Entertainment
Mea Culpa
He narrated three draft concepts – each unique, engrossing and enviably out-of-the box.
“Why don’t you make these into movies, Sir?”, I asked.
“Because ‘they’ say the audience wouldn’t accept them” – “they” being the so-called pundits of cinema – the producers, directors, writers. It’s “they” who unfortunately decide if a movie is to be canned or not.’
I was sitting in Mr. Kamalhassan’s office. I would call it one of the most precious days of my life. No, not for the reason you think – being in the company of a star the whole of India would kill to get a glimpse of – no, but for the contagious energy which made me raring to go, for the youthful zest which made me look old in comparison for the umpteen numbers of screenplay techniques I learned from him in less than 6 hours.
The thirst for innovation was written all over him! It got me thinking – is it just Mr. Kamalhassan? Is it just he who wants to do movies which throw conventions to the winds? I don’t think so! I have seen similar fire in Mr. Mammootty. The man transforms into an enthusiastic teenager the moment you show him the willingness to boot out the clichés. Did I hear the inevitable? “Then why are they doing mediocre movies?” Because they have no choice. They have to choose the lesser evil – not the better of the best. Who is to blame, I ask myself and the answer is – I am to blame.
Trust me, no actor in the industry desires to do a senseless role. When they do one, they know they are doing one. Fortunately or unfortunately, when such a movie succeeds, they are forced to do churn-outs from the same recipe again and again. And I, the scriptwriter laments, “I can’t break rules because the audience needs the conventional.” I would go on to quote examples of hundreds of run-of-the-mill stuff which made it big at the box office. But who are these audiences? How many among the three odd crores do I know personally? Come on, I don’t even know what my best friend’s favorite dessert is but I unabashedly lecture on what people out there, whom I haven’t even seen, really want. In introspection, well, that is just pathetic!
I have had movie goers come up to me, with sarcastically raised eyebrows, arguing how such & such a scene in one of the movies could have been so illogical. I’ve had one laughing at me in a crowded mall (yes, that was embarrassing) for writing a scene which had a factual error. I’ve had them asking why their favorite actors are letting them down by acting in movies which even their 10 year old finds ridiculous! I can hardly reply – because you want it! No, they don’t! No, the actors don’t! It’s me the writer and my laziness to tread the untrodden path that leaves the ordinary Malayali cheated out of the magic of the movies!
Sometimes it is because I don’t have the time – I am committed with movies which I have to finish writing by next Christmas. That gives me just three months to finish a script. I can hardly afford to write rough drafts before the final one. Even when I am not very okay with a scene that I have written, I let it pass for the fear of the three other scripts dangling over my head like Damocles swords, demanding to be finished. And naturally and inevitably I leave out the research. This leads to a character who takes over as District Collector a day after he has cleared his IAS examination or India’s top lawyer who wins a complicated case with elementary commonsensical arguments.
And sometimes, it could be that I just don’t have the talent – I can’t think of anything new (or don’t feel the need to) because I am stuck with some 2000 odd images from movies I have seen and got inspired by. I just follow the rules – Mohanlal has to have a punch line; Mammootty has to have the last word; and the heroine has to fall in love – even if the hero has slapped and insulted her (in fact, sometimes it is a pre-requisite). I am the very contended frog who has no desire for the sea even though it knows that it is out there. I try to make myself believe that the blueness, vastness and depth of the ocean are highly over-estimated. I am afraid to try to swim there.
Yes, we all dream of making our Rashomons and being immortalised. If only that is what the producers and directors and most importantly the audiences wanted! We’ll never know till we try, will we?
The author is a notable Script writer whose writing has changed the face of Malayalam movie industry.
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Popular Curtain Fabrics to Consider for Your Home
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The L’Oréal Paris Show at Paris Fashion Week 2024
The L’Oréal Paris runway at Paris Fashion Week 2024 was a captivating spectacle, celebrating women’s empowerment, inclusion, and sisterhood under the theme “Walk Your Worth.” A star-studded lineup of global icons brought glamour to the stage.
Kendall Jenner stole the spotlight in a bold red mesh asymmetric dress, paired with a vibrant lip and striking bleach blonde hair. Alia Bhatt, making her much-anticipated debut at Paris Fashion Week, dazzled in a metallic silver bustier and black off-shoulder jumpsuit. Eva Longoria mesmerized in a sheer organza gown with a daring high slit, dripping in diamonds.
Other standout moments included Cara Delevingne rocking a red silk trench coat and high-waisted hot pants, while Jane Fonda exuded elegance in a shimmering silver trench, styled with metallic trainers. The event also featured appearances from Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Heidi Klum, and Simone Ashley, each bringing their unique flair to the runway.
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Laapataa Ladies: Kiran Rao’s Social Satire Becomes India’s Official Entry for the 2025 Oscars
Kiran Rao’s delightful bride-swapping comedy-drama, *Laapataa Ladies*, has been selected as India’s official entry for the 2025 Oscars, the Film Federation of India (FFI) announced on Monday. FFI Chairman Jahnu Barua revealed that the film was chosen from a pool of 29 contenders. A 13-member jury evaluated 12 Hindi, six Tamil, and four Malayalam films to decide the country’s submission for Best International Feature Film. Among the notable competitors were Animal, Kill, Kalki 2898 AD, Srikanth, Chandu Champion, Joram, Maidaan, Sam Bahadur, Article 370, the National Award-winning Malayalam film Aattam, and Payal Kapadia’s Cannes-winning All We Imagine As Light.
Expressing her gratitude, Kiran Rao stated, “I am deeply honored and delighted that Laapataa Ladies has been chosen as India’s official entry to the Academy Awards. This recognition is a testament to the tireless work of my entire team, whose dedication and passion brought this story to life. Cinema has always been a powerful medium to connect hearts, transcend boundaries, and ignite meaningful conversations. I hope this film will resonate with audiences worldwide, just as it has in India.”
Laapataa Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao and produced by Aamir Khan, features a fresh ensemble cast including Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastav, and Chhaya Kadam, with a standout cameo by veteran actor Ravi Kishan. Released in theaters on March 1, the film garnered praise from critics and audiences alike, steadily gaining momentum through word-of-mouth.
Though it didn’t achieve massive box office numbers, Laapataa Ladies found a growing fanbase following its release on Netflix, where it reached a wider audience. The film, a social satire based on Biplab Goswami’s award-winning story, was brought to life with a screenplay and dialogues by Sneha Desai. It also earned recognition on the international stage, having been screened at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) last year.
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