This story does ring a bell when you connect it to the five protagonists in RDB, who are recruited to enact a film on India's freedom fighters, and how their lives and deeds affect our modern-day heroes. So the question is, could this be the spoke in the wheel for RDB's bid for the coveted Oscar nomination? Inspired? That's ok Last year, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black was unceremoniously rejected from the list of the Academy Awards hopefuls from India because its premise was inspired from the Hollywood film, The Miracle Worker. But it seems the Film Federation of India (FFI), which selected RDB, is unaware of this inspiration. But they can't all have not known, especially since the supposed inspiration was pointed out in print. When eminent film critic Khalid Mohammed had reviewed Rang De Basanti this year, he'd written, "Hello, the concept of art coalescing into reality was evidenced in Jesus of Montreal directed by Canada's Denys Arcand. Never mind, that was a million matinees ago. Time to do it again, let's-a-go-go." Vikas Mohan, trade analyst and a FFI jury member, says, "A film selected for the Best Foreign Film category has to be original in idea, and not an out-and-out copy of another film, like Black was. The makers of RDB have Indianised the film, so even if it's been inspired it doesn't look like a copy. It has the Indian freedom struggle and corruption in the country as the backdrop. The rules say that any film that is selected should represent the country. I can be inspired, but my film shouldn't be a replica." 'Never heard of it' Apart from the basic premise, Aamir Khan's character (a carefree Delhi boy who plays Bhagat Singh in a documentary) dies in Rang De Basanti, an event that is reflected with the protagonist in Jesus De Montreal. In an interview on the film, director Arcand had said, "But he tried to protest, to say something different and he nearly succeeded. Things are always beginning again, life is a perpetual struggle and voices of protest must always be raised." Rang De Basanti again? But RDB's director denies having heard of the critically-acclaimed French film. "I have no idea what Jesus De Montreal is about. I haven't seen the film. In fact, this is the first time I've even heard about it," says Mehra. Not a DVD rip-off "In 1992, Kamlesh Pandey had written Ahuti, a script based around revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Bismil and Sukhdev. Bhagat Singh was a journalist, while Bismil was a poet. We wanted to show what it was that spurred these men to drop the pen and take up the gun. But when we showed it to students, they weren't interested. So we kept working on the story, roped in Rensil D' Silva who sprinkled some gold dust on the screenplay, and we had Rang De Basanti," says Mehra, about how RDB was conceived. On his part, Rensil is upset with the comparisons. "I haven't heard of Jesus De Montreal. Just because RDB has been sent for the Oscars, people are raising these questions. It's uncharitable to say that this is a take-off on another film. Every time we make something good, people say we've robbed the plot off a DVD! If that was the case, I wouldn't have taken three years to write it. I was given a draft in 1992 and wrote an original screenplay based on that," he says. | |||
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Musharraf to see Woh Lamhe
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| Jawad Ahmed with President Pervez Musharraf |
Mahesh Bhatt is planning to show his film Woh Lamhe to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. And Pakistani singer and social activist, Jawad Ahmed (who has sung Bin Tere Kya Hai Jeena in the film), will play messenger and take the film to Musharraf. Ahmed has close ties with the President and is bent on convincing him to release Woh Lamhe in Pakistan.
Raising funds
Ahmed plans to use the proceeds collected from the screenings for several welfare projects in his home country.
Says Mahesh, "I have immense respect for Jawad. I want him to use this film, which is so close to my heart, to generate funds for the well being of people. Jawad is not only a youth icon in Pakistan, but he is also a social activist and philanthropist."
He adds that he is confident of a theatrical release for Woh Lamhe across the border.
"Jawad has social and emotional ties with President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who have recognised his contribution not only as an actor but also as a person who has his heart in the right place," he says.
Jawad, who is currently in Mumbai, says, "I have a very good rapport with President Musharraf, and will ensure that Woh Lamhe sees the light of day in Pakistan. And I must thank Mahesh for allowing the revenue generated from the release to be directed in the welfare activities."
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