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I've attended quite a few media events announcing films in a creative manner. However, Shekhar Kapur's take on playing Russian Roulette with slum water from Mumbai tops them all.
"I've got this water from the slums of Dharavi, and if you are committed to the film, you'll drink this," said Kapur at the Carlton Hotel press event Friday for his next film, "Paani" (Water), which addresses the global water crisis.
He said that not all the bottles contained slum water, only a few did. But they were mixed up with regular water, and they all looked alike – full of brownish water labeled Valentine's.
"It's like playing Russian Roulette," said Kapur, and he took a swig from his bottle, as did the others joining him at the press event – Alexander Koll from Swarovski Entertainment, "Blue Covenant" author Maude Barlowe, producer Manmohan Shetty (of Adlabs) and screenwriter David Farr.
Yes, I was amongst a handful who did partake of the water – hey, I've sipped Ganges water, so a slug of slum water is not going to kill me.
Kapur's ambitious project, to start filming this November, is of mythic proportions. What happens when the world runs out of water? questions the filmmaker.
Danny Boyle, who's been fascinated by Kapur's water project, has requested to be a part of it. So Kapur told me that Danny will be involved as a producer. A.R. Rahman, who composed the music for Boyle's Oscar-winning "Slumdog Millionaire," is on board to do the film's music.
This idea that's been brewing in his creative brain for 10 years was triggered by a visit to a rural area in India, He was told that one flush tank used in an urban area is equal to the needs of one family's usage per day in a village.
The filmmaker has finally realized his concept with the support of Swarovski and Shetty coming on board with financing.
Kapur continues to be inspired by Shakespeare, and so "Paani," though it addresses the global issue of water, is also a love story. It's set in a mythical world split into two – the upper city is the globalized city where lords control water; and the lower, water-stressed city is inhabited by water rats.
The five-minute promo video shown at Cannes was an assemblage of artist renderings, stills and live action. The film is budgeted at $30 million but will have a look of a $150-million film, Kapur informed those in attendance. Sets will be created in India, and there will be some location filming in Singapore and Dubai. The cast is yet to be finalized, but Kapur reveals it will be international.
Kapur wasn't sure he'd able to get the sought-after screenwriter David Farr on board. "I sent him a three-page draft to whet his appetite," mused the filmmaker. Well, Farr fell for it and has worked on it as a passionate, romantic drama.
Swarovski, known internationally for its crystals and jewels, has recently entered the arena of entertainment. Company's representative Koll informed me that water and Swarovski have been intertwined since 1829, when Alpine water was used for its cutting machines.
There are no sales agents or distributors lined up yet.
"Adlabs and Swarovski have given me enough money to make this film as independent, so we don't have to depend on studios," said Kapur. However, the filmmaker added that they would welcome participation from distributors. "We need partnerships, not money," he said.
"I've got this water from the slums of Dharavi, and if you are committed to the film, you'll drink this," said Kapur at the Carlton Hotel press event Friday for his next film, "Paani" (Water), which addresses the global water crisis.
He said that not all the bottles contained slum water, only a few did. But they were mixed up with regular water, and they all looked alike – full of brownish water labeled Valentine's.
"It's like playing Russian Roulette," said Kapur, and he took a swig from his bottle, as did the others joining him at the press event – Alexander Koll from Swarovski Entertainment, "Blue Covenant" author Maude Barlowe, producer Manmohan Shetty (of Adlabs) and screenwriter David Farr.
Yes, I was amongst a handful who did partake of the water – hey, I've sipped Ganges water, so a slug of slum water is not going to kill me.
Kapur's ambitious project, to start filming this November, is of mythic proportions. What happens when the world runs out of water? questions the filmmaker.
Danny Boyle, who's been fascinated by Kapur's water project, has requested to be a part of it. So Kapur told me that Danny will be involved as a producer. A.R. Rahman, who composed the music for Boyle's Oscar-winning "Slumdog Millionaire," is on board to do the film's music.
This idea that's been brewing in his creative brain for 10 years was triggered by a visit to a rural area in India, He was told that one flush tank used in an urban area is equal to the needs of one family's usage per day in a village.
The filmmaker has finally realized his concept with the support of Swarovski and Shetty coming on board with financing.
Kapur continues to be inspired by Shakespeare, and so "Paani," though it addresses the global issue of water, is also a love story. It's set in a mythical world split into two – the upper city is the globalized city where lords control water; and the lower, water-stressed city is inhabited by water rats.
The five-minute promo video shown at Cannes was an assemblage of artist renderings, stills and live action. The film is budgeted at $30 million but will have a look of a $150-million film, Kapur informed those in attendance. Sets will be created in India, and there will be some location filming in Singapore and Dubai. The cast is yet to be finalized, but Kapur reveals it will be international.
Kapur wasn't sure he'd able to get the sought-after screenwriter David Farr on board. "I sent him a three-page draft to whet his appetite," mused the filmmaker. Well, Farr fell for it and has worked on it as a passionate, romantic drama.
Swarovski, known internationally for its crystals and jewels, has recently entered the arena of entertainment. Company's representative Koll informed me that water and Swarovski have been intertwined since 1829, when Alpine water was used for its cutting machines.
There are no sales agents or distributors lined up yet.
"Adlabs and Swarovski have given me enough money to make this film as independent, so we don't have to depend on studios," said Kapur. However, the filmmaker added that they would welcome participation from distributors. "We need partnerships, not money," he said.
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