c„»„„ THE HINDU MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 4calpana Lajmi, who carved a niche for herself, dies The director's well-intentioned and significant works, which include films like Rudaali and EKPal, focussed on gender and sexuality NAMRATAJOSHI the issue of gender and pa­ sisting Benegal. Gulzar had survived by her mother, ar­ subjects and taking a risk at MUMBA1 triarchy in the broader con­ been a close associate, work­ tiste Lalita Lajmi and brother the cost of being notorious. Right from her first feature text of class and caste di­ ing on the script, dialogues Devdas Lajmi. Look at the range of films she film, Ek Pal (1986), Kalpana vides, through the tale of a and lyrics of her early films. Several film personalities has made. There is no the­ Lajmi carved out a distinct woman who is unable to But the biggest influence was paid tributes to her. Screen matic connection you can space for herself in Indian ci­ weep despite the many per­ her mentor and long-time writer Urmi Juvekar said: find easily. She could get into nema. Based on a short story sonal losses. Will her friend­ partner and associate, late "She agreed to work with a things very few would dare by Maitreyi Devi, the love ship with a rudaali (profes­ musician-film-maker Dr. complete novice like me to get in, and that fearless­ triangle, with Shabana Azmi, sional mourner) help her to Bhupen Hazarika. It was [during Darmiyaan: In Bet­ ness set her apart." Naseeruddin Shah and Fa- embrace her grief and lead through him that she got ex­ ween (1997)]. She was driven Film-maker Onir hailed rooque Sheikh in the lead, her on to be what she was al­ posed to the Northeast. He and got things done but also her love of music. "Our asso­ wasn't just seen through the ways destined to be? The produced her TV series, Lo- was very accommodating. ciation started with Darmi­ perspective of the woman friendship/sorority of wo­ > >*%_ hit Kinare, based on famous Her voice was very strong as yaan. She had a very good but also gave her agency in men found an interesting re­ short stories of the region. a film-maker and that came sense of music and she want­ the relationship(s). Lajmi presentation through the Legacy lives on: Kalpana Lajmi, right, was greatly influenced Later, she took a backseat to through in all her films. At ed me to be closely associat­ was among the early feminist characters. of Bhikni and by late musician Dr. Bhupen Hazarika. • THE HINDU ARCHIVES help get his work forefront. that time, Mahesh Bhatt put ed with the music of her film filmmakers who came to the Shanichari, played by Rak- me in touch with her. We did so it was musical works that I forefront during the so- hee Gulzar and Dimple res­ mi (played by Arif Zakaria) melodramatic and broad Da­ Battling cancer Darmiyaan. But the longer started working with her on- called parallel cinema years. pectively. It brought Dimple and his actor mother Zeenat man (2001) in which she got Diagnosed with kidney can­ the film took the more time I With her, I learnt not just Her spare but well-inten­ the national award for best (Kiron Kher) who is in denial Raveena Tandon to play the cer last year, the 64-year-old got to spend with her. We about films but also music tioned and significant body actress. of him and of herself. Even­ victim of domestic abuse and film-maker-writer had been worked on other projects and life." of work remained acutely fo­ The intersectionality of tually, it is Immi who goes marital rape. It was followed undergoing treatment at the and floated ideas. That gen­ Journalist Sudarshana cused on gender. gender and sexuality, much about helping her find and by Sushmita Sen in Chingari Dhirubhai Ambani hospital. eration of female film-mak­ Dwivedi said: "I salute the The film to bring the spot­ discussed as a growing, com­ reclaim herself. (2006), as a prostitute taking Her condition had been dete­ ers had it difficult in the woman because she did the light on her was her second, pelling theme in contempor­ Lajmi's films hereafter on the hypocrisies and pow­ riorating over the last few space they worked in, and films that she believed in and and perhaps the most per­ ary cinema found an early could not match up to the er play of the priestly class. months and she wasn't even still holding their voices, be­ never compromised." suasive feature film, Rudaali exploration at the hands of promise of the earlier crop. Hailing from the Guru able to join in the launch of ing different and picking the Actor Kirron Kher and ci- (1993). Like Ek Pal, this was Lajmi in the pathbreaking Her penchant for bringing Dutt-Shyam Benegal family her book on Dr. Hazarika, subjects they did, is com­ nematographer Santosh Si- also based on the work of a Darmiyaan (1997). Set in the mainstream actresses in the (she was Dutt's niece and Be­ Bhupen Hazarika: As I Knew mendable. van condoled her death. woman writer - the iconic fickle world of films, it is alternate zone, however, negal was her maternal cou­ Him, earlier this month. Laj­ "I think Kalpana's biggest (With inputs from Kennith Mahashweta Devi. It placed centred on a transgender Im- continued with the overly sin), Lajmi started off by as­ mi, who died on Sunday, is contribution is her choice of Andrew Rosario) .