Timeless Movies & Timeless Moments at Zee Classic

To a nation which eats, sleeps and drink movies some movies just can’t be enough. Keeping this in mind Zee Classic partnered with Enlighten Society to present “The Classic Cut”- a festival that pays tribute to the greatest films & icons of Indian Cinema. The sum of all classics, Bimal Roy’s Do Bigha Zameen and Raj Kapoor’s Awara were screened on 9th February, 2013 at the Russian Centre in an attempt to give film enthusiasts, rare insights into the Indian Cinema’s timeless master pieces. The festival also included a workshop on Dadasaheb Phalke conducted by television and radio director and screenwriter Kamal Swaroop. If this was not enough for filmy keeras Zee Classic also brought a rare archival exhibit of film posters which was inaugurated by filmmaker Ketan Mehta.

Voicing his thoughts about the festival Mr.Mohan Gopinath, Sr. Vice President Business Head, Hindi Movie Cluster. Zee said, “Bringing Classic cinema and the masterminds that sculpted it closer to the current generation is a proposition that has always been close to our heart. We are happy to partner with Enlighten Society who shares our passion for celebrating India’s cultural and cinematic roots.”

With three stalwarts Joy Roy (Bimal Roy’s son), Ketan Mehta and Kamal Swaroop present on the occasion we could not refrain ourselves from asking a few questions to them on cinema in general, poster art, classics and the Phalke Project. Joy Roy shared a few behind the scene moments about his father’s film Do Bigha Zameen.

On talking about the cast of the film, he said that Balraj Sahni who portrays the role of a rickshaw puller was in real life a London returned man. Thus someone who had no clue about the common masses to be casted in this role was a challenge. But Balraj lived upto the challenge. He learnt the art of rickshaw pulling that also bare foot. Nirupa Roy for year had been cast in films that represented her as a goddess, thus casting her in a role of a farmer’s wife was like undoing her image that was already etched out in the minds of the audience. The film successfully went on to win the first Filmfare Award is yet another story.

When asked about how classics are created and why does it not have many takers in the present generation, this was what they had to share with us. Every filmmaker sets out to make a classic film but very few last out in the verdict of time. Any film that is old cannot be termed a classic, may be in years to come Taare Zameen Par and 3 Idiots might be known as classic. Ketan Mehta told us that we are living in an age of excessive noise. The society has evolved and so has the mindsets of the audiences, thus the young today are no more ready to enjoy films which are not entertaining in the pre-defined way of entertainment.

We wanted Mr. Kamal Swaroop to brief us about the Phalke Project. He answered in a style that could be termed his trademark. If I do not know what happened in the past, then I would not be able to understand what is happening in the present and what is going to take place in the future will altogether be a complete different question. I wanted to learn about Dadasaheb and that gave rise to this Dadasaheb Phalke Project.

We wanted to know whether Ketan Mehta believed that the poster art was in a state of decline today in the country. Mr Mehta nonchalantly replied that he did not believe so. Technology has changed today and therefore there is no limit to creation. Poster art has today evolved into a different form altogether for you have many new digital platforms to showcase your talent through this medium.

Our questions may have ended there but not the festival for The Classic Cut was a two day affair and Zee Classic has ensure this to be taken to each and every home for it endeavors to recreate the ‘Evergreen Age’ of Indian Cinema by bringing forth not only the films that shaped Indian cinema, but also acquaint the viewers with people that made the Golden Era and the industry what it is today.| By Rabab Rupawala [rabab(at)adgully.com]

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