Fenil’s Bollywood Talk # 49
Posted on: May 21, 2009
QASAB HANGED (IN REEL LIFE!)
Any disaster or catastrophe, whether natural or man-made, is enough to trigger off the imagination of a film writer. That’s why, in a year, there are at least 3 films churned out which are based on real-life events. Last year’s Mumbai Meri Jaan was based on the Mumbai serial train blasts. Firaaq, released in March, threw light on the post-Gujarat riots scenario. Hollywood has produced so many films on 9/11 attacks that I have lost count (in Bollywood, Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota and Madhoshi are the films I remember which were based on these attacks).
The recent 26/11 attack is also going to be used as plots in many upcoming films. In fact, 26/11, Terror in Taj, CST and lots of such titles are already registered! Although all such films are still in the scripting stage, one of them is already ready. Titled Total Ten, it’s a B-grade film in which the actors in the film play the real characters. Rajan Verma plays Ajmal Qasab, the lone terrorist captured in these attacks. The names of other actors and their characters are as follows:
1. Homi Wadia–Hemant Karkare
2. Sudesh Berry–Vijay Salaskar
3. Ashish Vidyarthi–Tukaram Ombale
4. Ashok Kulkarni–Ashok Kamte
5. Aroon Bakshi–Maulana Masood Azhar (founder of Jaish-e-Mohammad)
Besides, a lot of small-time actors play the role of the other 9 terrorists who entered into Mumbai on the fateful day. However, there’s no information yet regarding who plays the role of R R Patil and Shivraj Patil. The shooting of the film commenced in about 2-3 months after the attacks and the film is now almost ready. It’s made on a meager Rs. 3 crores. The film is mostly shot in Mumbai and that too in real locations like CST, outside Taj Hotel, Oberoi-Trident etc. According to Rajan Verma, who plays Qasab, the makers of the film have tried to make the film as realistic as possible. The film shows the journey of terrorists to India by boat, how they survived in sea on dry-fruits, how they carried their operations etc. And interestingly, the films end with Qasab getting hanged!
The film also had its share of problems. It was reported in Feb that Rajan Verma was assaulted by 2 unindentified men after they learnt that he is playing Qasab’s role. Also, the film is criticized by various people who feel that 26/11 episode should not be touched by any filmmaker. Both these incidents don’t make any sense. Talking about first one, what is the justification behind attack on Verma? He’s just an actor doing his job. Even if Verma had dropped out of the film after that incident, the makers would have replaced him with another actor. Then were those two fools going to attack this new actor too?
Also, how can making a film on 26/11 be morally wrong when movies on similar real life events are already made. So many films are based on the two World Wars in which millions of lives were lost. In India too, there’s a film churned out on every incident from Partition to 1962/65/71/99 Wars, Kashmir issue, emergency, Bombay Riots, 1993 Blasts, Godhra riots, 2006 Train Blasts etc. Many of such films are hugely acclaimed. Then why not one be allowed to make a film on 26/11 too?
Coming back to Total Ten, the film has aroused curiosity. Its promotion and release date will now decide its fate at the BO. And I noticed an interesting thing about it- one of the film’s producer is Hariom Sharma who runs RAMGOPAL Productions!! Coincidence?!
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AAMIR’S RAAKH TO RE-RELEASE
One of Aamir Khan’s oldest films, Raakh, released 20 years back is all set to re-release on June 12 with 200 prints. Co-incidentally, I reviewed this film just 3 weeks back. Back in 1989, it was released in just 3 cities with 6 prints. This time, though, the film has better chances to fare at the BO, also because it’s widely acclaimed. And fortunately, the entire film is re-mastered and most of the scenes of the film which weren’t visible properly before due to bad light are quite visible now! So, all the Aamir Khan fans who have missed the film earlier can now watch it on the big screen. June 12-don’t forget! And below is the exclusive video from this ‘rare’ film (Video Source: BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM)!
This article first appeared on MouthShut.com:http://www.mouthshut.com/diary/hhcjrltrn/Fenils-Bollywood-Talk49
Fenil and Bollywood 
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