Today I attended the seminar on "Cinema and Literature" organized by FTII-Pune, in association with the 'Film Writers' Association, Mumbai'. Guests of honor were Javed Akhtar & Oscar-winner, Gulzar. Others present were - Govind Nihalani, Jabbar Patel & Anurag Kashyap.
It was a relatively small auditorium & hence jam-packed. Throughout the seminar, the stress was on how cinema, literature & audience form a tight symbiotic triangle. And how good screen-plays & scripts too deserve to be reckoned as literature & how awareness of literature is needed to write great scripts... On how Shakespearean plays, though originally written for the stage-theatre, are respected as greatest form of literature in not just the West, but all over the world, but similar respect often eludes Indian cinema. How here, there's a great divide between "Ilmi" (knowledgable) writers & "Filmi" writers...
However the highlight of the show were definitely the 2 stalwarts - Javed & Gulzar . They ruled! In particular, Javed. Every word he uttered was so measured, to the point, right & akin to hitting the nail over its head. He started off his speech with an anecdote...
There were two goats & while grazing they came across a film-can. One of them ate the film & remarked - "I think the book was better"! :-)
He also ended his speech with another anecdote -
A class of tiny kids was asked to write an essay on Socrates. A little girl wrote just 3 lines -
"Socrates was a great man. He gave long speeches. He was poisoned." :-)
It was a relatively small auditorium & hence jam-packed. Throughout the seminar, the stress was on how cinema, literature & audience form a tight symbiotic triangle. And how good screen-plays & scripts too deserve to be reckoned as literature & how awareness of literature is needed to write great scripts... On how Shakespearean plays, though originally written for the stage-theatre, are respected as greatest form of literature in not just the West, but all over the world, but similar respect often eludes Indian cinema. How here, there's a great divide between "Ilmi" (knowledgable) writers & "Filmi" writers...
However the highlight of the show were definitely the 2 stalwarts - Javed & Gulzar . They ruled! In particular, Javed. Every word he uttered was so measured, to the point, right & akin to hitting the nail over its head. He started off his speech with an anecdote...
There were two goats & while grazing they came across a film-can. One of them ate the film & remarked - "I think the book was better"! :-)
He also ended his speech with another anecdote -
A class of tiny kids was asked to write an essay on Socrates. A little girl wrote just 3 lines -
"Socrates was a great man. He gave long speeches. He was poisoned." :-)
9 comments:
The second anecdote tickles me ! But do elaborate a little on what they had to say .. surely we mortals can understand "something" ..
The first anecdote seemed like a poor excuse... look at the movies like Godfather and LOTR. Both directors have superbly captured the essence of the book. I loved the picturing of Parineeta.
But how many Hindi movies even attempt to be close to the mark? Look at Devdas. Its an embarassment in mindless opulence. Or Yuva, which couldn't even make a decent copy of Ameros Perros. How many movies are really inspiring? The latest and greatest in 09's Filmfare - Jodha Akbar?
"bheja side mein rakhkar dekho" is the standard for Hindi movies today. How much more leeway do they want?
Socrates is known and remembered after 20 centuries. Were he a court jester, he wouldnt be known even during his days.
:-). There have been some truly classic Hindi movies. Off late, the ones I recall would be "Dor", "Swades"... Also, "DCH" & "Rock-On" were delightful. They've been far & few though & most others are simply disappointing.
On the other hand, Hollywood has had more success rate in various fields of cinema. "Godfather", no doubt, proved how a great story can be made into a great movie.
It's a very fascinating field, this whole movie-stuff :-). Unlike individual art (writing/painting etc.) the number of parameters that add up to making a good movie is simply mind-boggling!
Fair and I agree with you...
My only point was that movie makers of such a mature film industry should have no grounds to make a case for relaxed standards. Unless we demand better quality, we wont get any :)
let me add LAKSHYA to the list.
incidentally I was switching between 2 movies yesterday.
LAKSHYA and JAB WE MET.
Both the characters try to run away from their problems.
One, ADI gets inspired when he finds a lively JEET. HE finds a new dimension of living and returns back face his problems.
Where as KARAN notices that no one is ready to accept him when he gives flees the IMA...
He returns back in search of self esteem.
I really love the DEVDAS created by SANJAY LEELA BHANSALI.
He has made some alterations in the original script but the way he has expressed himself in the movie is awesome.
Every character in the movie exists for some reason. Be it Chunni babu, Mahendra, Yashomati or even Kalibabu..
I think this DEVDAS is SANJAY LEELA BHANSALI'S DEVDAS and any resemblance to the characters or incidences in the DEVDAS of sarat chandra chatopadhyay is mere co incidence ...
U seem to be a keen 'observer' of films, not just a popcorn-muncher :-)
if you need pop corns while watching movie on your TV .. you have to get them yourselves ...
and i stopped visiting movie halls after reading ASA MI ASA MI
While at it, one should not forget 'Black Friday' and 'A Wednesday'. Their point blank attack on our security and politics is excellent! Don't know if they are based on novels/books. But sure they beautifully portray current (and hopefully future!) situations very well.
Yes! I second that.
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