VISHWAROOP and the Voice of Kamal Hassan

Kamal Hassan and Pooja Kumar at media meet in Bombay

Photograph by: Bollywoodhungama.com

India is a democracy that is admired by many a country in the world but when sensibilities in religious or communal groups are easily hurt, the foreign community observes with disarray and realizes how fragile a huge democracy might actually be.

Kamal Hassan's Vishwaroopam has been receiving great reviews from movie critics but has hurt a highly sensitive sector of the Muslim community this past week, thus sadly becoming the reason for a government issued ban on the film's release in the entire state of Tamil Nadu. Negotiations between Hassan's supporters, the government and the the film's detractors have however luckily softened the initial protests that made it controversial and the film is set to release in Bombay this Friday, as originally programmed.

The press in different sectors reports that protestors have not been able to provide proper arguments to support their cause given that the film solely portrays what is a sad reality in certain areas of Afghanistan: mainly the suffering of the Afghani population who is caught in the middle of a conflict between Al-Qaeda jihadis and the USA.

Let us not forget that Kamal Hassan is also the actor who made Hey Ram, a film that portrayed Hindu extremism. He is not a creative person to shy out of expressing his opinion through his work and this needs to be saluted. The protests and various bans seem deeply unfounded and it is sad to see that communities feel so easily targeted in a country that could be an example to many for its diversity. Communities should be aware that protesting against artistic liberty of expression, especially one that is not portraying their religion and community in a truly negative light, gives them more bad press than good reputation...

May Bombay's reaction to the film today clear any doubts of the national and international Muslim community regarding the film. May DTH releases, Internet paid screenings and other modern solutions for the cinema industry also free up creativity and allow viewers to have a choice and an option beyond what mobs or sudden bans can allow in the future.

KAMAL HASSAN's DTH Revolution for VISHWAROOPAM

Kamal Hassan is reportedly exploring the possibility of releasing his new Tamil film, Vishwaroopam, through telecast on a DTH platform on Thursday, January 10, before its full-fledged theatrical release. This is a new approach to publicity for the film and is a technique believed to create a positive word-of-mouth that will incite crowds to watch it at the cinema. The DTH operators telecasting this release would be Airtel, Dish, Videocom and Reliance while the film would have a simultaneous release in Los Angeles.

In a country where cinema-goers visit the cinema several times to watch their favorite hit film, this might be quite a strategy. Multiplex owners however are extremely worried this might negatively impact their business.

While skepticism from movie theatre owners may seem well justified, it remains to be seen if their fears are properly founded. A good film, and Kamal Hassan would seem very confident about his newest venture, just might make this experiment work.

The industry should watch closely and continue to attempt new ways of releasing films at a time when many blockbusters are sold as pirate DVD copies around town from the night of their release onwards. A release in both online and cinema platforms might be a solution, or maybe Kamal Hassan’s solution will spread like fire… May the film world keep closely watching.

Hrithik Roshan launches Virtual Academy of Cinema

Whistling Woods International has recently launched the first ever Virtual Academy of Filmmaking, which has created its first online course. Hrithik Roshan was present to launch the new programme. He praised the institution and expressed his admiration for all the people who are a part of it, from its creators to its students.

The actor additionally hosted a masterclass at the school. Approximately three hundred students attended the class and participated in a final Q&A session which gave them an insight into the star’s experience of cinema, how he has come to value each experience he has encountered in his profession and how he advices each and every student to be fearless in their approach to cinema.

Shah Rukh Star Power in Marrakesh

The Marrakesh International Film Festival met with an euphoric crowd of more than 50,000 people at the Jemaa el-Fna square for several hours as fans awaited Shah Rukh Khan to grace the event’s red carpet. The star seemed so moved that he braved his own security to wave at the thousands gathered there.

Indian cinema has a huge following in Morocco and throughout Africa, which also caused crowd incidents when in 2007 Shah Rukh Khan, accompanied by Rani Mukherjee, Preity Zinta and the late Yash Chopra visited France, a country where a large population of Moroccan immigrants has taken residence.

Prince Moulay Rachid later invited the star to a royal dinner and presented Shah Rukh Khan with the Medal of Honour of Morocco for his contribution to cinema.

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF INDIA in GOA 2012

“Wow! Someone who says there is more to Goa than its beaches!” a colleague teased me when he found out I was trying to reach Goa’s Maquinez Palace in Panjim in time for the 43^rd International Film Festival of India.

I rightfully did not want to miss the opportunity of seeing how Goans, filmmakers and delegates from throughout the world celebrated 100 years of Indian cinema this 2012. Apart from the international film category, the festival incorporated all-time Bollywood hits as well as several carefully selected films from all over the country, showcasing India’s diversity. From all the films selected for the programme, the following are a few of my favorite picks:

Samhita by Sunil Sukthankar: Two eras come together to question whether we are truly writing the script of our own life or giving in to the various pressures surrounding us.

Munich in India by Konstantin Fritz: A German painter lived in India in the 1930s and filmed his life there. His grandson follows his grandfather’s steps creating a portrait of yesterday and today’s India.

Dreaming of Taj Mahal by Nirmal Chander: A moving documentary on the true story of a Pakistani driver whose ultimate dream is to get an Indian visa to visit the Taj Mahal.

Lessons in Forgetting by Unni Vijayan: Based on Anita Nair’s book with the same title, the film tells the story of Meera, a middle-aged woman.  

Ithramathram by Dr. K. Gopinathan: A Malayalam film. The unexpected death of a thirty-eight-year-old woman called Sumitra leaves her husband and daughter completely lost and helpless. Reflections on an individual’s death become a wondrous evocation of the colour, zest and zeal of the entire village life and entire network of collective human destiny.

Digant by Dnyanesh Moghe: A Konkani film in which the divide between urban and village life is explored through the nomadic “Gowli” community in Goa.

Garm Hava by M S Sathyu: The original 1973 film has been digitalized and restored to please current young audiences.

The festival offered viewers the occasion to rewatch box office or acclaimed hits on the big screen such as Pyaasa, Sholay, Lagaan, Mughal-e-Azam, The Namesake or Lage Raho Munna Bhai. Apart from films and open forums with international and national filmmakers and actors (such as Tabu and Irrfan Khan), there were also drama and music celebrations throughout Goa under the Chitrashatabdi – 100 Years of Indian Cinema programme, such as the November 27 performance by Sukhwinder Singh and a Footsteps of Bollywood event the following day. Bollywood stars Zeenat Aman and Bipasha Basu also walked the ramp at two different fashion events in Goa during the festival while Akshay Kumar graced the festival's opening ceremony.

Aside from the festivities, a stay in Panjim also granted authentic Portuguese-style surroundings, a laid back city atmosphere and fantastic cuisine – who invented the sinful bebinca? The stay was indeed in itself uma festa maravilhosa! (a wonderful celebration!)