Panaji: Mehrunisa screams loud in opposition to the male-dominated Indian movie business. The Umrao Jaan fame Farrukh Jaffar has performed the function of an 80-year-previous actress who boldly tells the viewers to comply with their goals and that age doesn’t matter.
‘Mehrunisa’, the Austrian movie in Hindi language and the Mid-Fest Film on the 51st International Film Festival of India, had its World Premiere on the competition yesterday.
Addressing a press convention at the moment, director, producer, and screenplay author Sandeep Kumar mentioned: “The sense of the film is Indian, and hence we wanted its premiere on Indian soil. I am fortunate to be here at IFFI with Mehrunisa. We are very overwhelmed by the response to yesterday’s screening. It is a great tribute to this grand lady of Indian Cinema who has had a hallowed place in Indian cinema for more than 40 years.”
A girl’s age issues solely in Indian Film Industry. When males, who’re equally previous, can play lead casts in movies, ‘why not women?’ questions the movie, which was shot in Lucknow. “I believe in shooting in real locations. All locations of Mehrunisa are real”, mentioned the Director.
Kumar defined how the thought for the movie took root. “The idea of this film came up as I was wondering where all the yester years’ actresses were, and why they are not seen in Indian cinema. They only come as placeholders. My thought was ‘why aren’t there any stories around them?’ In Europe, senior citizens in 80s, 90s who are actors have their films running with them in lead roles.”
The director identified an intriguing truth about his lead actor’s profession. “In her 40-year long career, Farrukh Jaffar has acted with the three Khans, but this is her first lead role, at the age of 88! ‘Mehrunisa’ will be a game changer in the Indian Film Industry.”
“Story bhech rahe ho ya star bhech rahe ho?: Mehrunisa
(Are you promoting the story or the star?)
Sharing her experiences of the movie, Actor Ankita Dubey who performs Mehrunisa’s grand-daughter says: “The script was so real and raw, that it took my attention the very first time I saw it. It had something hidden.”
Actor Tulika Banerjee, who performs the function of the Mehrunisa’s daughter had this to say: “The youth may have knowledge and gadgets, but it is the elders who have experience of life. Age is just a number. That’s a strong message the film gives.”
When requested about Indian movie makers, Director Sandeep: “I am a big admirer of Mira Nair who connected American cinema with Indian Cinema and of Gurinder Chadha who connected English Cinema with Indian cinema; I also like Anurag Kashyap’s style of film making.”
He additionally said that Bollywood overshadows the regional cinema that India has received and that IFFI is a good platform for regional cinema.
