Hollywood makes up in ample measure

IT IS a windy afternoon in the hills of Film City. The occasion is the silver jubilee celebration of ``Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hain'' and Mukta Arts, producer of ``Badhai Ho Badhai'' along with Satish Kaushik and Anil Kapoor, is hosting an exclusive luncheon party on the lawns adjoining the sets. All the distinguished personalities are present. Music director Anu Malik, Ramesh Taurani of Tips, Anil's close friends Indra Kumar and Ashok Thakeria and of course the cast of ``Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hain'' and ``Sirf Tum''. The heroine of ``Badhai Ho Badhai'', Shilpa Shetty is in a talkative mood. She elaborates on her role in the film. I play a madhatter, an extension of director Satish Kaushik, who is very funny.'' Satish Kaushik, wearing a red cap is as cool as cucumber. ``I like shooting without stress. If one is going to be working 360 days a year, might as well have some fun.''

David Dhawan, Rumi Jafri and Manmohan Shetty of Ad Labs are seated in a corner, as usual discussing business. The spirits are high and finally, around 4 p.m., after a lot of food and endless rounds of print and electronic interviews, the party disperses. At 5 p.m., Satish Kaushik sits before the monitor and gives cue to his artistes. They are shooting a `suhaag raat' scene with Shilpa and Anil. Anil clad in a white kurta and jasmine flowers rolled over his wrist has to swagger into the room and frighten the bashful bride.

Shilpa looks distraught and the director calls cut! Kaushik explains that ``Badhai Ho Badhai'' is a social drama, in keeping with the image of his earlier two films. ``There is a lot of emotion and as usual my story takes up the woman's cause.'' Shilpa sitting next to him says, ``It's a privilege for an actress to be cast by Satishji.''

Anil Kapoor pats his friend on the shoulder and jokes that if he is going to be identified as a heroine's director, then heroes will stop working with him.

It is 7 p.m. and time for snack break. While the camera unit gets ready for the next location, Kaushik takes me on a stroll round the sets. There is a huge terrace festooned with trees. He points to all the flowers and informs that all the plants are artificial ``but,'' he adds, ``they look so real that even I forget it at times.'' On the top floor is Anil Kapoor's room, the balcony surrounded by bouganvillea branches. Satish announces with sadistic pleasure that even the bouganvilleas are plastic. We return to the original sets and the shot is ready. This time, it is a more serious scene. Shilpa has to make a long speech and expose Anil Kapoor.

At the end of it, Anil is embarrassed and gives his version. Outside, the skyline is pitch dark and covered with fog. It is 9 p.m. but the unit has a long way to go. Anil Kapoor escorts me to my car, he looks tired, but cheerfully says, ``Normally it is a 10 to 10 shift but with the time we have wasted over lunch today, we are going to have an extension.

***

It is the third month of the new year and there are still no signs of a grosser. With Mukesh Bhatt's ``Kasoor'' doing average business and recent releases, ``Hadh'' and ``Officer'' showing all the signs of going the ``Grahan'' way, it has been a disappointing month for movie buffs. Fortunately, Hollywood's forthcoming attractions make up for our dull performances. Academy Award winner, Robert Zemeckis's ``Cast Away'' emphasises that no matter how many obstacles are thrown in our paths, we find ways to accept them.

The film is not so much about the survival of a human being as about the survival of the human spirit. Starring two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks in an outstanding performance as a FedEx Systems engineer whose personal and professional life is ruled by the clock, ``Cast Away'' is an Image Movers/ Playtone Production. It is about a plane crash and the miraculous survival of a solitary man on a remote island, who after successive crises for four years fights his way back to civilisation. It is a sad homecoming for the hero when he discovers that his wife has married again and his dreams are shattered. The climax, where Tom Hanks reflects over his turbulent journey and breaks down is soul- stirring! The film is worth it for Tom Hanks and for director Robert Zemeckis. After ``Forrest Gump'', ``What Lies Beneath'', ``Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' and the unforgettable ``Jerry Macguire'', ``Cast Away'' is unique for its minimal dialogue and non-existent music.

It seems like serious films are back with a vengeance. After an overdose of, ``feel good'' films both abroad and here, film- makers are now exploring `do-good films'. If ``Cast Away'' is about survival in the worst possible circumstances, UTV Motion Pictures' ``Such A Long Journey'' is about an honest man's struggle in a big, bad world. Gustad Noble essayed by Roshan Seth is a hard-working bank clerk and a devoted family man upholding his dignity in the wake of domestic and societal pressures. Exploited by his best friend, Gustad, in his trusting nature gets embroiled in a dangerous network risking his job and life. Set in Mumbai, in the year 1971 when India was warring for the fate of Bangladesh, the film tells the trauma of a Parsi family unable to adjust to the changing political climate.

Nominated for 12 `Genie' Awards by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, ``Such a Long Journey'', complex and compelling, though dragging in narration, is rich in characterisation. Sensitive and thought-provoking, the film ends on a positive message, which is that even if it takes a long journey, in the end, the honest man wins!

Back home, the Smita Patil Foundation organised Project SMITA (Social Mobilisation and Information for Timely Action), a Documentary Film Festival titled ``Vaastav'' in celebration of International Women's Day. Rinkie Bhattacharya held her annual festival, ``Smriti Sandhya,'' a tribute to her father Bimal Roy. This year's added attraction being the Waheeda Rehman Retrospective.

It proved a week of multiple accomplishments. Theatre lovers celebrated the inauguration of ``Natyavasant'', the annual theatre festival. Three major groups celebrated milestone years. Nadira Babbar's ``Ekjut'' completed 20 years, Om Karate's ``Yaatri'' completed 22 years and Dinesh Thakur's ``Ank'' celebrated 25 years. Soni Razdan, after ``Aur Phir Ek Din'', combined force with brother-in-law Mukesh Bhatt's Vishesh Entertainment Ltd., to launch the tele serial ``Hamare Tumhare''.

Young and dynamic director Vipul Shah achieved the impossible - getting Amitabh Bachchan to Mahalakshmi railway station to shoot an action sequence for his forthcoming film ``All The Best''. In his 30 year-old career, this is his third (earlier two being ``Parwaana'' and ``Shakti'') encounter on a local train. Shah Rukh Khan paid up Rs. 2 crores to suburban district collector towards dues for his ``Mannat'' bungalow at Bandra, which sits on land owned by the State government. Lata Mangeshkar gave one more memorable show ``Ai Mere Watan Ke Logo'' in aid of the Gujarat quake victims. Ram Gopal Verma now ready with ``Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya'' inspired by ``Fatal Attraction'', announced his new directorial venture ``Company'' also based on the underworld.

IIM graduate turned film producer Neetin Keni set a precedent with his first corporate film ``Gaddar'', an 18 crore project where even carpenters and spot boys have been paid by cheque. It is a culture shock for all associated with the film, but as Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel, lead stars of the film explained, ``It is the beginning of a new trend and we are learning to get used to it.''

BHAWANA SOMAAYA

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