Pls read the fine print that announces the name of the director- RAJ KUMAR GUPTA.
Wowwww… when i first saw his name on the poster of his debut film, i danced and jumped with joy. His is a true story that’s inspiring, hope giving and above all, the one that makes me proud.. real proud.
Raj came to bombay a couple of years ago from Bihar, hoping to make it big in the film industry. This is something all the articles can tell you. What they cannot perhaps share is his strengths and perseverance. He like all other wannabe directors( including me ) worked hard to learn, understand, enjoy the process of film making. Film making can be an extremely painful process where you are struggling to write a script, narrate, pitch, narrate, take appointments, narrate, make phone calls, narrate, figure producers, narrate, be broke, lead a tough life, narrate and strive to win the trust of people to believe that yes!! you are indeed capable of directing one. One can even understand and sympathize if one breaks down thanks to the negative vibes, the rejections, the struggle and pain of it all. Especially, if you are a nobody.. nobody from a film family..and were not born with a silver spoon in your mouth. So what do you have then?? All one relies on, is one’s honesty, talent, creativity, a little amount of good will one has built over the last few years and above all one’s patience to quietly nod through the struggle believing strongly that times will change, opportunities will be awarded.
Raj epitomizes that word- Perseverance. I remember he was working on No smoking or black friday with Anurag and had his script ready. I called asking him to direct the new TV show that i was launching for the TV network i worked at that time. I was pretty sure he might jump at it, cause TV any day pays a lot more than films unless of course you are a BIG name, an established one. I tried telling him how interesting the show is, he can finally make his debut , so what if its only the small screen. It will give him the experience on the sets and his struggle with his script can go on along side this project. But my dear friend Raj, stuck to his aim, stuck to what he truly believed in and politely declined my offer. He said, i don’t want to get into TV yet. I am meeting lot of people, have given lots of narrations…i am hopeful that something will work out. Let me just hang on for a while. I smiled, told him to think about it and hung up not knowing where my friend was heading, admiring the strength he had to decline a snug life and choose the uncertain, heavily networked, unreliable film industry. I had chosen the snug life with its comfort and was working for a TV station and was petrified of the risky film world. Sometimes it takes years and years of effort, one might even sign on the actors, get great producers, might be already shooting.. but after having shot 20 percent, the film can get shelved. Hell.. haven’t we heard of enough completely ready, certified films also not releasing due to some issues between the producers cast etc?? But Raj was sure, he just HAD to make a film 🙂
Cut to .. a few months after that, Raj went in to hiding and i knew something was cooking up. I myself don’t share the most important events of my life with all unless it actually happens. Just .. there is no specific reason. I just prefer to the milestone in my life speak for itself.. it can be the smallest or the biggest.. i. don’t bring the band and make a huge noise. And so is Raj. Soooo… i let him be. We stayed in touch, met up, but i never pushed him to tell me what he was up to, and never discussed work..i just told him that he can take his own time and tell me whatever he is up to, when he is comfy. He came happily to meet kunju with M, my supremely close friend, in the hospital with a bunch of flowers specially handpicked ( raj is like that, very thoughtful and simple ) which were unfortunately not allowed to bring into our room cause my doc as a rule doesn’t let flowers come in in fear of some insects or anything else that might affect the child or mother. He was very vocal about his ire towards that hospital funda and i couldnt help but laugh at his innocent anger and genuine displeasure. hahah.. i had to explain to him that i am very touched he handpicked the flowers and quickly clicked a pic with them before the nurse took it away.. the thought is what counts raj, i smiled. He was fine and a little dazed looking at a tiny little scrawny baby who had delivered, not knowing what he should do. Extremely afraid of holding the baby, he kept his distance while continuously gaping at her..ahahahah.. it was so cute.. he and M together.. M of course was super hyper , wanting to hold baby, arguing with me about how to hold kunju etc…
OK..i have majorly digressed.. soo.. here is my friend today.. the best debutant of the year with his film AAMIR and getting rave reviews for it. Even passion for cinema is full of praises. I have heard comparisons drawn to the film Cavite and often hear people accusing Aamir to be a lift. I don’t know the truth and haven’t ever asked him about it, but then my dear people and fellow industry peers, irrespective of whatever, Raj has made a good film thats running to packed houses and beat a multi starrer of the whole Bachan parivaar ( family ) . And before he crossed 30 yrs of age. He has had the guts to make his debut without a love story, without a BIG cast, without being safe. Give him a break, will ya? I haven’t seen the film myself yet since it didn’t release in Malaysia, but i was more than over whelmed listening to the reviews from friends, papers and just knowing that RAj has made it!! He is now on a roll planning his 2nd film nervously conscious that it better stand up to the first one. THAT is what i like…. it could have been easy for him to be on a high.. think no end of himself… drift away from reality and grow too big for his shoes. I am happy , he has not.. and happy to know that my friend is taking each step at a time.. gleefully soaking in all the reviews with a firm head on his shoulder. Raj is a friend who truly inspires me to not let go of my dreams, and reinstates the philosophy that believe in yourself, work at it,, and there will be no stopping you.
Cheers to raj, his efforts and his successful debut- Aamir!!
Added later : Here is Anurag’s blog stating it is not a copy
I agree ur frnd Raj has made a really good film. I just saw it yesterday and it touched me. Rajiv khandelwal is awesome. He’s done a very good job.
A huge…big..super.. hip..hip..hurray to Raj
hey i liked the movie too!! good ya…its a brave one for a debut, kudos to raj!
…u should get inspired and come back *grin*
It is an awesome film. A little too dark and painful for my taste but no denying that it’s an extremely well-made movie.
Undoubtedly, a magnificent effort by a first time director. I loved the movie, everything from cinematography to screenplay to story to background score to editing to acting performances were top notch.
But my heart broke when I watched Cavite.
I don’t have any issues with inspiration. But if one passed around his/her script as original and doesn’t accept the inspiration, I think that’s quite ingenious.
I still like Aamir (I own the DVD), and I still believe that Gupta is a good director, (read my review at: http://vishal12.wordpress.com/2008/06/17/what-i-took-away-from-aamir-movie/) but as far as honesty is concerned…. it’s not his cup of tea!
Vishal