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Home , Atharvaa, Celluloid Man, Karthi, Prashanth, Raju Sundaram, Sachin Tendulkar

ITA BACKBEAT A chat with A prisoner Kala role for Nilayam Kishore, Chandru next Pg3 SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2015 I ADVERTORIAL, ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY PROMOTIONAL FEATURE I Pg18

Volume 8 Issue 188 Free with TOI & STOI Praveen Tyagarajan I wouldn’t want to go to an institute headed by Gajendra Chauhan [email protected] had Saheb as the lyricist as I was SIMHAA TO PLAY his disciple. The costume designer was hough he is of royal lineage, film- from Chennai and Raju Sundaram had maker Shivendra Singh Dungar- choreographed one of the songs. And of Tpur would rather not draw atten- course, there was Rahman. But people in tion to it because, he insists, he carries no Bombay questioned my decision to have vestige of his regal trappings. His passion him on board. Many argued that if A NORTH MADRAS lies in preserving and restoring films, and hadn’t quite succeeded in he exhorts filmmakers to look at cinema Bombay, what were the odds that a new- as an art form rather than just mass comer would? Remember this was in entertainment. We caught up with him 1993, and Rahman hadn’t quite arrived on on his recent visit to Chennai, where he the national scene yet. People asked me if shot for his film on Indian cinema, com- Rahman would record in the night. It was GUY IN VEERA missioned by the Busan International only while he was doing my film that Film Festival... Rahman shot into fame and became a Martin Scorsese did it for me… sensation. Predictably,people who’d earli- The work I do to preserve and restore er doubted my decision started hound- films stems from my innate love for films. ing me to get him for their ventures. In a way,I do what Martin Scorsese, thro- Though the film, tentatively titled ugh his Film Foundation, has been doing Iqtefaq, was never completed, Rahman for years to ensure that future genera- had assured me that he’d be work with tions have access to all the old masters of me whenever I decided to make a film. filmmaking. I watch the films of the old My family wasn’t happy at all about masters and I realise they were far more me doing films... experimental in the early years than If anything, while royalty in were what we are today.Where do people learn great patrons of art and culture, and they filmmaking from? From watching old promoted heritage and felt for it, they did films. Remember in filmmaking what we not recognise films as an art form or even think is new is never new. I find the old a component of heritage. When I told my films, I dig into heritage, and I want to Shivendra Singh Dungarpur father I was going to Bombay, he didn’t bring it alive for future filmmakers. It’s talk to me. He simply looked the other important for them to be able to go back way.Now,he’s proud of my work towards into the past. They may not always love Film Festival I’m going to feature inter- Rajalakshmi’s relatives. She was Tamil preservation and restoration of heritage, what they see, but it’s important they pretations of my discoveries in Indian Nadu’s first woman director and actress, but he’s not interested in the films I know about it. So, I am a filmmaker,who’s cinema, namely Tamil, Hindi, and and she was a Brahmin. And in those make. I must have made over 500 com- also an archivist. Bengali cinema. Since my passion lies in days this mattered a lot. Way back in 1931, mercials, but when I tell dad to look at an The high point of my Chennai visit was the past, my film will talk in an interest- she acted in Kalidas. ad that I’ve made, he smiles at me and visiting TP Rajalakshmi family… ing manner about filmmakers we have Rahman signed his first Hindi film with doesn’t bother to watch the ad. The only What I really want to do is to make a 10- forgotten and whose work too probably me… film he’s seen is Gandhi. hour-long film, in volumes, on Indian cin- doesn’t exist anymore. The highlight of AR Rahman was the music director of CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 ema. But for the Busan International my Chennai visit was meeting TP my first film that finally never got made. I Pooja Jhaveri roped in for GV Prakash to act

Bobby Simhaa Prabhu Solomon’s film in a film titled after

[email protected] a localite. Veera is a political satire, underlined with subtle humour. We ’s character obby Simhaa already has an will start shooting this film in action film with director September. We’ve decided to have BVijay Vaanan; he’s also in the locations in and around Chennai as [email protected] process of completing Ko 2. and now, the predominant backdrop for the in the midst of that, he’s has signed film.” ooks like GV Prakash is on a signing spree, es- his next film, titled Veera. Bobby About the rest of the cast, he says, pecially when it comes to acting projects. He plays a north Madras guy in the film. “Iswarya Menon, who was last seen Lcurrently has Trisha Illana ready Veera, to be directed by ad-film- in the film, Namo for release and will soon start shooting for Ketta maker Rajaraman, is a Elred Kumar Bhootatma (a remake of Tamil film Paiyanda , whose script has been written by production. Says Rajaraman, “The Yaamirukka Bayamey), has been Vetri Maaran, and the comedy thriller Bruce Lee, di- film is set against a north Madras roped in as the female lead. Others rected by ’s assistant, . Now, the backdrop, and Bobby will be playing are yet to be finalised.” composer-turned-actor will be acting in a film that GV Prakash will see him teaming up once again with his debut film Darling’s director, Sam Anton. Says GV,“Sam and I will be working together on a film tentatively titled Kaipulla. As the title implies (taking after the hugely popular character name of Vadivelu in Winner), the film will be a comedy. 1D to shoot video at NASA Pooja Jhaveri Gnanavel Raja is the producer.”He adds that he will be shooting for the film simultaneously with ne Direction will shoot Prashanth’s film, which is expected to kick-start by a music video for their October.He will also be composing the music for all O record-breaking single Janani.@timesgroup.com the three films. Drag Me Down, which they released last week at the hanush is currently shooting for Prabhu Solomon’s next NASA Space Center in film, for which a special set of a train has been erected in Houston, Texas, USA. While Dthe city.While it has been confirmed that Keerthi Suresh not much is known about the is playing the female lead, the buzz now is that Telugu actress video as of now, it is speculat- Pooja Jhaveri has also joined the cast; she has, in fact, also start- ed that it will have an inter- ed shooting for her portions for this as yet untitled film. galactic theme. The video will Prabhu Solomon confirms, “Yes, she is part of this film. She is be directed by Ben Winston, playing an important character.”Meanwhile, Pooja has also been who worked with Harry Styl- approached to play the female lead in ’s upcoming film es, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Pa- to be directed by Rajamohan. The director has narrated the script yne and Niall Horan for their and she has agreed to be part of it, but she is yet to sign on the dot- hit video Best Song Ever. ted line. This a film with a rural theme, and she will be playing a Agencies Niall Horan of 1D at the NASA village belle.

Pics: Praveen Tyagarajan A WALK THROUGH OLD MARKET STREETS OF MADRAS [email protected] MOORE MARKET/LILY POND adras, with its teeming marketplaces, COMPLEX flower marts and wholesale vendors, has KNOWN FOR: BOOKS, MAGAZINES, PETS AND Malways attracted buyers from the rest of ANTIQUE COLLECTION the country.There is a place for everything — the Looking for second-hand books or magazines? silks, the kanakambaram flowers, the coffee, the Located right along the Central Station is this histori- antiques — quite unlike the modern day Chennai, cal complex – fully functional since 1900, when it was where the shopping most often than not, starts named after Sir George Moore. Even though some and ends in a mall. But before this, the temples parts of the building have been taken over by the gov- lanes, areas around the local stations and bus ter- ernment, this flea market of sorts is the place to buy minals, and other places in the city that even rare collectibles, too, as there are antique stores sell- today boast of colonial architecture, blossomed as ing peengan, old coins and other items that one can markets — the crowded Parry’s Corner, no longer see in the households. Not to miss pets like Koyembedu, Moore Market, and more… Here are love birds, rabbits, and different varieties of fish, some of the oldest markets and shopping streets among others. And all this at killer deals… in the city that still remain a shopper’s delight…

BURMA BAZAAR KNOWN FOR: CDS & DVDS, IMPORTED CHOCOLATES, PERFUMES, MOBILE PHONES KOYEMBEDU AND PARRY’S CORNER Skirting the Central Station is the Burma Bazaar, set up in the 1960s by KNOWN FOR: FLOWER BAZAAR Burmese refugees. This kilometre-long marketplace is the perfect place to find Two old markets in the city are known to sell flowers – one is Flower Bazaar in CDs and DVDs. There are over 200 shops selling movie and music CDs. If you are Parry’s Corner and the other, flower market in Koyembedu. Fresh blooms come worried about the print/audio quality, there are shops that play the CD for you in the wee hours and if you can make it just before dawn, you can see a whole before you buy them. You also find imported chocolates, perfumes and mobile variety. These two markets are from where all the local flower vendors pick phones for a good deal. their stocks from. CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 12CHENNAI TIMES VARIETY SATURDAY 8 AUGUST 2015 HAASAN IS THE ONLY FILMMAKER WHO’S PASSIONATE ABOUT RESTORATION ...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Matador and we’d go to the theatre, trace of the second and third reels. After have kids and we are happy to devote our- which was entirely booked for us, and that, came the safety base films, which also selves to preservation and restoration of Machis actor Chandrachud and I made watch films back-to-back. This is had a problem in that the reels had a lot of films. I have used all my money earned thr- a pact between us... where my love for films first began. silver content, and so were regularly traded ough advertising to fund my projects like Chandrachud and I were best friends From my grandfather, I picked up my in the market for silver extraction. In Tamil Celluloid Man, Kalpana, and my documen- at Doon School, and we made a pact love for the smell of films and cigars... Nadu, we have no record of its silent films. tary on Jiri Menzel on the The Czech New between us that he’d become an actor My grandfather was very anglicised. Not a single silent film survives. Only one Wave that has been in the making for five and I’d make it big as a director. We At home, he’d have us kids in the movie Marthanda Varma that years now. went to Stephen’s (in Delhi), from wh- verandah where movies of Charlie was made in exists. I haven't approached Kamal for help yet... ere I did History Honours. My family Chaplin and Laurel Hardy were The digital dilemma... Though I have been in touch with Kamal wanted me to become a lawyer. My screened on a projector. We had a There’s an erroneous view that digital prin- Haasan, I haven’t approached him for help grand uncle was at the International thanda (cold) room in our house, and ts cannot be destroyed and there’s no need yet. He’s the only filmmaker and actor who Court of Justice at The Hague, and it was called thus because it was the for their preservation and restoration. The knows a lot about the kind of work we do. immediate family members from my first air-conditioned room in the hou- digital platform has been changing. First it He’s passionate about films and heritage, is father’s side had all studied at Oxford se. My grandfather would keep the fi- was U-matic, then beta, then digi beta, now technical, and he’s a genius. If we can get or Cambridge. Though I was academ- lm reels in cans inside a cupboard in HD. Our constant dilemma is how do we st- him on board our Foundation, we can do so ically inclined, and had scored 94% in the room. I’d open the cans and smell ore it? The format keeps changing. A hard- much more. For my book, he gave me, along my Class XII, it was only films that the films. That smell remained with drive’s longevity is only 3-5 years, so what with his quotes, his choice of five films that held my fascination. me. There are two things I picked up after that? LTO (Linear Tape-Open), perha- he wants to be restored. Also, I shot with It all started with my grandmother… from my grandfather. The love for the ps? We are still trying to find better ways to him for Celluloid Man. I should soon get do- My maternal grandmother was taken smell of films and cigars. preserve digital prints. We need to preserve wn to requesting him to come on board. in with films. She came from a I’d like to think that I started this move- even as we create. Only when you preserve No way the government should have appoint- Zamindari family from Bihar and ment for the preservation and restora- Shivendra can you restore. Let’s face it, preservation is ed a man called Gajendra Chauhan as chair- belonged to the Nepalese royal family. tion of films... Singh more expensive than creation. It cost a lot person FTII… She’d bundle us kids in our blue While PK Nair saheb built the NFAI more to restore Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona FTII is an institution that produces the fin- Lisa than it took to create it. Similarly, the est cameramen, directors, artists. It’s a pla- (National Film Archives of India), the Alfred Hitchcock movie The Lodger,for ce where you are able to discover your cre- movement to create an environment and whose restoration I contributed funds, was ative expression and create your own kind appreciation for preservation and restora- made in half the amount it took to restore of cinema. What students need here is som- tion began with my documentary Celluloid it. I am also building a vault in Bombay to eone who can inspire them, someone they Man. While the NFAI now has a very dyna- store films. We need to have prints of all can look up to. There were so many stalwa- mic director and a good film preservation films, because it’s only through prints that rts to choose from, so why him? I wouldn't officer, why should the onus of preserving you can make digital copies. want to go to an institute headed by him. If and restoring films be on the government The Criterion Collection restored the Apu it had to be someone from the ruling party, alone? I set up the Film Heritage Foundat- Trilogy... why not Paresh Rawal, Vinod Khanna? ion to create more awareness on the crucial The Apu Trilogy has been so beautifully We’ll lose an institution where cinema is need to preserve and restore films. We had restored by The Criterion Collection that looked at as an art form. a workshop in film restoration this Februa- when it was screened in theatres in the Miss Lovely is one of the best movies I have ry,and the response was stupendous. Ami- USA, there were people thronging to watch seen in Indian cinema... tabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, and Farhan this masterpiece. I love the way AVM Stud- Watching Miss Lovely was like watching Akhtar supported this initiative by giving ios has preserved the movies of Mr Meiyap- the movies of the old masters. Cinema has scholarships to participants. Filmmakers, pan. We can’t have kam chalao restoration to have a language, and this movie by Ash- too, should join this movement to preserve work. To restore a film to international sta- im had a language which was lovely.I have their works. ndards can cost between 75 lakh and one a huge problem with actors who perform in There’s not a single Tamil film from the silent crore. In India, there are people who’ll be front of the camera when it’s the camera th- film era… willing to do this for as little as 10-15 lakh. at should perform in front of the actors. Can you believe of the 1,700 silent films ma- That’s execrable quality we’re talking abo- Cinema should not be allowed to become an de, only 5-6 complete films remain and 15 ut. Try getting an old film of K Subrahm- extension of theatre. exist in fragments? The black-and-white anyam, and chances are that if you do find Any royal hangover? era (till 1951) of filmmaking suffered great- a DVD, the quality of print will be awful. Nothing at all. I am a very simple person. ly as the film reels were nitrate-based, Three Tamil movies need to be restored Everything that I have done is on my own which was highly inflammable. Even the urgently… steam. I like , and thanks to my un- first print of Phalke’s My book From Darkness into Light, which cle , I did manage to caught fire when it was being transported also has an article by Martin Scorsese, has meet many cricketers and spend time with on a bullock cart, and Phalke had to re- a list of 50 most important films that need them. I have been a great fan of Sunil Gav- shoot it. Of what was re-shot, only the first urgent restoration. The Tamil films that askar and . My wife is st- and the fourth reels remain; there’s no require restoration on a priority basis are ill looking for a holiday where I have nothi- Thyagabhoomi, Naam Iruvar, ng to do with films. That’s been elusive so and ’s Andha far. When on holidays, either I am looking Naal. We need corporates who for the graves of the masters or trying to can fund us in our crusade. meet them. In Sweden, I went looking for Companies can make this a part the grave of Wild Strawberries actor Victor of their CSR activity under the Sjöström in minus 20 degree centigrade. aspect of heritage. For me, this is And on a holiday in Bosnia recently, I met a mission. My wife and I don’t up with filmmaker Emir Kusturica.