Showing posts with label Zwigato. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zwigato. Show all posts
I’ve just begun to understand life properly, too early to make a biopic on me-Kapil Sharma
9:00 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; February 11, 2026)
For years, Kapil Sharma has been the face of laughter in Indian homes – a comedian who turned everyday observation into prime-time television. In one of his most candid conversations yet, Kapil opens up about family, loss, fatherhood, depression, and the quiet need to do work that will one day make his children proud. He also puts an end to the rumours of a biopic on him.
‘Everything in my life has reached people – the good and the bad’
While reports suggested that a biopic is being made on Kapil’s life, the comedian refutes the speculations. “Those people are actually our friends, the producers. They wanted to make it. But I feel I’ve just begun to understand life properly. What biopic will they make right now? So no, I don’t think so – not at this point. Maybe someday in the future,” he clarifies.
He is equally unguarded about what such a film would or wouldn’t hide. “Once you become a public figure, whatever happens in your life reaches people anyway. Everything in my life has reached people – the good and the bad,” he adds.
‘I think the only certainty in life is uncertainty’
Looking back, Kapil sees his life not as a rise-and-fall graph, but as a series of phases, each with its own meaning. “Every phase had its own charm. Childhood was different. When my father was there, that phase was different. After he passed away in 2004, life went completely off track. Then I got another chance on TV and came back on track. At 36, depression hit me hard and I went completely down. People started saying, ‘He’s finished.’ Then I got married. Then the show came back. Then I did 300+ episodes again,” he recalls.
Perspective, he says, came with time. “I think the only certainty in life is uncertainty. You just keep working with good intentions, and good things keep happening,” he explains.
‘I miss my father everyday’
Talking about his father, Kapil gets emotional. “The past never changes. Those who have gone won’t come back. When I won the trophy (The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Season 3) and got a cheque of Rs. 10 lakh, I cried thinking… If my father were here today,” he says.
He remembers a quiet moment soon after his show (The Kapil Sharma Show) became a nightly ritual. “When my show started, I remember standing quietly outside my house at 9 pm. In every house in the society, TVs were on, and I could hear people’s laughter. I thought to myself, if papa were alive, how happy he’d be. I miss him every day, but some moments hit harder,” he shares.
‘I came here to be a singer’
Kapil’s career, he says, was never mapped out in straight lines. “I came here to become a singer. Then somewhere along the way, I thought, let’s become an actor. I did serious roles, then came into comedy almost by accident. An actor always has that hunger – that another side of him should also come out. But our industry, or maybe human nature is such that people see you doing one thing and assume that’s all you can do. Comedy is acting, and honestly, comedy is more difficult,” he says.
Ask him about what lies ahead and he says, “Life has been long, difficult, fun, messy. Work-wise, I feel blessed. My hobby became my profession. What bigger gift from God can there be? I’m excited about what lies ahead.”
‘My kids shouldn’t feel that their father spent his life doing meaningless things’
Fatherhood, Kapil admits, has changed how he makes his choices. “Sometimes I think that I want to do a certain kind of work so that when my children grow up, they can see that I didn’t just do light or superficial things all my life. Like the film, Zwigato (2022), that I did with Nandita Das, it made my heart feel good. I knew commercially it wouldn’t do anything. But it was a good subject, and I did it because tomorrow when my kids grow up, they shouldn’t feel that their father spent his entire life doing meaningless things – he also did work of substance,” he says.
Why are distributors and OTT platforms not enthusiastic about festival films?
3:16 PM
They get standing ovations, prizes and glowing critical acclaim. But why are distributors and OTT platforms not enthusiastic about smaller films?
Mugdha Kapoor (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 30, 2024)
If you’ve been waiting to watch All We Imagine As Light, which won the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival last month, you might have to wait a bit longer. For several critically acclaimed film festival, AWIAL’s fate depends on if OTT platforms or theatrical distributors deem it potentially profitable.
While the Payal Kapadia directorial might still get a release due to it bagging the prestigious honour, of late films such as Gajendra Ahire’s The Signature, Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy and Karan Tejpal’s Stolen — all of which have travelled to global film festivals, drawn rave reviews and even bagged awards, are yet to release in theatres in India or find a home on OTT.
Distribution distress
The Indian distribution system “is heavily lopsided in favour of mainstream films” over independent, smaller festival entries, notes film critic Murtaza Ali Khan. The general uncertainty around the return on investment, too, dissuades takers.
National Award-winning filmmaker Sudhanshu Saria, who directed the much-raved-about Sanaa, points out that for middlemen “whose job it is to figure out which film should get to viewers, it seems less risky to go with [films] that feature known faces”.
Actor Adil Hussain, whose Footprints On Water recently won the Audience Choice Award at the Indie Meme Film Festival, says, “How do decision makers on OTTs know a film won’t work, if they haven’t gone all the way, like they would, for a commercial film?”
An expensive market
Actor Shahana Goswami, whose film Santosh had its world premiere in the Un Certain Regard section at the 77th Cannes Film Festival last month, notes that since smaller films are made on modest budgets, they can’t compete with blockbuster releases.
“These films are made independently and there’s very little money to market them well enough, especially since you don’t have big stars. That’s where we fail — because mostly only a small section of people who follow the prestige of it going to an international film festival, know about a film,” she elaborates.
Last year, Stolen, directed by debutant Karan Tejpal, was the only Indian film selected for a World Premiere at the Venice Film Festival. This selection came after a notable three-year absence of Indian films from the festival’s lineup. The film has since travelled to more than 30 film festivals but still it struggles to get a release in India.
“We wanted to go directly to OTT, since we don’t have access to the kind of funding that is required to market and release a film in India. But the pandemic changed it all and the market has suddenly dried up. Maybe we’ll partner with a bigger production house to present the film,” says Tejpal.
They get standing ovations, prizes and glowing critical acclaim. But why are distributors and OTT platforms not enthusiastic about smaller films?
15 months and counting
Nandita Das-directed Zwigato travelled to multiple film festivals over the world before releasing in India in March 2023, to a positive response. But the film has struggled to find a home on a streaming platform.
“We got an amazing response [for Zwigato] not only at A-list festivals like the ones in Toronto and Busan but also from Indian media and the few who saw it in theatres. Yet, we wait for an OTT release. The perception is that films with a unique voice and no mainstream tropes do not have an audience. Barring very few passionate individual producers, hardly anyone supports them.
Censorship woes
Censorship remains another significant hurdle, with outdated regulations under The Cinematograph Act (1952) posing challenges to films that defy conventional narratives. In the past, Fire (1996), Hawa Aaney De (2004) Water (2005), Firaaq (2008) and S Durga (2017) have either struggled to secure a wide release in India or faced obstacles due to their them es, content or controversies surrounding them.
Despite these challenges, Sanaa director Sudhanshu Saria hopes that India’s fantastic run at international festivals — especially in the past few years, with movies such as The Shameless (2024), Sister Midnight (2024), Nirvana Inn (2023), Pebbles (2021) and The Disciple (2020) — “inspires a wave of filmmakers, who were going to give up or not going to work on their passion project, to step out and take that shot”. “I hope it also inspires entrepreneurial distributors to understand that we have a massive audience that is looking for different things,” says Saria.
Nandita Das, who has also helmed critically acclaimed films such as Firaaq (2008) and Manto (2018), remains hopeful of a shift. “We need producers, distributors and platform heads who will have faith and commitment towards diverse stories and ways in which they need to be told. Otherwise, we will keep celebrating the few and far between wins and yet not give the same films the space and respect they deserve in our own country,” she says.
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The market needs to be tapped by advertising these films, to tell people, ‘Hey, you are missing out on these amazing films’. That’s the job of the business people, not makers or actors.
- Adil Hussain, Actor
It’s very sad that a good film like Zwigato hasn’t got an OTT release yet-Shahana Goswami
9:54 AM
Yashika Mathur (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 19, 2024)
A year and two months since its theatrical release, filmmaker Nandita Das’ critically acclaimed Zwigato, is struggling to find an OTT release. Disappointed that a digital release has eluded the film despite it travelling to film festivals across the world, lead actor Shahana Goswami says, “It’s very unfortunate, and I don’t know the reason. In fact, I keep checking with the makers about the when, how and why, but they don’t have answers either.”
The 38-year-old, who played actor-comic Kapil Sharma’s wife in the film, which is based on the life of a delivery executive for a food aggregator, and his struggles during the pandemic lockdown, adds, “I know that this film would be loved by people if they got a chance to watch it. It’s very sad.”
Having said that, Goswami would continue being an optimist. “I still have hopes. It’s never too late for something good to come out. Sometimes, maybe the larger buildup — of it not having shown up for so long on any OTT platform — actually makes it special and even more highly anticipated. No matter when it happens, it would be a prized possession that everyone would want to get their hands on,” says Goswami.
“The destiny of these things is very hard to tell. I like to believe that everything happens for the better, so I hope whenever Zwigato makes its way to OTT, is the right time for the film,” asserts the actor, refuting reports that she has been roped in for another film alongside Sharma. “I don’t have any idea of such conversations even remotely,” she ends.
Shahana’s film being screened at Cannes
Meanwhile, Goswami has something to celebrate. Her film Santosh, directed by Sandhya Suri, is set to be screened at the ongoing 77th Cannes Film Festival, on May 20, in the Un Certain Regard category. Goswami is looking forward to attending the screening with the team.
Goswami, who plays the titular role in the film — a police constable working on a rape and murder case — doesn’t distinguish between Indian and international audience. However, she reasons why some films get better response on global international platforms and not so much when they release in India.
“I think it has firstly got to do with India being a huge country that has all kinds of cinema, whereas these film festivals have a very niche kind of films that they select, which get appreciated. Also, somewhere, India has a sensibility that it’s very vast in its range, in terms of people who enjoy out-and-out Bollywood masala films, and who also enjoy comedy, realistic cinema, or a very grungy film,” the actor says.
Another problem that Goswami finds is with the way a film is marketed once it is released in the domestic market. “Often these films (shown at festivals) are not reaching the audience because producers are making it independently and there’s very little money in terms of marketing it later and pushing it in theatres. So, that’s probably why these films are not seen much, and not because people don’t like watching them,” she ends.
Race begins to select India’s official Oscar entry; The Kerala Story, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, Dasara in the list
8:15 AM
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 21, 2023)
The pursuit to determine India’s official entry for Oscars 2024 has kicked off, with a slew of films vying for the coveted spot. Notable contenders include Balagam (Telugu), The Kerala Story (Hindi), Zwigato (Hindi) and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (Hindi).
“The Oscar committee has embarked on its meticulous selection process, involving multiple screenings, which commenced yesterday in Chennai, and the eagerly anticipated final announcement is to be unveiled next week,” says a source close to the selection process.
The decision regarding the official entry will rest in the hands of a 17-member jury, presided over by filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli.
Reports indicate that the committee has received an array of submissions, tallying over 22 entries. Among the noteworthy names forwarded to “the Film Federation of India for Oscar consideration are The Storyteller (Hindi), Music School (Hindi), Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway (Hindi), 12th Fail (Hindi), Viduthalai Part 1 (Tamil), Ghoomer (Hindi) and Dasara (Telugu)”, adds the source.
India triumphed at Oscars 2023, clinching two Academy Awards thanks to S S Rajamouli’s RRR and Guneet Monga’s The Elephant Whisperers, and Pan Nalin’s Gujarati masterpiece Chhello Show was chosen as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category.
The source also said, “The list might have additions such as Vaalvi (Marathi), Gadar 2 (Hindi), Ab Toh Sab Bhagwan Bharose (Hindi), and Baap Lyok (Marathi). We have received their application, but are waiting for the fees.”
I would love to do a very out and out Bollywood film like Pathaan [but not do small roles in them]-Shahana Goswami
8:28 AM
Shahana Goswami says her quest for more exhilarating roles continues to this day
Navya Kharbanda (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 24, 2023)
In an industry often dominated by commercial giants, Shahana Goswami has chosen a different path, associating herself with meaningful cinema. However, she acknowledges that there were instances in the past when she played smaller parts in prominent projects alongside renowned directors she admired. As time passed, she realised that these minor roles didn’t align with her artistic aspirations.
Her last two projects, Neeyat and Zwigato (both from this year), display a shift in her work preferences. Both these films may not have been large-scale projects, but Goswami played central characters in them. “I no longer want to do these kind of small roles in big projects,” she tells us, adding, “I am still very open to and would, in fact, love to do a very out-and-out Bollywood film like Pathaan [but not do small roles in them].”
The actor, who is noted for her performances in projects such as Rock On!! (2008), A Suitable Boy and Bombay Begums, among others, adds, “I am bored of the kind of things that I have done, and people keep offering them again and again. Now I need something more exciting. I choose to be and live a certain way, and people only see that part; they don’t realise how I can shoulder a film, entertain people or dance with conviction.”
In Zwigato, she plays the wife of an ex-factory worker (played by Kapil Sharma), who loses his job due to the pandemic-induced unemployment. Her character, then, takes up a part-time job and supports her family financially, against all odds. Similarly, in Neeyat, Goswami plays a prime character as the girlfriend of an exiled billionaire (Ram Kapoor), who is murdered. By being a part of such projects, the actor hopes to explore new horizons, but also points out the challenges of breaking away from typecasting in the industry: “Ultimately, between the audience and the makers, everybody kind of ends up typecasting. We have a tendency as an audience to typecast certain actors for certain kinds of roles.”
The 37-year-old believes that such limitations can hinder artistes from showcasing their true potential. Nevertheless, she remains “hopeful and understands that the film industry is a business that prioritizes returns on investments”.
Nandita Das takes jibe at OTT after Zwigato gets a spot in Academy of Motion Picture Library
3:14 PM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (July 13, 2023)
Nandita Das’ directorial Zwigato has bagged a spot in the permanent core collection at the library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The film, starring actor-comedian Kapil Sharma in the lead role, hit theatres on March 17. Despite receiving critical acclaim, it has still not been released on a streaming platform.
Das took to Instagram to share the news about the film’s selection.
Taking a jibe at OTT, the actor-filmmaker wrote, “Hope OTT platforms are reading this! I think it’s time to give the audience the opportunity to see Zwigato.”
Along with a poster of the film, she wrote in the caption, “I was most surprised and delighted to receive an email from the Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (The Oscars!) about wanting the script of Zwigato for their Permanent Core Collection. It is a happy reminder that the film is relevant and glad we made it. I believe only when stories are authentic and rooted in their own contexts, they transcend cultures and borders and become part of world cinema.”
She added, “I am glad that it will be available in the library for students, filmmakers and writers. The overwhelming response that we have got for Zwigato from both audiences and critics has opened unexpected doors such as this... Thank you Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for this honour!”
Showing pandemic on screen: How have filmmakers grappled with this difficult phase & complex subject?
3:45 PM
Nandita Das’ Zwigato is the story of an ex-factory floor manager. After losing his job in the pandemic, he is forced to work as a food delivery rider and struggles to make ends meet
Three years have passed since the first Coronavirus lockdown. How have filmmakers grappled with this difficult phase & complex subject?
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; May 5, 2023)
From showing how relationships fared in the lockdown (Modern Love Hyderabad and Feels Like Ishq) to the financial struggle after people lost jobs (Unpaused and Zwigato) and the largescale chaos and uprooting caused by the first lockdown (Bheed and India Lockdown) – many movies and web series incorporated COVID-19 in their storylines. Three years since words like pandemic and lockdown became a permanent part of our vocabulary, we take a look at how pandemic stories were weaved into films and shows.
COVID STORYLINES EXPLORE RELATIONSHIPS IN A NEW LIGHT
Most of the shows which have pandemic storylines are about the spirit of humanity rising above the tragedy. Unpaused: Naya Safar uses the second wave of the pandemic as a major plot point and narrates five inspiring stories.
Geetanjali Kulkarni, who was in one of the episodes, spoke about filming a pandemic story, and said in an interview, “You feel heavy while shooting some scenes, as they remind you of things that either you have gone through or seen people close to you go through. But you have to keep your sanity and work.”
Nagesh Kukunoor’s episode My Unlikely Pandemic Dream Partner in Modern Love Hyderabad, starring Revathy and Nithya Menon, had an interesting story of a mother and a daughter living together during the lockdown. The show uses the background of the lockdown and pandemic to narrate the complexities of their relationship.
Revathy said in an interview, “I connected with the story immediately because mothers and daughters are very rarely portrayed in such a real way.”
‘A GOOD STORY PREVAILS AND FINDS ITS AUDIENCE’
In the episode Quaranteen Crush in Feels Like Ishq, director Tahira Kashyap Khurrana used the lockdown and quarantine period as a plot to narrate a love story.
Talking about filming during the pandemic, Tahira said in an interview, “The story of Quaranteen Crush is written by Gazal (Dhaliwal). When we were in Chandigarh, we developed the script and shot for three days. Prior to that, we did a lot of prep online. It was a new way of filmmaking for all of us at that time. We were a little jittery, but the process went really well.”
Commenting on the films and shows that have included COVID storylines, producer Girish Johar says, “From the last two years, filmmakers are facing this question that whether they should include COVID in the storyline or not. But now looking back at it after three years, while it is too early to relive tragedy, a good story prevails and finds its audience.”
The Family Man Season 2 ended with a scene mentioning the pandemic and the lockdown and it is being assumed that the third season will include COVID storyline. In 2020, several movie titles such as Coronavirus, One Weapon Corona and Corona – The Deadly Virus were registered, but the films are yet to be released or announced in most cases.
Madhur Bhandarkar’s India Lockdown follows four parallel stories of people stuck in the lockdown. Bhandarkar said in an interview that it was important for him as a filmmaker to document the trauma people have gone through, and he felt that after two years, people will definitely connect to the subject
In the episode My Unlikely Dream Pandemic Partner in Modern Love Hyderabad, Revathy and Nithya Menen explore the complexities of a motherdaughter relationship, as they are forced to spend time together during the lockdown
In the episode Quaranteen Crush from Feels Like Ishq, a teenage boy is seen crushing on a girl self-quarantining next door
Anubhav Sinha’s Bheed tells the story of the large-scale migration that was the result of the first country-wide lockdown. Sinha said he was primarily worried about two things – reliving the tragedy and making a black-and-white film. Reliving the tragedy through a series or a film is what most filmmakers are cautious about. So, even when a film or show includes the pandemic, it mostly is in the background and not the main story. Talking about the film’s performance, Sinha said in an interview, “People are writing pages and paragraphs (about their feelings of watching Bheed) and at the same time there is no one in the theatre. It is a bizarre feeling. I’m half happy and half intrigued.”
(Crisp) Movie Review: ZWIGATO by FENIL SETA
2:44 PM
Zwigato tells an important topical story, of the challenges faced by delivery workers. A few scenes are touching and engaging in the film. But overall, it fails to move or impress due to the weak script and direction. This is not a plot-driven film and that’s fine. Many arthouse films focus on a few days of a protagonist’s life and still manage to stir up emotions. In Zwigato, things happen at random and a few plot points are not explained properly. A few side characters don’t have anything substantial to do. The final scene doesn't create the desired impact. Kapil Sharma puts in a sincere effort, though, in a few scenes, his acting is slightly off. Shahana Goswami gives her 100%. Gul Panag, Sayani Gupta and Swanand Kirkire are fine in cameos. Yuvika Brahma and Prajwal Sahoo are okay as Kapil’s children and don’t have much to do. The same goes for Shantilata Padhy (Kapil’s mother) and one wishes her character was better utilized. All in all, Zwigato is a disappointing fare.
My rating - ** out of 5!
My rating - ** out of 5!
Someone’s tragedy is someone else’s comedy-Kapil Sharma
8:49 AM
Reel avatar takes toll on Zwigato actor Kapil Sharma’s life; comedy king weary of fans’ expectations to see him as the funny-man at all times
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; March 17, 2023)
Reel avatar takes toll on Zwigato actor Kapil Sharma’s life; comedy king weary of fans’ expectations to see him as the funny-man at all times
“There are times when we get upset. In the past, I have also grieved the loss of a family member. But people wouldn’t have known that. People expect you to be a certain way, and will behave with you accordingly,” the comedian-actor, who will be seen in Zwigato, a film based on a delivery person’s struggles, says.
Sharma says he is often asked how his wife perceived his dramatic on-screen act after watching him only tickle the funny bone. His wife, he says, would evidently be unperturbed by this outing. “After all, she has seen me during every phase of my life — whether I was happy, or depressed.”
In keeping with their line of profession, comedians employ sarcasm to evoke laughs while describing the tragedies of their lives as well. In the process, people also turn a blind eye to the pain behind those events. “For instance, in my Netflix special last year, I spoke of the tragic life that my family and I have lived, but my delivery was aimed at making people laugh. But, that doesn’t change the fact that those events are true. Someone’s tragedy is someone else’s comedy,” he says, adding that in a similar incident two years ago, he was branded ‘rude’ in the aftermath of an altercation when photographers began to pap him without consent when he was in a wheelchair.
“Had they asked me politely about why I was in a wheelchair, things would have been different. But they didn’t. If people become a tad sensitive, it would be great.”
However, he believes that experience has taught him to focus on changing himself instead of expecting change from those around him. “For example, in the past, we used to [crack jokes] freely on TV, but now we have to be careful about what we say. You never know what may offend someone. We no longer have a [carefree] attitude towards things.”
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 769
5:22 PM
PAN-INDIAN FILM, RANI MUKERJI STARRER AND HOLLYWOOD SUPERHERO FLICK TO DOMINATE THIS WEEK
The Ranbir Kapoor-Shraddha Kapoor starrer Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar opened well last week but later on, it faltered due to mixed word of mouth and urban appeal. It is expected to collect around Rs. 78-80 crores in the first week and will manage to cross the Rs. 100 crores mark in its lifetime. Meanwhile, this week will see the release of the following 5 films.
KABZAA: It’ll get the biggest release tomorrow. It is a Kannada film which is getting an extensive release in Hindi. It stars Upendra, Sudeep, Shiva Rajkumar and Shriya Saran. The film looks quite rich and grand. However, it also reminds one of KGF and awareness is limited. The opening will be poor but as it has happened with many dubbed films, it can spring a surprise from the second day if reports are positive.
MRS CHATTERJEE VS NORWAY: It stars Rani Mukerji in the lead and tells the shocking story of a woman’s fight against a nation after her children were forcibly taken away. The trailer is hard-hitting and has aroused curiosity. But being a serious and a bit of a niche film, the hype is limited. Some of the reviews aren’t positive. However, if the audience report is encouraging, it can see a huge jump in the collections over the weekend.
Both Kabzaa and Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway are expected to open in the range of Rs. 1 crore.
ZWIGATO: It stars Kapil Sharma as a delivery worker. Directed by Nandita Das, it also stars Shahana Goswami. The trailer is decent and the hype for the film is negligible as it looks like a niche fare. Also, it features Kapil in a subtle serious avatar while fans love him doing comedy. The opening is expected to be in the range of Rs. 10-20 lakhs.
SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS: It is the second part of the Shazam franchise. The first installment was well-received critically. At the box office in India, it collected around Rs. 21 crores and had sustained at lower levels. The excitement for the sequel is limited but it’ll surely have the biggest opening of the week. The first part opened with Rs. 3 crores and the sequel is also expected to have first day collections in the same range.
WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?: It is a typical Hollywood romcom but what makes it stand out is that it is directed by Shekhar Kapur. It also stars Shabana Azmi. Hence, it might find audiences in urban centres.
The Ranbir Kapoor-Shraddha Kapoor starrer Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar opened well last week but later on, it faltered due to mixed word of mouth and urban appeal. It is expected to collect around Rs. 78-80 crores in the first week and will manage to cross the Rs. 100 crores mark in its lifetime. Meanwhile, this week will see the release of the following 5 films.
KABZAA: It’ll get the biggest release tomorrow. It is a Kannada film which is getting an extensive release in Hindi. It stars Upendra, Sudeep, Shiva Rajkumar and Shriya Saran. The film looks quite rich and grand. However, it also reminds one of KGF and awareness is limited. The opening will be poor but as it has happened with many dubbed films, it can spring a surprise from the second day if reports are positive.
MRS CHATTERJEE VS NORWAY: It stars Rani Mukerji in the lead and tells the shocking story of a woman’s fight against a nation after her children were forcibly taken away. The trailer is hard-hitting and has aroused curiosity. But being a serious and a bit of a niche film, the hype is limited. Some of the reviews aren’t positive. However, if the audience report is encouraging, it can see a huge jump in the collections over the weekend.
Both Kabzaa and Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway are expected to open in the range of Rs. 1 crore.
ZWIGATO: It stars Kapil Sharma as a delivery worker. Directed by Nandita Das, it also stars Shahana Goswami. The trailer is decent and the hype for the film is negligible as it looks like a niche fare. Also, it features Kapil in a subtle serious avatar while fans love him doing comedy. The opening is expected to be in the range of Rs. 10-20 lakhs.
SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS: It is the second part of the Shazam franchise. The first installment was well-received critically. At the box office in India, it collected around Rs. 21 crores and had sustained at lower levels. The excitement for the sequel is limited but it’ll surely have the biggest opening of the week. The first part opened with Rs. 3 crores and the sequel is also expected to have first day collections in the same range.
WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?: It is a typical Hollywood romcom but what makes it stand out is that it is directed by Shekhar Kapur. It also stars Shabana Azmi. Hence, it might find audiences in urban centres.
Kapil Sharma was the best in the anger scenes-Nandita Das
10:44 AM
In a most unusual pairing, outlier actor-director Nandita Das directs darling-of-the-masses Kapil Sharma in a touching story about delivery riders. As she says, it became a collaborative effort with his reality overtaking her perception of him
Aastha Atray Banan (MID-DAY; March 5, 2023)
In Zwigato (which we guess is an amalgamation of Zomato and Swiggy), TV host and comic Kapil Sharma plays a blue-collar worker who loses his job in the Coronavirus pandemic, and is forced to work as a food delivery rider. Directed and written by Nandita Das, who last directed Manto in 2018, the film is set in her hometown of Bhubaneswar.
The food delivery executive is an individual we all got to know better during the pandemic as we leaned on them for daily needs. As Das says, “We, as consumers, have much to reflect on as we want things quicker, cheaper and with least effort. We don’t pause to think of those who provide the services we take for granted. I do feel that the film will create a small shift in the way people perceive those who form our world, but remain invisible.”
Edited excerpts from the interview.
The movie is described as one about the “relentlessness” of life. What was your thought when you conceived it?
The relentlessness of life is more acute for those who are more vulnerable. Especially during the pandemic, consumers became more and more dependent on gig workers and less aware of their struggles. Zwigato began as a short film about a day in the life of a delivery rider. Then Sameer [Nair, CEO of Applause Entertainment], who was to produce it, nudged me to expand it into a feature film. As I delved deeper, I was drawn to the human aspects of this collision of new technology and the lives of workers who are just cogs in the wheel. I began exploring the impact it has on them and their families. With the rise of the gig economy, the struggle between man and machine, which [Charlie] Chaplin depicted in Modern Times, has now shifted to one between man and algorithm. But within all this relentlessness, people find shared moments of joy. The film is also about the small things hidden from plain sight: The biases of class, caste and gender that are increasingly being normalized. They have all subtly found their way into the film, making the invisible a little more visible.
Did Sharma surprise you?
Kapil has a natural charm and genuineness, so, it was not difficult for him to get into the skin of the character. He told me that playing an “ordinary” man reminded him of his days of struggle; he drew from that part of life.
He brought vulnerability and authenticity to the character. He is not conscious of his body (he wasn’t as fit then as he is now) nor his looks in front of the camera, which is a rare quality for stars. Also, he is a very generous actor and friendly with his co-actors, disarming. He completely submitted to my process, but it ended up being a collaborative effort since he has a very sharp mind that questioned what didn’t make sense.
The one thing that surprised me was that for a person who laughs easily and is a comedian, he was best in the scenes where he had to be angry. We all have various sides to us, but sometimes perception overwhelms reality.
Describe your research…
The research took about two years, and as I delved deeper, I became increasingly fascinated and disturbed by what I learned about the gig economy. Before the film, I understood the world of incentives and algorithms as little as my protagonist did! We gathered both facts and personal stories by interviewing many riders: Their struggles, dilemmas, fears, and aspirations. We also spoke to ex-employees of food delivery companies and, in confidence, with senior managers in the analytics departments of food delivery apps. We also had to adapt the script to the changing rules of the food delivery apps, right up until the shoot. The real challenge was how to translate all this statistical information into a human story. The mind and heart must come together for a film to really impact the viewer in a deeper way. What moved me the most was their daily struggle—the slow chipping away of dignity. They cannot say or demand anything as they are in the service industry, and the customer ratings make them vulnerable. But, I was also surprised to see how many of them are still so hopeful amidst so much despair.
During COVID, we saw many blue-collar workers shift jobs. It disrupted the flow of things, but also brought a sense of “when in trouble, do what it takes to survive”. Was this movie meant to be about hope?
My films are born out of deep concern and as responses to things that trouble me. However, I do believe that we must never lose hope. So, while it is a rollercoaster ride for most, we also know that human beings are intrinsically resilient. I don’t see a contradiction between remaining realistic and continuing to be hopeful.
It’s also about love, and the true test of a relationship...
You are right. Love doesn’t exist in isolation; context impacts a relationship. When there is anxiety to make ends meet, it impacts everyone in the family. For me, the film is not only about the protagonists, but about the world I set them in, and how layered I could make it. I don’t put my “heroes” on a pedestal because they too are flawed. They are conditioned by the patriarchal system, and therefore, there are some rifts despite closeness.
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‘I related to the character as I have been there’
How did a star comic play a food delivery app staffer? Easily, says Kapil Sharma; ‘it would’ve been far tougher for me to play a millionaire’
What were your first thoughts about the character?
Being a comedian, it has become really difficult for the audience to perceive an image of me that isn’t always smiling. So when Nandita ma’am told me what my character is going to be, I was more than happy. As prep, I didn’t have to do much: Once you put on the costume and go on set, the ambience and creative energy starts flowing and puts you at ease; it does most of the job for you.
What do you want audience to take away?
To say, thank you, and be empathetic towards those who work hard to make our lives comfortable—like our house helps, delivery personnel. It makes a huge difference to them. I became more sensitive towards them [after doing the film].
What were the role’s challenges?
Honestly, it would have been a bigger challenge to play a millionaire businessman. Manas Mahto is a simple, working-class man; it was easier for me to get into his skin. Back in the day, I worked jobs that were similar in nature, so in a sense, I understood where he was coming from.
I haven’t worked as a delivery boy, but I have worked as a helper in Coca Cola-Kapil Sharma
8:34 AM
Switching gears to drama with Zwigato, India’s favourite comic Kapil Sharma says his humble beginnings made him identify with the role of food-delivery agent
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; March 4, 2023)
Sometimes, the heartbreaking truths of life are told to us through comedy. So, it shouldn’t really be surprising that India’s most loved comic is bringing to us a poignant story. With Zwigato, Kapil Sharma and filmmaker Nandita Das have put the spotlight on a section of the population that is almost invisibilised. The actor realized he was on to something special the moment Das narrated the story to him.
“People mostly approach me for comedies. I have been doing the same kind of work over the past 15 years. Zwigato was a chance to show my versatility,” begins the actor.
In Zwigato, also starring Shahana Goswami, Sharma plays a food delivery agent who struggles to put food on plate for his family. The daily life of an underprivileged worker spoke to his humble beginnings.
“Honestly, if I were offered the role of a scientist, doctor or businessman, I may have felt uncomfortable. But I come from this world. I haven’t worked as a delivery boy, but I have worked as a helper in Coca-Cola.”
The actor adds that the movie, while highlighting how the working class is exploited, underlines that empathy and respect go a long way in lessening their burden.
Many were surprised by the coming together of two seemingly different worlds, as Das and Sharma joined forces. For the actor, however, working on the human drama felt as natural as a comedy gig. “Both of us are human beings on the same planet. We share the same emotions,” reasons the actor, adding that he surrendered to the world created by his director.
“While making this film, we did nothing else. I shot bank episodes for my show [The Kapil Sharma Show] so that I could fully concentrate on the film.”
The comic-actor has long been a fan of the director’s brave stories, and was happy that Das turned out to be exactly how he had perceived her through her art. “She took time to conceive the story and thoughtfully cast me. Seeing [her dedication], I also put my heart and soul into it. I knew she makes films because she is passionate [about the subjects], and not to make money. She gets involved in each and every department. I learnt a lot from her, even in the littlest of things.”
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