An untold story - Interesting

This piece is written by Amole Gupte on http://passionforcinema.com . It makes an interesting and inspiring read so thought of sharing.

21st December 2007, Friday, Bakri-Id, amol gupte, Mumbai.

Taare Zameen Par is out. Deepa and I hung around theatres today to gauge the response. Entering the galli of Gaiety/Galaxy, barometer theatres for both viewing and for audience reaction, an old lady passes whispering 'Taare Zameen Par… Dedh Sau Dedh Sau…'

At such times the pain seems worth it. Delivery.

Standing at the exit gate with sweaty palms… then the crowd comes down. Most people seem to have liked it. More importantly, when questioned about the film, almost all reply that its making them think and rethink about their children. Mission accomplished.

Cinema, the cannibal… It consumes you and expects you to do the same to those around you. So be it. I believe in processes and they give me the reason to exist with pleasure. Taare Zameen Par was born out of my need to spend time with children. I enjoy being with them, understanding life from their point of view, crouched on my knees.

Endless happy hours, the workshops with children from so many schools gave me insight into their mind that was their invaluable gift to me. My own 7-year-old son, Partho…there is so much of him in Ishaan. His rebellion, his spirit, his decision to break, but not to bend over smallest requests, his mad devouring of Dahl and Funke and his novel interpretation post reading. And his art… a circle drawn on a paper washed blue is an oncoming shark's frontal long shot image. Flip the paper and the circle has grown large, now with jagged teeth – close-up of the approaching shark. I have loved watching my boy up-close.

Deepa and I have nurtured a study group of parents, teachers and children over the years. They shared their lives with us and that's so personal. I am very grateful to them for that trust. There is a title card in the film that acknowledges their pivotal role without naming them. I thank them again and again.

I can't write at the desk, need to step out and put my hands in the clay to understand textures, natures, characteristics and behaviours. Every time I hit a road block writing TZP, I went back to the children and surely the truth emerged.

The world of children is a transparent, pure world. It often tires me and drains me out; they have so much energy! Clearly cannot match their zest… But at the end of the day it is the sweet pain of experiencing honesty… as a parent, as an artist, as a chronicler.

I tried to stay true to the processes while prepping for TZP as its writer/director then. Cast all principal characters with unexplored actors, rehearsed and work-shopped with the cast.

I did not involve a casting director because I don't believe in auditioning children. Would not like them to wilt or wither under performance-for-adults pressure.

I think a lot of children do get daunted when cornered and put under the scanner surrounded by DA, 1st AD, 2nd AD, 2nd's 2nd, line-p, exec-p, lighting & cam unit, make-up etc all worshipers of 'Action' and 'Cut'.

So I went from school to school looking for my Ishaan. I conducted free art-and-theatre workshops with the children and tried to look for my hero without announcing the search in the workshops. The idea was to give some pleasure to them even as I looked for my protagonist. I searched elsewhere too. Shiamak's Summer Funk, Smart Potato, Rael Padamsee's, KEC, Summertime at Prithvi, MDA…

Darsheel, the 'Ustad' I found sitting in the backrooms of Shiamak's Summer Funk classes.

Sachet, who plays elder brother Yohan, came to pick up his younger brother from a Campion school Worshop… one look at him and Deepa grabbed hold of him. I had got my Yohan.

Tanay, who plays Rajan Damodaran, is an angel recommended by Rael. Tanay's rehearsal, where he wept for the scene, is imprinted in my mind…it was so special.
Vipan, who plays the father, is an old colleague from my guru, Ketan Mehta's film Mirch Masala. He had been in Canada for the last many years…kind of dug him out.

Bugs Bhargav, I have loved as an actor since JCS. I wrote him in as Mr. Sen and the grammar soliloquy is specially written for him. One of the finest human beings on the planet.

Music and not musac. The song situations with their English lyrics were always a part of the bound script. With SEL, common ground… Mumbai, end 70s beginning 80s…shared love… America, Floyd, Shrinivas Khale… 'still abloom, the garland of cranes in the sky' – enjoyed jamming with SEL and Prasoon to create the TZP songs, they were a pleasure to work with. Bonded specially with Shankar and Loy over mutton and music. My pot of thanksgiving is now simmering… got to take it to Purple Haze.

I want to thank my direction team, particularly Ritu Bhatia, Amol Gole, Tanmay Mohan and Shikha Rahi. They were pillars of support that kept me alive and sane in trying times, AND Nakul Kamte for his sound sensibility, Shruti Gupte for being a truly creative art director, and my Deepa for guarding my vision of the film in her edit.

A lot of people are curious about what happened between Aamir and me. It doesn't seem relevant at this point. All I want to say is that no parent gives up her/his baby by choice. No parent. And I never abandoned my baby. I lost my right to call it my own, that's all. I was onboard on shoot and I ensured the safety and well-being of my baby. Moreover, Aamir told me that in 17 years as an actor no one had guided him in his performance as I had. That is a huge compliment from such a powerful brand.

By agreeing to play the part of Nikumbh Sir (the name I have given Aamir's character is the name of my art teacher and Hansraj Morarji Public School Principal, Late Shri R. S. Nikumbh, a tribute to my dear departed teacher) Aamir has done children a great service. It would not have been possible without him to take this message out to the nation. It is unfortunate that it turned out the way it did between us.

Four years ago I wrote an article in the brochure of Tulips School, talking about my work with children. I wrote then that I began this journey with children for the film. The film was the goal and the children the means. But somewhere that changed. It is the film that is the means to the real end which is a better future for all children. By that yardstick, I feel no sorrow.

I lost something, yes, but if I remind myself of my goal, then I feel no sense of loss. An escape to only victory.

A pound of flesh each, they all claimed

A pound of flesh their very aim

Many pounds lighter now

Happy am no heavy weight

Back to school

Waiting for buddies

At the gate

👏 👏 👏
Hats off to Amole Gupte for such a sensitive script!

I hope he gets his due recognition for his contribution to this beautiful movie!

It is made straight from the heart!

In the end it was subject's triumph. It is sad that they aren't on talking terms anymore. Hope they solve their differences because Amol Gupte is a good researcher and Aamir Khan is a dedicated story teller. A killer combination!

Many times great stories go unnoticed because the platform is not known. TZP had a strong subject but the initial curiosity was because of Aamir Khan which was needed for the film's publicity.

Trivia: Mansoor Khan (Aamir's cousin) and Amol Gupte were best friends and he was making Qayamat se Qayamat Tak with Amol Gupte but Nasir Hussain (Mansoor's dad) wanted to launch Aamir so he replaced Gupte with Aamir😃.

Imagine Amol Gupte with Juhi singing 'Akele hain to kya gham hai'😆

^^😆 😆 cant imagine that...

check this out from aamirs blog...found it interesting...esp on his choice of films, and the reasons behind...


Super match. Am a real admirer of Federer. Love the focus and passion with which he plays. I find that when I watch him play I feel inspired to do better work, ... though it has no connection,,, I dont know how to explain it. And he has no extra posturing and no silly attempts to do stuff to grab attention. He just does his thing and goes away. What a guy!

I want you''ll to know that I read each and every post no matter how long it takes me. I dont know how long it will be possible for me to keep this up but so far I''m on top of it. I''d like to thank those of you who have been so generous in your praise of my work. It makes me so happy to feel your warmth and affection. It is truly encouraging. And some of the posts are so well written, and convey so much so well. Am absorbing everything.

I can see that some of you did not like FANAA, and I can understant why. Happily more of you loved it. Which is why it is among my biggest hits. I want you''ll to understand that when I am attempting to entertain such a LARGE and VARIED audience it will not always be possible for me to entertain EVERYONE at the same time. People have different tastes, different emotional keys, different perpectives. And there will be times when a certain section of my audience likes one of my films better and another section some other film. I personally think that this is very healthy. I dont want to do only one particular sensibility or taste of film. I want to give myself the freedom to do all kinds of cinema. I dont want to do just those kinds of films which make a social comment, or are very logical. Sometimes I too feel like doing something mushy, mad, crude, sentimental. RDB, LAGAAN, MANGAL PANDEY, DCH, SARFAROSH, JJWS etc are my kind of films, but that doesn''t mean that I dont enjoy doing FANAA, RAJA HINDUSTANI, ISHQ etc. which are not typically my kind of films.

Remember that scene from FANAA when I am badly injured, lost in a blizzard, stumbling along half dead, when I spot a house. I need to survive because I still need to complete my mission. So I go towards the house for shelter and help. I bang on the door in desperation. The door is opened and it is opened by .....!!!... the BLIND girl I fell in love with and then ditched 7 seven years ago!!! Only now she has eyes! And I know that, because that is the last thing I did for her before disappearing from her life! She looks at me and screems my name!!! No way!!!?? How can she recognise me?!!! She was blind when she knew me! She had never seen me! She has eyes now but how is it possible that she has recognised me???!!!!! Is all this really happening? Am I hallucinating? - I am processing all this as I am collapsing and passing out and then - from behind the door a 6 year old boy comes running...!!! So thats the Rehan who she was screeming for!!! Oh GOD... then... thats... probably... my... son!!!!!!!!!!! Swoosh... and I pass out.

Where else will I get a scene like this as an actor? Which kind of film will give me the chance to perform this kind of moment? It certainly cant be a film like RDB. Only a film like FANAA will have in it a moment like this. I love it.

Another important factor that we need to understand is that these are some of my BIGGEST HITS. Remember its only when I have the strength of big huge commercial successes behind me that I can venture into a SARFAROSH, LAGAAN, DCH, RDB etc. I need to win a larger mass of audience over and only then I can show them films which might challenge them. And having won them over I need to keep them won over. So every now and then I do a film which I feel will entertain a larger mass of people, and then I do a film which is from my heart, ... which I really want to make, ... which might not make any market sense at all, ... but I still want to do, ... and I want people to see, ... lots of people... I want to convey something to them (LAGAAN, MANGAL PAMDEY, SARFAROSH, RDB). The market strength that I get from a film like FANAA allows me to do this. Plus I enjoyed doing FANAA. I am walking this balance and I am enjoying this journey.

For those who look down on mainstrean Indian Cinema, I would like to leave you''ll with a thought. In my opinion the PRIMARY responsibility of cinema is to entertain. While we can use it as a medium to teach, create awareness, make people think, make people socially more aware etc. the fact is that cinema''s PRIMARY purpose is to entertain. And Indian Cinema has been fullfilling this primary responsibility for the last 80 years. For the last 80 years Indian Cinema has been successfully entertaining the vast and varied population of India. People from different states, languages, cultures, economical backgrounds, cultural backgrounds, NRIs, etc. have by and large, together laughed, cried, clapped, and we have forgotten our problems for those 3 hours that we have invested in an Indian film. I sincerely believe this, and I think this is of great social relevance. Now I ask you, how many other areas of social relevance have successfully shouldered their respective PRIMARY responsibilies, - the various politicians who have lead our country for the last 80 years? The administration? The law and order machinery? The legal system? The education system? Think about it. And then lets hear it for Indian Cinema.

its too long to read ...Thnks for sahring

Originally posted by: *payal*

In my opinion the PRIMARY responsibility of cinema is to entertain. While we can use it as a medium to teach, create awareness, make people think, make people socially more aware etc. the fact is that cinema''s PRIMARY purpose is to entertain.

I concur with this view. I wrote the same on this forum some time back.

For me cinema is a medium to entertain. The success with story tellers like Aamir Khan is that they make the cinema they believe in and at the same time they tell the story in such a way that it reaches maximum audience. That is success of a good cinema.

If a filmmaker makes a film according to his fervor but fails to reach wider audience as well as critics then either he failed to tell the story in a convincing way or his actors failed to emote well. Someone has to take blame for the failure of cinema instead of blaming the audience.