Kamaluddin Mohammed better known as Kamal is currently a filmmaker under siege.Accused by right-wing parties of anti-nationalism the shy brilliant director of the Malayalam masterpieces like Celluloid, Gramophone and Aggathan finally opens up in a candid interview with Subhash K Jha.
From a National award winning filmmaker to an anti-national traitor, this happens only in India, don’t you agree?
(Laughs nervously) I still don’t know what happened. I though India belongs to all Indians. I was born and brought up in India. I am as Indian as anyone else. I don’t see myself as a Hindu or Muslim. I am an Indian filmmaker.
You had to be hospitalized?
Yes, but it had nothing to do with the controversy. I needed to get myself looked at.
Have you been provided security from the people who are hounding and threatening you?
Now I am in my hometown Kodungallur which is on the outskirts of Kochi one hour away by car.I was actually born in a village named Mathilakam. But I grew up in Kodungallur. My house is here. Everything is peaceful here. No sign of any aggression . Actually this is a Communist-dominated area.And though the BJP has clout in these parts too I am safe from any attack.So here, I am only hearing about all the things that I am supposed to have done and all the things that people want to do to me.
So you make you films from this little town?
Yes, I prefer to stay here because all my family relatives and friends stay here. I feel comfortable and secure here. My home town is Communist and secular. That’s why I told you I grew up feeling neither Muslim nor Hindu.
When you hear and read of your being anti-national how do you react?
I don’t even know what exactly happened. As you know I am the chairperson of the Kerala State Film Academy. The National anthem is played before each and every film in every theatre in Kerala. I never protested against the national anthem being played in cinema houses.Why would I do that? I only protested against the police being sent to a cinema house to arrest people during the national anthem. In the capacity of the chairperson of the Kerala State Film Academy I protested against police force-entering the cinema house. That was not right.
How does this make you anti-national?
To this day I don’t know. Maybe those who accusing me can explain how.It could be my Communist leanings. During the last elections I campaigned for some Communist candidates. I am a Communist. That’s my political ideology.
That doesn’t make you anti-national?
No it doesn’t.But they know better.They’ve be targeting individuals from the arts , be it cinema or literature. I am sure you’ve heard of the way the veteran litterateur M.T.Vasudevan was targeted and abused like anything.
To add to your troubles Vidya Balan has backed out of your Kamla Das bio-pic Aami?
Yes .the timing of her decision is very unfortunate, though I’d like to believe that the right-wing pressure had nothing to do with it. But I am not stressing over her departure. I am going to make the film without VidyaBalan with another fine artiste. This is my dream project. One Vidya can’t take my dream away from me.I’ve been planning this project for four years.
Was it a shock when you heard she has opted out?
It came as a complete surprise.She had given us no prior indication of her intentions.I don’t know the reason for her behaving this way . But it is unethical and unprofessional. It doesn’t suit such a great actor to behave like this.Just one week before the shooting was to begin Vidya informed us she’s not doing it. This is not done.
What do you think happened?
I don’t know. I gave her the script. She was very happy and preparing for the part.Suddenly this happened.
Do you think your current political problem scared her off?
I don’t think so. I think ultimately Kamla Das proved too controversial for Vidya. She was scared to portray her.As you know Kamla Das had converted to Islam. Maybe there were pressures on Vidya. I really don’t know what her insecurities were. Her recent Hindi movies have been failures.I wish her well.
Are you confident about making Aami without Vidya Balan?
Hundred percent confident. I have distinguished names like Gulzar and Resul Pookutty associated with the project. I don’t have to worry.By the way Gulzar came on board knowing how controversial Kamla Das’ life was. So did Vidya. We didn’t deceive her into accepting the film. It is unfortunate that she left us.It’s not good.

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Jamuna Had A Love-Hate Relationship With Bollywood

Veteran Telugu actress Jamuna who passed away on Friday, shared an uneasy relationship with the Hindi film industry.She did eleven Hindi films including the iconic Milan in 1967 where Jamuna agreed to play the second lead, or the supporting role if you will, to Nutan.
Jamuna as Gauri was the Other Woman who craved for the hero Sunil Dutt’s attention whereas he had eyes and devotion only for Nutan. In later years Aruna Irani played a similar role in Caravan.
In Milan Jamuna was not keen to do a supporting role. Producer L V Prasad tempted her with three chartbusting songs. Besides, Jamuna had played the same role in Mooga Manasulu, the Telugu original of Milan. But it was the songs composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal which convinced Jamuna to take up the second lead in Milan.
While Nutan had no solo songs in Milan, she did have the chartbuster duet Sawan ka mahina . Jamuna on the other hand, had two splendid Lata Mangeshkar solos: Tohey saawariya naahin khabariya and the magnificent Ghazal Aaj dil pe koi zor chalta nahin.Not only these, Jamuna also had a hit duet with Mukesh based on her character Gauri: Bol Gauri bol tera kaun piya.
But then, fate intervened. After the film released one of Jamuna’s solos, the poignant and memorable Aaj dil pe koi zor chalta nahin was snipped out of the film.
Here is what happened: the Ghazal , one of Lataji’s all-time greats, was very much a part of Milan when it released on 17 March 1967. But then it was seen to hamper the flow of the film and edited out. The beautiful song occurred right after intermission. Producer Prasad, a shrewd filmmaker, got to know that audiences prolonged their loo breaks as there was a song after the break. Hence the sacrifice of a seriously sonorous melody.
Jamuna hardly did Hindi films after Milan. Her last Bollywood appearance was in Raj Kumar Kohli’s Raj Tilak where she was lost in a multistarrer as the royal queen.
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Karan Johar Moves Alia Song From Switzerland To Kashmir

The romantic duet in Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani which was to be shot in Switzerland and which was delayed due to the film’s leading lady Alia Bhatt’s motherhood, is now being relocated to Kashmir.
Purely out of the love for new mom Alia.
Says a source in the know, “Karan loves Alia like his own daughter. He would do anything for her. He postponed the release of Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani as the love duet could not be shot before Alia’s maternity leave. Karan had decided to shoot the song in Switzerland after Alia’s maternity love. But now he has relocated the song to Kashmir as Alia doesn’t want to leave her baby girl behind for long stretches.”
And as Karan Johar argued, snow is snow. How does it matter whether it is Switzerland or Kashmir?
This song would be Karan Johar’s tribute to his idol Yash Chopra. Alia would be dressed in chiffon sarees while Ranveer, for a change, would be seen in formals.
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Bobby Deol’s Switchover To Villainous Roles

After Prakash Jha’s webseries Ashram where Bobby played a sleazy godman, and Love Hostel where he was a ruthless assassin, he is playing the villain to Ranbir Kapoor in Sandeep Vanga’s Animal.
Bobby says it is not conscious career decision to play negative characters but a conscious decision to play interesting characters. “ I don’t look at characters as positive or negative.When I watch films there is always one character that stays with you. I want to play that character.”
Prakash Jha’s Ashram proved a gamechanger for Bobby. He admits finding challenging roles is tough. “I am trying. I am doing Sandeep Vanga’s Animal with Ranbir Kapoor , Parineeti Chopra. Then I am doing the family film Apne 2 which I am very excited about.”
In an earlier interview with this writer Bobby spoke about his long absence from screen before Prakash Jha’s Ashram. “My fans would ask why I wasn’t being seen on the screen.And I couldn’t tell them it was because I wasn’t getting good roles. But my fans stood by me. They gave me the strength to keep looking for the right roles. Thankfully I found the roles I liked. My new films have given me some new fans. I am thankful I am still here. Yeah , I am in a good space right now.”
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Undekhi A Dark Compelling Thriller Set In The Heartland

Undekhi the forthcoming webseries from Applause Entertainment and Sony LIV which starts streaming from July 10, looks like the kind of thriller that won’t let us rest easy until we see the last episode. It is mounted with a stress on growing pressure.
One promo shows a rotund cop investigating a gruesome murder in a dense tribal area.The other promo shows a politician gunning down a dancer on stage in front of the public and the press.
Wild West comes to the North. Undekhi is a thriller set in Manali, Himachal created for Applause by Siddharth Sengupta. It’s a gripping story that sees Harsh Chhaya making an impressive comeback as a drunk Papaji in a super-rich amoral Punjabi family. And Surya Sharma (Prince from Hostages) really shines as Rinku , the main bad guy and Papaji’s nephew. It’s got a terrific cast of other characters, many of whom we all recognize as names .
The talented Harsh Chhaya makes a debut of sorts on the digital medium with Undekhi.
Says Harsh, “I have never played anything so wild and mad. I am looking forward to Undekhi, hope it works for the audience too.This is a debut in a sense that this is the first one I shot for the OTT platform.But the other two I shot for after this was streamed before this one Out Of Love and Rangbaaz, Phir Se.
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