita and Raavan, it’s the story-telling that will make our trilogy memorable and I’m putting everything I have learnt into it to make it fun and engaging while staying true to the original,” he asserts.

The project has been a work in progress for the last three years and Mirror had an opportunity to see 100-odd intricate paintings created by artists from across the country for it. They include scenes from Ayodhya with its emblematic rosetinted tree of learning, a goldsplashed Lanka and a lush-green Mithila with Nepalese architecture, beside battles between the devas and the rakshasas and the aquatic underwater life, among others. They will serve as references for the setting, costume, cast and action.

For Nitesh, the appeal of the epic lies in its tableau of characters—from Raavan, who is a reminder to people of all that he could have achieved but because of certain actions, ends up on a stake every year during Ramlila, while Ram is an embodiment of some values that people have since forgotten. “I went with my father and brother to the Ramlila every year and though we all knew the story, it still evoked the same emotions in us when Sita was kidnapped or Raavan’s effigy burnt,” he reminisces.

A visit to Chitrakoot, where he saw Ram’s footprint and the outline of his bow, made the mythology real for the filmmaker. For Nitesh his greatest takeaway from Ramyana is Ram. “He was an ideal leader, husband, father and son. With time, I’ve realised that it’s easy for us to be a good father but so difficult to be a good son. It’s made me a better son to my elderly father, and I can only hope that my son will also take good care of me,” smiles the father of nine-year-old twins Aaradhya and Amaarisa (below). “Apart from Ram and Raavan, every character, be it Sita, Lakshman or even Hanuman, has something to say which is why we are telling the story in three parts.”

The team has yet to take a call on the filming and the release plan, but they are hoping to kick off next year and are targeting a 2021 release for Part 1, promising that there won’t be too long a gap between two instalments.

There have been various versions of the Ramayana on screen, from Sampoorna Ramayana and Ram Rajya to Lanka Dahan and Bajrangbali. Earlier, Ramanand Sagar had brought Ramayan into our homes through a long-running TV show and both directors recall how everyone was hooked to it. They are hoping for the same acceptance when their Ramayana arrives in cinemas in 3D. “Money and time are not a problem. Our producers have told us to be fearless and fly. So, we are flying visually,” says Nitesh, with Ravi adding, “There are many sci-fi films but only one Star Wars. We have access to the best technology and talent so what better time to let the world see what our country has to offer.”

Ravi points out that Namit’s studio, Prime Focus, has bagged three Oscars in the last five years and many of the technicians there have been working on A-list Hollywood films and are excited leap into the epical world. “For me the Ramayana offers magic in its shape-shifting monsters. It’s something that even a toddler will enjoy. When I told my son, Rian (right; above), who is 12 what we were doing he was jumping around all day wondering what Raavan and Kumbhakarna would look like while my 15-year-old daughter Renee (right; above) was visualising the fights between Ram and the rakshasas in the forest. Having seen animated versions on TV, they can’t wait to see it in live-action. For me the biggest thrill was when Rian told me that Hanuman is cooler than Superman. I am doing this for my children,” he exults.

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 10, 2018)

Mirror (March 23) had recently reported that Salman Khan is planning to produce a show on Mumbai cops that explores their lives on and off duty. Now, days after he was released on bail in the blackbuck case, it has emerged that the 52-year-old actor’s first TV production, for Sony, is scheduled to go on air next month. The cast and crew is already in place and shooting kicked off quietly a few weeks ago at a Mumbai studio.

A source close to the development reveals that Mahesh Limaye, the National Award-winning director of the 2014 Marathi film Yellow produced by Riteish Deshmukh, who has worked with Salman on Dabangg and Dabangg 2 as cinematographer, will direct the yet-untitled show. “Writer Sridhar Raghavan, who has written films like Rohan Sippy’s light-hearted Bluffmaster and Rajkumar Santoshi multi-starrer Khakee, among others, has written the script,” informs the source.

Actor Mukul Dev, who was last seen in the 21 Sarfarosh: Sargarhi 1897 on a historical battle, plays the lead in this cop-drama. Pooja Gor who became a household name with the soap, Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya has been cast opposite him. “The team has been researching stories on real-life cops from Mumbai." says the source

Salman who is wrapping up the final schedule of Ramesh Taurani’s Race 3, is simultaneously monitoring the show’s progress. He was to make his TV debut as a producer with a show on the famous wrestler Gama Pehelwan, with younger brother Sohail Khan in the lead, and Punit Issar as the director, but that has now been pushed towards the end of the year. He is also gearing up to make a comeback as host with the reality game-show Dus Ka Dum, which is expected to air on Sony channel in June. The last season of the show was nine years ago.

Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; February 7, 2018)

CID has become one of the longest running programmes on Indian TV. What do you think has kept the audience glued?
People are always interested in watching a mystery. The forensics is another aspect that makes them more engaged. We never reveal the name of the poisons on our show, lest they be misused. The writers consciously omit the surname of a criminal, to avoid associating the offender with any caste. A lot of thought goes into making this series. Plus, we make sure that the stories never get monotonous. Also, I think the show works because people look up to a person in uniform. I, too, wanted to become an air force pilot, but could not pursue it.

What is the most interesting part of the show for you?
I like the fact that all the characters are distinct from each other. ACP Pradyuman may have his idiosyncrasies, but he is loyal, blunt and principled. The relationship that the central characters share is something people hope for in real life.

Over the years, you must have forged a deep bond with Dayanand Shetty and Aditya Srivastava.
Daya [Shetty’s character] and Abhi [Srivastava’s character] are like my younger brothers. They are an extension of my family. Daya is as big-hearted as his built. He is a foodie and knows what all of us love to eat. Abhi may look serious, but is mischievous.

Has there been any case that has been memorable?
One of the cases revolved around my teenage son, who gets into bad company and ends up becoming a terrorist. My character had no option but to kill him. It was a six-episode long story and the drama was wonderfully built up. In 2004, we had filmed an 111-minute-episode in a single shot from start to finish. It earned us a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Among all your iconic dialogues, which has been your favourite?
(Laughs) ‘Daya, darwaza tod do’ and ‘ Kuch toh gadbad hai’ — these have become so popular that they sparked off several memes.

What’s next for the show?
I honestly don’t know. Sridhar Raghavan, who was originally the writer of the show, is now looking into its creative aspects. His mind is constantly on the roll. I’m sure he has something interesting up his sleeve.

Lastly, you’ve played the ACP for 20 years. So, when do you get a promotion?
(Laughs) If I get a promotion, I will be stuck behind a desk, which is not something my character would want.

Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 17, 2013)

Ramesh Sippy’s office in suburban Mumbai does not look like a quintessential production house, which at any given point is usually a hotbed of activities. It’s a quiet bungalow in a quieter bylane of Lokhandwala. 
Posters of his recent productions like Nautanki Saala and Dum Maaro Dum, are lined alongside classics like Seeta aur Geeta, Shaan and Sholay. Looking at Sholay’s artwork, Sippy asks, “Have you seen the posters of Sholay 3D? It doesn’t look like the film I made. I never wanted the original film to be tampered with. But I might still have approved of the 3D version, had they made me an active participant in the process. But they didn’t even take my consent.”

Sholay’s 3D version is due to open on January 3, 2014. Following a copyright dispute with his nephew Sasha, Sippy had moved the Bombay High Court for a stay on the release. “Sometimes differences, both creative and familial, are too pronounced for any kind of reconciliation,” he points out.

His appeal has since been rejected. In fact, Sippy admits that he has been invited by Sasha's family for the premiere scheduled for early next year. “I don’t think I want to watch that film,” he says, adding that he is now contemplating moving the Supreme Court to get a stay order on the film's release.

He doesn’t appreciate technical modification, but there is a scene in Sholay which, if he could, he'd do away with, "I’d make Amitabh’s death scene more sombre,” Sippy says. "When Jai is dying, Veeru and he toss a coin whose reverberations fill the theatre and take away the seriousness of the moment. If I could remake the film, I’d ensure this distraction is removed from the scene,” he asserts.

The septuagenarian insists he has always adapted to the changing times and has never resisted any developments. “As an old-school filmmaker, I see opportunity in the organised studio-system but I miss the familial environment of the 70s,” he sighs. “You could think like an artist on the sets. Even if you had a bound script, there was scope for improvising on the sets.”

In an interview last year, Sippy had announced that he was ready to return to direction after 17 years with a thriller scripted by Sridhar Raghavan. When quizzed on his comeback, the filmmaker says, “I have a small-town story in mind and am scouting for the perfect setting for it. It could be a village in Manali, Shimla or even Edinburgh. Once I find my location, I’ll go ahead with it,” he smiles, “And there’s one more dream I want to live out before it’s time to say goodbye. I want to make another film with Amitabh Bachchan in the lead.”