New Delhi, Sep 10 (Ians) Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who is on a visit to UK, shared a sweet anecdote of an interaction with the immigration officer in London, and how the latter congratulated him for India’s ‘Chandrayaan-3’ success.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the ‘Mr India’ director shared a picture of his Indian passport.
Along with that, he wrote: “The question today from the immigration officer in London was not ‘How long are you staying , Sir’.. but ‘Congratulations Sir, on your ‘Moon Landing’. .. #passport”.
Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has recently achieved the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the South Pole of the Moon.
Shekharmade his directorial debut with cult classic ‘Masoom’ in 1983. He then gained international recognition and acclaim in 1994 with biographical film ‘Bandit Queen’, based on the infamous Indian bandit and politician Phoolan Devi.
He also produced the 1998 romantic thriller ‘Dil Se’, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Manisha Koirala and Preity Zinta.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the ‘Mr India’ director shared a picture of his Indian passport.
Along with that, he wrote: “The question today from the immigration officer in London was not ‘How long are you staying , Sir’.. but ‘Congratulations Sir, on your ‘Moon Landing’. .. #passport”.
Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has recently achieved the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the South Pole of the Moon.
Shekharmade his directorial debut with cult classic ‘Masoom’ in 1983. He then gained international recognition and acclaim in 1994 with biographical film ‘Bandit Queen’, based on the infamous Indian bandit and politician Phoolan Devi.
He also produced the 1998 romantic thriller ‘Dil Se’, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Manisha Koirala and Preity Zinta.
- 9/10/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur (“Bandit Queen,” “Elizabeth”) is planning a sequel to his 1983 directorial debut “Masoom,” Variety can reveal.
The film is titled “Masoom… The New Generation.” Details of the plot, studio and cast are under wraps at the moment.
Written by Gulzar (Oscar winner for “Slumdog Millionaire”), “Masoom” was an adaptation of Erich Segal’s 1980 novel “Man, Woman and Child.” It followed a happily married couple and their two daughters whose lives are disrupted with the arrival of a boy who is the man’s son from an earlier affair. The cast included Naseeruddin Shah (“Taj: Divided by Blood”), Shabana Azmi (“Halo”), Jugal Hansraj (“Nri Wives”), Supriya Pathak (“Tabbar”), Saeed Jaffrey (“The Man Who Would Be King”) and Urmila Matondkar (“Rangeela”).
The film was warmly received upon release in India and won Filmfare awards for best actor for Shah, Gulzar’s lyrics, Rahul Dev Burman’s music, Aarti Mukherji...
The film is titled “Masoom… The New Generation.” Details of the plot, studio and cast are under wraps at the moment.
Written by Gulzar (Oscar winner for “Slumdog Millionaire”), “Masoom” was an adaptation of Erich Segal’s 1980 novel “Man, Woman and Child.” It followed a happily married couple and their two daughters whose lives are disrupted with the arrival of a boy who is the man’s son from an earlier affair. The cast included Naseeruddin Shah (“Taj: Divided by Blood”), Shabana Azmi (“Halo”), Jugal Hansraj (“Nri Wives”), Supriya Pathak (“Tabbar”), Saeed Jaffrey (“The Man Who Would Be King”) and Urmila Matondkar (“Rangeela”).
The film was warmly received upon release in India and won Filmfare awards for best actor for Shah, Gulzar’s lyrics, Rahul Dev Burman’s music, Aarti Mukherji...
- 6/6/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
After exploring a multitude of genres, renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has turned his hand to a romantic comedy with Working Title/Studiocanal production “What’s Love Got to Do with It?”
The film follows documentary-maker and dating app addict Zoe (Lily James), for whom swiping right has only delivered an endless stream of Mr Wrongs, to her eccentric mother Cath’s (Emma Thompson) dismay. For Zoe’s childhood friend and neighbor Kaz (Shazad Latif), the answer is to follow his parents’ example and opt for an arranged (or “assisted”) marriage to a bride from Pakistan (Sajal Aly). As Zoe films Kaz’s journey from London to Lahore to marry a stranger, chosen by his parents, she begins to wonder if she might have something to learn from a profoundly different approach to finding love.
Kapur says that it is the character of Zoe that drew him to the project and the...
The film follows documentary-maker and dating app addict Zoe (Lily James), for whom swiping right has only delivered an endless stream of Mr Wrongs, to her eccentric mother Cath’s (Emma Thompson) dismay. For Zoe’s childhood friend and neighbor Kaz (Shazad Latif), the answer is to follow his parents’ example and opt for an arranged (or “assisted”) marriage to a bride from Pakistan (Sajal Aly). As Zoe films Kaz’s journey from London to Lahore to marry a stranger, chosen by his parents, she begins to wonder if she might have something to learn from a profoundly different approach to finding love.
Kapur says that it is the character of Zoe that drew him to the project and the...
- 5/5/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea Iff), in partnership with Vox Cinemas and the Mbc Group, has unveiled the program for its second edition, which will run from 1-10 December in Jeddah, nestled on the eastern shore of the Red Sea. The Festival will welcome filmmakers, talent, media, industry professionals, and film fans for a 10-day celebration of global cinema.
The Red Sea Iff is thrilled to announce the opening night gala, What’s Love Got to Do with It? directed by Shekhar Kapur, written by Jemima Khan and produced by Studiocanal and Working Title. The film stars Lily James, Shazad Latif, Shabana Azmi, Sajal Aly, Asim Chaudhry and Academy Award winner Emma Thompson. Sliding between London and Lahore, love and friendship, tradition and iconoclasm, What’s Love Got to Do with It? is a cross-cultural British romantic comedy that follows a filmmaker who decides to...
The Red Sea Iff is thrilled to announce the opening night gala, What’s Love Got to Do with It? directed by Shekhar Kapur, written by Jemima Khan and produced by Studiocanal and Working Title. The film stars Lily James, Shazad Latif, Shabana Azmi, Sajal Aly, Asim Chaudhry and Academy Award winner Emma Thompson. Sliding between London and Lahore, love and friendship, tradition and iconoclasm, What’s Love Got to Do with It? is a cross-cultural British romantic comedy that follows a filmmaker who decides to...
- 11/5/2022
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Click here to read the full article.
The Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia has named Oliver Stone its jury president and unveiled the program for its second edition, which will run Dec. 1-10 in Jeddah.
“Legendary filmmaker Oliver Stone has been chosen to lead the jury of the Red Sea: Features Competition jury,” organizers said. “The three-time Academy Award winner is behind some of the all-time masterpieces of cinema, including Scarface, The Doors, Wall Street, JFK, Midnight Express, Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July, Nixon and Natural Born Killers.”
The festival also unveiled its opening film: What’s Love Got to Do With It?, directed by Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth, Bandit Queen), written by Jemima Khan and produced by StudioCanal and Working Title. The film stars Lily James, Shazad Latif, Shabana Azmi, Sajal Aly, Asim Chaudhry and Emma Thompson. “Sliding between London and Lahore, love and friendship,...
The Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia has named Oliver Stone its jury president and unveiled the program for its second edition, which will run Dec. 1-10 in Jeddah.
“Legendary filmmaker Oliver Stone has been chosen to lead the jury of the Red Sea: Features Competition jury,” organizers said. “The three-time Academy Award winner is behind some of the all-time masterpieces of cinema, including Scarface, The Doors, Wall Street, JFK, Midnight Express, Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July, Nixon and Natural Born Killers.”
The festival also unveiled its opening film: What’s Love Got to Do With It?, directed by Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth, Bandit Queen), written by Jemima Khan and produced by StudioCanal and Working Title. The film stars Lily James, Shazad Latif, Shabana Azmi, Sajal Aly, Asim Chaudhry and Emma Thompson. “Sliding between London and Lahore, love and friendship,...
- 10/31/2022
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mumbai, March 28 (Ians) Action star Vidyut Jammwal is all set to start working on his first biopic, which will be based on the life of Sher Singh Raana who was convicted of murdering ‘Bandit Queen’ and politician Phoolan Devi. Raana had escaped from jail and brought back the ashes of Rajput king Prithviraj Chauhan […]...
- 3/28/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
Mumbai, Oct 19 (Ians) Acclaimed director Shekhar Kapur says many filmmakers call him with complaints about how several Ott executives try to control them without even knowing the field properly.
The director, who is President of the Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India (Ftii) Society, and Chairman of the institute's governing council, is going to try and rectify the situation.
"So many filmmakers calling me complaining about production executives at Studios and Ott's telling them what to do, but with no knowledge of filmmaking. I am going to suggest a 'Producing and Film Appreciation Course' at the f@FTIIOfficial as prerequisite for studio executives," Kapur tweeted.
Last month, Kapur was announced as the President of Ftii Society, and Chairman of its governing council.
Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar, had tweeted to confirm the news: "Happy to inform that renowned international film personality #ShekharKapur has been appointed as...
The director, who is President of the Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India (Ftii) Society, and Chairman of the institute's governing council, is going to try and rectify the situation.
"So many filmmakers calling me complaining about production executives at Studios and Ott's telling them what to do, but with no knowledge of filmmaking. I am going to suggest a 'Producing and Film Appreciation Course' at the f@FTIIOfficial as prerequisite for studio executives," Kapur tweeted.
Last month, Kapur was announced as the President of Ftii Society, and Chairman of its governing council.
Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar, had tweeted to confirm the news: "Happy to inform that renowned international film personality #ShekharKapur has been appointed as...
- 10/19/2020
- by Glamsham Editorial
- GlamSham
ReviewThis is a ride through hell that you won't forget easily.Saraswati DatarThis world is actually divided into three worlds, a cynical middle-aged cop tells his naïve sincere subordinate in Paatal Lok, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. There is swarg lok (heaven) where the rich and famous live, dharti lok (earth) when the ordinary middle class live, and then there is paatal lok (purgatory/hell) where society’s lowliest live. Insects and vermin who commit petty crimes, those no one really cares about. But sometimes, these ‘insects’ from hell enter into respectable homes in dharti lok and ‘bite’ human beings to cause a ‘kand’ (scandal), like the Aarushi kand or Nithari kand. Investigating kands gets you the promotions, he concludes before casually checking up on a man beating his wife in the street. The otherwise low profile Outer Jamuna Paar police station and Inspector Hathiram Chaudhary (Jaideep Ahlawat) are...
- 5/15/2020
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
Many people had urged Shekhar Kapur to change the script of his 1983 debut directorial feature, "Masoom", and the filmmaker says he is glad that he had the courage to silence those voices, and follow his vision.
"So many people that 'knew' wanted me to change the script of 'Masoom'," Kapur wrote on Twitter while sharing a poster of the film, adding: "People that were famous, experienced and 'knowledgeable' told me it had no drama, no villain. I was naive, unknown, unskilled and untrained. But rebellious. Thank God for that."
Also Read:?Hrithik Roshan's brilliant performance in Super 30 overwhelms Shekhar Kapur!
Released in 1983, "Masoom" narrates story of a man whose life turns upside down when he gets to know that he has an illegitimate son from a past affair. The film featured Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, with Jugal Hansraj and Urmila Matondkar as child actors.
Kapur's...
"So many people that 'knew' wanted me to change the script of 'Masoom'," Kapur wrote on Twitter while sharing a poster of the film, adding: "People that were famous, experienced and 'knowledgeable' told me it had no drama, no villain. I was naive, unknown, unskilled and untrained. But rebellious. Thank God for that."
Also Read:?Hrithik Roshan's brilliant performance in Super 30 overwhelms Shekhar Kapur!
Released in 1983, "Masoom" narrates story of a man whose life turns upside down when he gets to know that he has an illegitimate son from a past affair. The film featured Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, with Jugal Hansraj and Urmila Matondkar as child actors.
Kapur's...
- 8/1/2019
- GlamSham
Acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur believes his life is not exciting enough to be turned into an interesting movie.
A social media user on Twitter asked Kapur: "We all know you as an expert of showing people your imaginary world. For a change, it would be fine if you make a movie on your own life experiences that will guide so many people who are in the state of confusion about life."
Kapur, who has made films like Bandit Queen, Masoom and Mr. India, replied: "I am not arrogant enough to believe my life would make an interesting movie. All I have done is flowed with the river of my heart. My heart has always dominated my mind. But it's not what I advise others to so."
"Am lucky I am still surviving, still flowing, and still relevant."
Kapur gained international recognition with Bandit Queen, based on the life of Phoolan Devi,...
A social media user on Twitter asked Kapur: "We all know you as an expert of showing people your imaginary world. For a change, it would be fine if you make a movie on your own life experiences that will guide so many people who are in the state of confusion about life."
Kapur, who has made films like Bandit Queen, Masoom and Mr. India, replied: "I am not arrogant enough to believe my life would make an interesting movie. All I have done is flowed with the river of my heart. My heart has always dominated my mind. But it's not what I advise others to so."
"Am lucky I am still surviving, still flowing, and still relevant."
Kapur gained international recognition with Bandit Queen, based on the life of Phoolan Devi,...
- 6/17/2019
- GlamSham
Acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur finds it silly to own a car in Mumbai and says he does not need them to prove his self esteem.
A Twitter user wrote to Kapur: "I derive a strange comfort to know to know that celeb's like you still use a Rickshaw."
To which the filmmaker replied: "I don't own a car. It's silly to own a car in Mumbai. It's takes 600,000 litres to make an average size car. Shouldn't we use that water to grow food instead?"
A social media troll then questioned Shekhar Kapur about him not having a car and said that "Bollywood celebrities have 20 plus imported cars".
Kapur, who has made films like Bandit Queen, Masoom and Mr. India, replied: "I don't need to own 20 imported cars to prove my self esteem."
Also Read:?Anil Kapoor, Shekhar Kapur tease new project
Another user asked him if he uses rickshaws.
Kapur...
A Twitter user wrote to Kapur: "I derive a strange comfort to know to know that celeb's like you still use a Rickshaw."
To which the filmmaker replied: "I don't own a car. It's silly to own a car in Mumbai. It's takes 600,000 litres to make an average size car. Shouldn't we use that water to grow food instead?"
A social media troll then questioned Shekhar Kapur about him not having a car and said that "Bollywood celebrities have 20 plus imported cars".
Kapur, who has made films like Bandit Queen, Masoom and Mr. India, replied: "I don't need to own 20 imported cars to prove my self esteem."
Also Read:?Anil Kapoor, Shekhar Kapur tease new project
Another user asked him if he uses rickshaws.
Kapur...
- 6/4/2019
- GlamSham
The autobiography "I, Phoolan Devi", based on the life of Phoolan Devi, popularly known as the Bandit Queen, will be made into a web series.
Shareen Mantri Kedia, the co-founder of Namah Pictures, added: "In the current digital age, we feel that Phoolan Devi's stark and immersing tale will find a resonance in audiences across geographies and demographics."
"Phoolan Devi is undoubtedly one of the most talked about personalities... There are important chapters and layers of her life that remain unexplored and the web series format will allow us the bandwidth to do that," Kishor Arora, co-founder of Namah Pictures, which has acquired the rights of the book, said in a statement.
Umed Singh Bhaiya, the husband of the late Phoolan Devi, said that "the truth of Phoolan's life should reach out to people... It's a tale of a rebel that should inspire women across the world to speak against...
Shareen Mantri Kedia, the co-founder of Namah Pictures, added: "In the current digital age, we feel that Phoolan Devi's stark and immersing tale will find a resonance in audiences across geographies and demographics."
"Phoolan Devi is undoubtedly one of the most talked about personalities... There are important chapters and layers of her life that remain unexplored and the web series format will allow us the bandwidth to do that," Kishor Arora, co-founder of Namah Pictures, which has acquired the rights of the book, said in a statement.
Umed Singh Bhaiya, the husband of the late Phoolan Devi, said that "the truth of Phoolan's life should reach out to people... It's a tale of a rebel that should inspire women across the world to speak against...
- 6/3/2019
- GlamSham
Canadian-Indian actress Lisa Ray is lending her voice to "Phoolan", an upcoming live-action and animated documentary about Phoolan Devi.
The feature documentary, to be directed by Iranian-Canadian filmmaker Hossein Martin Fazeli, follows Devi from being born into a poor village family, sold off as a child bride and enduring multiple gang rapes, before responding by leading a bloody gang of male bandits as a female Robin Hood, reports hollywoodreporter.com.
Upon being captured, she was charged with many crimes and was imprisoned for 11 years. But the government ultimately dropped all charges and she was released.
Devi then ran for and won an election to the Parliament of India to champion the rights of lower-caste women, only to be assassinated in 2001 by an upper-caste man.
Lisa, as the main voice-over artist, will also executive produce the project, which depicts Devi as a sexual abuse victim.
"It's a true honour to be...
The feature documentary, to be directed by Iranian-Canadian filmmaker Hossein Martin Fazeli, follows Devi from being born into a poor village family, sold off as a child bride and enduring multiple gang rapes, before responding by leading a bloody gang of male bandits as a female Robin Hood, reports hollywoodreporter.com.
Upon being captured, she was charged with many crimes and was imprisoned for 11 years. But the government ultimately dropped all charges and she was released.
Devi then ran for and won an election to the Parliament of India to champion the rights of lower-caste women, only to be assassinated in 2001 by an upper-caste man.
Lisa, as the main voice-over artist, will also executive produce the project, which depicts Devi as a sexual abuse victim.
"It's a true honour to be...
- 5/3/2019
- GlamSham
Lisa Ray, co-star of Amazon Prime's Four More Shots Please series, is lending her voice to Phoolan, an upcoming live-action and animated documentary about Phoolan Devi, India's true-life bandit queen, while Smallville star Kristin Kreuk will executive produce.
The feature doc, to be directed by Iranian-Canadian filmmaker Hossein Martin Fazeli, follows Devi from being born into a poor village family, sold off as a child bride and enduring multiple gang rapes, before responding by leading a bloody gang of male bandits as a female Robin Hood.
As a legendary Indian outlaw, Devi dealt out her own justice to Indian men who ...
The feature doc, to be directed by Iranian-Canadian filmmaker Hossein Martin Fazeli, follows Devi from being born into a poor village family, sold off as a child bride and enduring multiple gang rapes, before responding by leading a bloody gang of male bandits as a female Robin Hood.
As a legendary Indian outlaw, Devi dealt out her own justice to Indian men who ...
- 4/29/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lisa Ray, co-star of Amazon Prime's Four More Shots Please series, is lending her voice to Phoolan, an upcoming live-action and animated documentary about Phoolan Devi, India's true-life bandit queen, while Smallville star Kristin Kreuk will executive produce.
The feature doc, to be directed by Iranian-Canadian filmmaker Hossein Martin Fazeli, follows Devi from being born into a poor village family, sold off as a child bride and enduring multiple gang rapes, before responding by leading a bloody gang of male bandits as a female Robin Hood.
As a legendary Indian outlaw, Devi dealt out her own justice to Indian men who ...
The feature doc, to be directed by Iranian-Canadian filmmaker Hossein Martin Fazeli, follows Devi from being born into a poor village family, sold off as a child bride and enduring multiple gang rapes, before responding by leading a bloody gang of male bandits as a female Robin Hood.
As a legendary Indian outlaw, Devi dealt out her own justice to Indian men who ...
- 4/29/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur says his directorial Bandit Queen, which released in 1994, is his best film because it was shot completely intuitively. Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma on Wednesday had praised Kapur's film, which was based on the life of Phoolan Devi.
"Hey Shekhar Kapur, I see Bandit Queen every few years since it released. I always thought it was fantastic but everytime I see it again I realise that it's even more fantastic than what I last remembered. The only two films who did this to me is Godfather and Bandit Queen," Varma tweeted.?
To which, Kapur replied: "Thank you Ram Gopal Varma. You have always said that, and I appreciate your comment on Bandit Queen. I think its my best film because it was shot completely intuitively. And hope I can make another film like that."
Bandit Queen, which featured Seema Biswas and Nirmal Pandey, has won the National...
"Hey Shekhar Kapur, I see Bandit Queen every few years since it released. I always thought it was fantastic but everytime I see it again I realise that it's even more fantastic than what I last remembered. The only two films who did this to me is Godfather and Bandit Queen," Varma tweeted.?
To which, Kapur replied: "Thank you Ram Gopal Varma. You have always said that, and I appreciate your comment on Bandit Queen. I think its my best film because it was shot completely intuitively. And hope I can make another film like that."
Bandit Queen, which featured Seema Biswas and Nirmal Pandey, has won the National...
- 4/25/2019
- GlamSham
Sonchiriya releases today and here is the movie review. Starring Sushant Singh Rajput, Bhumi Pednekar, Manoj Bajpayee, Ranvir Shorey and Ashutosh Rana in lead, the movie is directed by Ishqiya series and Udta Punjab fame Abhishek Chaubey. Set in the 70s, the movie is about the gang of dacoits and their struggle in the Chambal ravines. Does it cut the edge like Abhishek Chaubey?s earlier movies?. Find out in the Sonchiriya movie review.
The most unique feature of Sonchiriya
From Birju in Mother India (1957), to Gabbar in Sholay (1975) to Phoolan Devi in Bandit Queen (1994) to Paan Singh Tomar in 2012, Bandits/dacoits have been a constant reminder of the people in the Chambal ravines and their struggles. An all evil like Gabbar to victims of class struggles like Birju, Phoolan, Pan Singh, Dacoits/bandits have fascinated the Indian silver screen like cowboys in Hollywood westerns. The terrifically mind blowing Bandit Queen...
The most unique feature of Sonchiriya
From Birju in Mother India (1957), to Gabbar in Sholay (1975) to Phoolan Devi in Bandit Queen (1994) to Paan Singh Tomar in 2012, Bandits/dacoits have been a constant reminder of the people in the Chambal ravines and their struggles. An all evil like Gabbar to victims of class struggles like Birju, Phoolan, Pan Singh, Dacoits/bandits have fascinated the Indian silver screen like cowboys in Hollywood westerns. The terrifically mind blowing Bandit Queen...
- 3/1/2019
- GlamSham
Sonchiriya
Starring Sushant Singh Rajput, Manoj Bajpai, Bhumi Pednekar, Ashutosh Rana, Ranvir Shorey
Directed by Abhishek Chaubey
Some of our actors are so inured in brilliance we’ve ceased to notice their power. Ranvir Shorey is one of them. He just blends into the bleeding colours of brilliancy in this exceptional film set in the dark desperate world of dacoits in the confounding ravines of the Chambal valley.
By singling out Shorey’s brilliance I don’t mean to undermine the other performers, most of whom are so skillfully effective, they seem to have been born in the hungering shadows of their ever-renewable excellence.
But then the point here is not the brilliance. It is how the rites of accomplished filmmaking are applied to a solid narration that are on your mark and all set to go even before we are fully able to grasp the wide spectrum of characters on the run.
Starring Sushant Singh Rajput, Manoj Bajpai, Bhumi Pednekar, Ashutosh Rana, Ranvir Shorey
Directed by Abhishek Chaubey
Some of our actors are so inured in brilliance we’ve ceased to notice their power. Ranvir Shorey is one of them. He just blends into the bleeding colours of brilliancy in this exceptional film set in the dark desperate world of dacoits in the confounding ravines of the Chambal valley.
By singling out Shorey’s brilliance I don’t mean to undermine the other performers, most of whom are so skillfully effective, they seem to have been born in the hungering shadows of their ever-renewable excellence.
But then the point here is not the brilliance. It is how the rites of accomplished filmmaking are applied to a solid narration that are on your mark and all set to go even before we are fully able to grasp the wide spectrum of characters on the run.
- 2/28/2019
- by Subhash K Jha
- Bollyspice
India's "Bandit Queen" is, perhaps, more remarkable as a censorship cause celebre than as a piece of filmmaking. Depicting the violent exploits of notorious female outlaw Phoolan Devi, who rose to legendary status because of her murderous forays against the upper caste, the film attempts to examine this woman who became a national folk hero to the poor during the early 1980s.
The film will have its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, which kicks off tonight, launching the India Now! segment of the fest.
Graphically violent, both in its portrayal of the hardships Phoolan Devi (Seema Biswas) endured (gang rape), as well as her retributive onslaughts (gunning down her rapists), it is a mesmerizing picture, most articulate in its depiction of the everyday injustice women incur in India, especially those of the lowest caste.
Overall, however, its big-sweep scope is focused on the more graphic, "Rambo"-ish aspects of Devi's life as a bandit.
Her single-minded revenge against all who have harmed her stands out in this production as her most distinguishing characteristic rather than, say, any particular philosophical or political stance. Since she suffered at the hands of the ruling caste, she takes out her venom on them.
Propelled by a cacophonous and stirring musical score, as well as director Shekhar Kapur's expertly staged action scenes, "Bandit Queen" is a visceral, albeit glossy, piece of filmmaking. Ultimately, we see Phoolan Devi as little more than a Sylvester Stallone-ish, female character on a revenge spree.
BANDIT QUEEN
Film Four International and Kaleidoscope present
Producer Sundeep Bedi
Director Shekhar Kapur
Screenwriter Mala Sen
Director of photography Ashok Mehta
Music Nusrat Fateh Alikhan
Editor Rune Saluja
Color/Stereo
Cast:
Phoolan Devi Seema Biswas
Vikram Mallah Nirmal Pandey
Man Singh Maoj Bajpai
Mustquim Rajesh Vivek
Madho Raghuvir Yadav
Sriram Govind Namdeo
Kailash Saurabh Shukla
Running time -- 119 minutes
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
The film will have its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, which kicks off tonight, launching the India Now! segment of the fest.
Graphically violent, both in its portrayal of the hardships Phoolan Devi (Seema Biswas) endured (gang rape), as well as her retributive onslaughts (gunning down her rapists), it is a mesmerizing picture, most articulate in its depiction of the everyday injustice women incur in India, especially those of the lowest caste.
Overall, however, its big-sweep scope is focused on the more graphic, "Rambo"-ish aspects of Devi's life as a bandit.
Her single-minded revenge against all who have harmed her stands out in this production as her most distinguishing characteristic rather than, say, any particular philosophical or political stance. Since she suffered at the hands of the ruling caste, she takes out her venom on them.
Propelled by a cacophonous and stirring musical score, as well as director Shekhar Kapur's expertly staged action scenes, "Bandit Queen" is a visceral, albeit glossy, piece of filmmaking. Ultimately, we see Phoolan Devi as little more than a Sylvester Stallone-ish, female character on a revenge spree.
BANDIT QUEEN
Film Four International and Kaleidoscope present
Producer Sundeep Bedi
Director Shekhar Kapur
Screenwriter Mala Sen
Director of photography Ashok Mehta
Music Nusrat Fateh Alikhan
Editor Rune Saluja
Color/Stereo
Cast:
Phoolan Devi Seema Biswas
Vikram Mallah Nirmal Pandey
Man Singh Maoj Bajpai
Mustquim Rajesh Vivek
Madho Raghuvir Yadav
Sriram Govind Namdeo
Kailash Saurabh Shukla
Running time -- 119 minutes
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
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