Aimi Lived Her Films SSI Kalpana

SSI . A Kalpana aimi lived her films The filmmaker, who passed away recently, was much ahead of her times, and so were her movies. A tribute to her extraordinary life LAUT MOHAN JOSHI PHOTO BY THE I felt, had cast his spell on me. I wanted Kalpana Lajmi remains a to drown in his music; I wanted to die ER films were as unconvention in his arms." al as was her life. As a filmmak role model in a star struck Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri, who worked er, Kalpana Lajmi portrayed Indian film industry on her memoir, pays rich tributes. "The women who defied social norms. book is a candid portrait of a feisty, ShHe found a soulmate who was older where Ixurriiiga few unconventional woman with a mind of than her father. For veteran filmmaker her own and her tumultuous relation Shyam Benegal, she was a feminist film names like Aparna Sen, ship with a multifaceted unpredictable maker without claiming to be one. AruhaRaje/Ianuja genius, one that is as fascinating for the Hailing from an illustrious family of almost 30-year age difference between the iconic Guru Dutt, she developed her Chandra or Zoya Akhtai; the two as it is for the fact that it played filmmaking skills under her maternal women filmmakers are out in the open in an era where such uncle, Shyam Benegal. The cinema vet relationships were frowned upon and eran, who has seen her grow, says, "She still a microscopic hence largely clandestine affairs." was barely four when I arrived in Bom Kalpana Lajmi; and (right) Dimple Kalpana Lajmi lost her directorial bay in 1958 as a straggler. I remember Kapadia in a still from Rudaali minority spark after Darmiyaan (1997) but never having carried her in my arms while we theless remains a role model in a star were in Colaba." struck Indian film industry where bar Benegal asserts that in spite of her accepts his unfaithful wife and child. could sense it and taste it. A passionate launch. The doctors had said she should ring a few names like Aparna Sen, being an apprentice in his Charandas The thematic content was a coup at that person, who had a great sense of humour be able to attend. However, the very next Aruna Raje, Tanuja Chandra or Zoya Chor (1975), and later an assistant direc point of time when popular cinema was and enjoyed laughing at herself and her day they declined to give her permission Akhtar, women filmmakers are still a tor in seminal feminist films like Bhumi- so tabooed. own foibles. She was a people's person to leave hospital, because her condition microscopic, almost invisible, minority. ka (1977) and Mandi (1983), Kalpana's I met Kalpana, 22 years back in Mum- and loved to make friends. She filled the had worsened." Kalpana Lajmi was more than a femi work shows no trace of his style. "She bai, to record an interview for special room with laughter and positivity." Released by Shyam Benegal around nist filmmaker. She lived her films and found her own niche in Efc Pal and radio features for BBC Hindi as well as The success of Efc Pal was followed by two weeks before she died, Kalpana's was incredibly transparent about life. Rudaali," he says. World Service. She was brimming with Rudaali (1993) an adaptation of own love story, Bhupen Hazarika—As I "Of the 85 years that he (Bhupen Hazari Kalpana's growing up coincided with confidence and positive energy. The suc Mahasweta Devi's story. Set in Knew Him, is her last work that will live ka) lived, he had spent 46 of his years a period of churn in Indian cinema dur cess of Rudaali by that time had estab Rajasthan, the film unravelled in flash as long as her films. with me. His family couldn't accept my ing the 1970s and 1980s. These years wit lished her. I was taken by her charisma back the story of a slave woman "I was only 14 years old when Bhu- relationship with him, and wouldn't for nessed the rise of new cinema. when she narrated the plot of Darmiyaan Sanichari that proved a seminal role for penda visited our home with my uncle give me either... I loved him dearly and I Dimple Kapadia, winning her the Set in the Northeast, her debut film Efc (1997), which was in the making. Atmaram, I was the one who opened the feel immersed in the stillness of his love, National Award for Best Actress. Pal (A Moment, 1986) was inspired by a Her cousin well-known costume door... and it was love at first sight for immoveable." Despite her prolonged ill Bengali story of Maitreyi Devi. Priyam designer Pia Benegal explains that even Filmmaker Vinta Nanda, who has been me. I didn't want to separate myself ness, her passing away at an early age of (Shabana Azmi) married to Vaid her prolonged illness had not seriously a close family friend, says though we all from Bhupenda after 1 met him then. I 64, has created a void among those who (Naseeruddin Shah) has an affair with dented her vivacity till the end. knew Kalpana was critical but the void couldn't. I started hiding from my value her work. former boyfriend Jeet (Farooq Sheikh). "Kalpana was an amazing raconteur, left by her is huge and sad. mother and meeting Bhupenda on the — The writer is a London-based She becomes pregnant but is deter who brought any incident or story to life "We were all very hopeful that she sly. An affair started and I was unable film historian and founder director of mined to keep the baby. Ved eventually in front of your eyes. It was visual, you would be able to make it to her book to deal with life without this man, who South Asian Cinema Foundation .

Load more