Director Prabhakar Shukla gives Gudiya a voice
Is law above humans or are humans above the law,” it is this essential debate that instigated Prabhakar Shukla to make Kahaani Gudiya Ki. The movie revolves around the story of Gudiya. She was first married to an Army jawan, Arif. He left for the Kargil war. Four years later when he was deemed a deserter Gudiya married her cousin Taufiq. Two years after this marriage Arif returned. Gudiya was forced to go to him.
Tragedy exploited
This sad and personal story became fodder for the media in 2004. Her fate was decided by the interpretation of Muslim laws. Her life was degraded into entertainment for others. Denied all choice, she became her name.
Through his movie, Shukla tries to give a voice to Gudiya. “The whole movie is from her point of view,” director Shukla says. While he never met her in person, his creative team travelled to her village in Haryana. It is through the recordings of those meetings that he reconstructs her. Pregnant with Taufiq’s child, Gudiya wanted to return to him. She never stated it visibly. She could only say, “Kya hum gai, bakri hai, ki ek khoonte se doosre khoonte se bandh de?” Shukla explains, “She suppressed all her emotions for society. This movie is a tribute to her.”
Gudiya died in 2006 of multiple organ failure, leaving behind a son, who is being shunted between relatives today. Shukla hopes that he can do something for him. Her death forced changes in the script. Ten scenes had to be re-shot. While the original the movie was to end with the panchayat scene, it now closes with her death. Shukla feels that it was her broken spirit that killed her.
Only the promos have hit the screen yet opposition has already started. Shukla gets 20 to 30 threats on his phone every day. The All India Minority Conference wants to ban the movie. Arif, the first husband, has also raised a stir. Shukla recounts with a laugh reading a banner headline on his movie, “Muslim ko badnam karne ki ek filmy sazish”! Shukla is quick to assert that he’s not placed any caste or religion in a bad light. Believing that films mirror society, he simply feels that it’s his fundamental right to show the truth.
The movie has been cleared without any cuts and has got a Universal Certificate from the Censor Board. It has already travelled to festivals in Goa, Kerala and Bangalore. Despite the threats and controversy, he is now determined to show it to the public, “even on video if it has to be”.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
“Cinema is the most effective mirror of the society
PRABHAKAR SHUKLA
Adman Prabhakar Shukla’s stint with the cinematic medium began with Doordarshan. Later, when this 37-year-old moved to writing radio spots and TV commercials, he stumbled upon the real-life story of Gudiya, and spotted a definite cinematic possibility in it. “Everybody knew the story, since it was a much reported incident.
But my film is about Gudiya’s perspective,” says Shukla. Kahaani Gudiya Ki (KGK) premiered at the Osian Film Festival and Cannes and has also been invited to the Florida, Miami and Los Angeles Film Festivals. “My primary concern is to release the film in theatres; only once that is done will I be able to submit my film to festivals,” says Shukla.
Between running to police stations and getting a universal viewing certification from the censor board for KGK, Shukla has started work on his next project Anjaney Rishtey, with Jagjit Singh in the lead. But that’s not all.
With another compelling script ready, Shukla will soon begin work on the story of Amman Bi, a messiah for beggars in Mumbai. “Cinema is the most effective mirror of the society and I want to create something that’s larger than life,” he says.
Adman Prabhakar Shukla’s stint with the cinematic medium began with Doordarshan. Later, when this 37-year-old moved to writing radio spots and TV commercials, he stumbled upon the real-life story of Gudiya, and spotted a definite cinematic possibility in it. “Everybody knew the story, since it was a much reported incident.
But my film is about Gudiya’s perspective,” says Shukla. Kahaani Gudiya Ki (KGK) premiered at the Osian Film Festival and Cannes and has also been invited to the Florida, Miami and Los Angeles Film Festivals. “My primary concern is to release the film in theatres; only once that is done will I be able to submit my film to festivals,” says Shukla.
Between running to police stations and getting a universal viewing certification from the censor board for KGK, Shukla has started work on his next project Anjaney Rishtey, with Jagjit Singh in the lead. But that’s not all.
With another compelling script ready, Shukla will soon begin work on the story of Amman Bi, a messiah for beggars in Mumbai. “Cinema is the most effective mirror of the society and I want to create something that’s larger than life,” he says.
Scarlett Murder Inspires Bollywood
Scarlett Murder Inspires Bollywood
Updated:12:29, Friday May 02, 2008
A Bollywood director has been inspired by the murder of British teenager Scarlett Keeling to make a film about Goa's drug scene.
Scarlett Keeling
Scarlett Keeling
Prabhakar Shukla said the movie, Rave Party, would be shot in the Indian state where the 15-year-old's body was found on a beach in February.
He said: "Rave Party is based on what happened to Scarlett.
"Since the scene of (the) crime was Goa, I want to shoot it there and give it an authentic feel.
"I am going to make this film really big. I want to show the people what is happening in Goa - how there is a drug racket going on in the vacation spot and how people are slowly getting addicted and ruining their lives."
The director plans to begin production in July.
Katrina Kaif
Katrina Kaif
He added that he wanted Bollywood beauty Katrina Kaif, who was raised in London and whose mother is British, to play the role of Scarlett.
Local police originally said the teenager had accidentally drowned after a night of drinking and drugs.
The teenager's mother, Fiona MacKeown, battled authorities to get a second post-mortem done, which revealed Scarlett had been raped and murdered.
Two men are being held by Indian police over her death.
Updated:12:29, Friday May 02, 2008
A Bollywood director has been inspired by the murder of British teenager Scarlett Keeling to make a film about Goa's drug scene.
Scarlett Keeling
Scarlett Keeling
Prabhakar Shukla said the movie, Rave Party, would be shot in the Indian state where the 15-year-old's body was found on a beach in February.
He said: "Rave Party is based on what happened to Scarlett.
"Since the scene of (the) crime was Goa, I want to shoot it there and give it an authentic feel.
"I am going to make this film really big. I want to show the people what is happening in Goa - how there is a drug racket going on in the vacation spot and how people are slowly getting addicted and ruining their lives."
The director plans to begin production in July.
Katrina Kaif
Katrina Kaif
He added that he wanted Bollywood beauty Katrina Kaif, who was raised in London and whose mother is British, to play the role of Scarlett.
Local police originally said the teenager had accidentally drowned after a night of drinking and drugs.
The teenager's mother, Fiona MacKeown, battled authorities to get a second post-mortem done, which revealed Scarlett had been raped and murdered.
Two men are being held by Indian police over her death.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
KAHANI GUDIYA KI
Director’s Note on Film “Kahaani Gudiya Ki”
This is the true story with all the filmy twist and turns used to happen in the film.
The saddest part is that every person or institution involved just watched silently as it happened even no one think about the woman who was trapped in between the situation and times.
My this film is homage to that lady Gudiya who just absorbed all odd things and emotions of her life for the sake of Islam,Shariyat and orthodox law of the Muslim society which definitely needs a reform in 1950 years old traditions according to current times and situations.
This film focus on human aspect of the lady who gone through extreme mental and emotional trauma and really the larger than life incident in her life which gave a new light to change the old and inhuman customs, traditions and forceful religious orders.
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