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The Shyam Benegal Chat

The director -- whose latest film The Making of the Mahatma chronicles the transformation of M K Gandhi from genial lawyer to the most extraordinary leader of men this century has known -- walked into our office half an hour before the Chat, and then settled down to acquaint himself with the wonders of the Net.

He has promised to be back sometime soon.

p alex (Wed Oct 9 09:52:18 1996 IST):

Is Mr Benegal in?

Good Morning, Mr Benegal. It is wonderful to have you on the Rediff Chat. It is very kind of you to find time to chat. We hope you enjoy the experience.

Mr Benegal, how did you get the idea to make the film 'Making of the Mahatma'

Hi everyone.

Hey, Mr Lakshman, where is Mr Benegal?

Shyam, kashe aas tu? Hoshar aasve? It's good to speak some aamchi gele. Mine's very rusty though, as I am sure your's is. Good to chat with you this morning. So what vare you up to these days? From the write-up, I believe you made a film on Gandhiji. Do you believe you can hontesly better Gandhi by Attenborough?

Hi Mr Benegal, what was the response to your latest film -Making of the Mahatma?

What other films are you working on now?

Hello Mr.Benegal, What are your views on Gandhiji's vegetarianism?

Hi Nidhi: Professor Fatmia Meer a sociologist from South Africa wrote a book called 'The Apprenticeship of a Mahatma' this dealt with 21 years that Gandhi spend in South Africa a most crucial period in his life that lead to his personal transformation, as well as helped him to create his philosophy. It seemed like a very exciting story to tell on film.

Good morning, Mr Benegal. How you doing this evening, or should that be this morning? When I lived in India I used to see a lot of art films. Now I hear the movement is dead. Why? Does the NFDC not bankroll good films anymore? Have they gone the way of other government organisations?

Mr. Benegal, which, in your opinion, is the best film that's ever been made?

Thanks Mr Benegal for replying my question.

Mr.Benegal Will you ever consider making a film with Amitabh Bachchan provided money and time are not constraints for him and you?

It's been what 23 years since Ankur. You have made some good films, some awful filmns. Which film have you found deeply satisfying?

B K Karnad: Hanv Hushar assa. It's not a competition between me and Attenborough. His story primarily deals with the Mahatma taking India to freedom. My story is about Gandhi's personal transformation.

Mr Benegal, I'm just curious to know how you select subjects for your films?

Mr Benegal, I'm just curious to know how you select subjects for your films?

Hell Sekhar: The answer is yes.

Mr Benegal, Good Day. Why do film-makers like your goodself portray such a depressing view of India? is there nothing upbeat in your vision of our country?

Bharat D: Part instinct, part inspiration, part concern, part subject matter.

Mr. Benegal,What according to you is the quality of the Mahatma that made him stand out among a galaxy of world class leaders?

Adoor Gopalakrishnan, rather than you, has grabbed Ray's mantle. How come you lost out?

Dear Ram Gopal: You have not seen enough of my films. I'm a natural optimist, there is nothing depressing in either my films or my own make-up.

Dear Madhavan: I didn't know that Adoor and I were running a race.

You've worked with many good performers on the Indian screen, who are the ones you would rate as excellent?

Thank you, Shyam. Good to know you haven't forgotten your roots as yet! You will be 62, this December. Do you feel satisfied with the way you have led your life. What has been the greatest disappointment in your life?

Sekhar: Transperancy, honesty and unrelenting seeking for social justice and an iron will.

Which film would you rate as your best film ?

Mr Benegal do you agree with the fact that all the people associated with films are hypocrties. They just put a question mark to the society by making films. Instead of doing some ground level work? Why don't you join politics and become Mahatma of the 21st century?

Mr.Benegal,I read in "THE HINDU " a few months back that Gandhiji used to lie alongside naked women to test his powers of "BRAHMACHARYA".Do you think that this info is true and if yes what are yoiur opinions?

What are the frustrations faced by directors like you while making films in India?

Why is that your films don't get a proper theatrical release anymore? I think Mandi was the last film that got the release it deserved. I was in India for sometime these last three years and I could not get even one of your films. Not Satvan ka Ghoda. Not the one that Khalid Mohammad wrote. What's going on? Is it because there's no audience for your kind of films? Or is the thetrical circuit controlled by the Bollywood types?

BK Karnad: I don't think in terms of dissapointments because there are bound to be many dissapointments in ones life . My greatest satisfaction comes from the fact that whatever work I've done has been done to the best of my ability, even if the work sometimes turned out to be mediocre.

Mr Benegal, what is the next film that you are working on?

Mr. Benegal, when i was in India i use to watch all kinds of films (parellel and commercial), but one thing always came to my mind films are for the people, then why is that ur kind of films only appeal to a small section of people and not the masses?

I disagree, Mr Benegal, but I will let that pass. I don't dispute your calibre as a fil-maker. You are up in the pantheon, but I feel too many of your arty types make these kind of films to win awards? Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Aravindan, those Bengali types.

Mr. Benegal, I had an opportunity to see your "SURAJ..." in Vancouver FF in 93. And on this sunday I saw your "MAHATMA..." at The FF. Though this time we wre not fortunate to see you in person. Colud you have Visited Vancouver this season? I loved both the films. With suraj I felt as if I was reading Dr. Bharti"s book and Mahatma was very eye oppening for me. The show was a sold out on both the days. I could not get ticket on friday and had to go back to see it on sunay. Thanks for such a marvalouse tret Mr Benagal

Mr.Benegal, which film would you rate as the one with the least number of mistakes.

Mr. Benegal,You havnt answered my question on the Mahatmas experiments with brahmacharya?

Do you watch conventional Hindi cinema? re there any directors that you admire? Is there any Hindi film you have seen in the recent past that has impressed you with its content?

Mr.Benegal, which film of yours would you rate as the one with the least number of mistakes.

Mr B, I just read that there is a controversy about Husain in Mumbai. What do you attribute for this fanaticism that has crept into Indian society? Having made a film on the Mahatma, do you think his message, his credo has been consigned to the dustbin of Indian history?

J Madhavan: The theartrical curcuit is controlled by cartels. There are demands for full rentals in advance. It is with great difficulty that small budget pictures get any kind of distribution in the present setup. It's easier to get on to television, which is precisely what happpened with my last three films after a very limited release.

Mr. Benegal u have not answered my question , can u tell me why is this gap betweeen parllel and commercial?

Madhavan, I agree. I believe idealism lies in us Indians abroad. Wheneve I go home, I am taken aback by the cynicism, the shallowness that exists in Indian society. Do you agree with me, Shyam?

Mr.Benegal,I think that the Mahatmas biggest quality was that he left behind a number of leaders who would carry on his work.I mean his personality never stifled leadership qualities in others.What do you think?

Hello Mr Benegal, it is a pleasure to be talking to you. I know your film Making of the Mahatma has been released, what will your next film be?

Hello Mr Benegal, it is a pleasure to be talking to you. I know your film Making of the Mahatma has been released, what will your next film be?

How has the Mahatma film done? Why don't you release your films on Star? If Bachchan can get his films on the Star netowrk, why not your films which are so wellk crafted?

Mr. benegal please answer my question

Mr. B,Please give us a sketch of Smita Patil as a person.

Madhavan: Political parties seem to think that the most potent motivating symbols are religious ones, they use this for their own purposes - in this case elections in Uttar PPradesh by elections in Maharashtra and Mdhya Pradesh and so on . Hussain has now been made a convinient target. The cynism that is behind actions like these is terrible,. But I believe that this is temporary and Gandhi, since reprents some of the most fundamental of ideas that guide our people will make a return.

Who according to you are the best actors/actresses on the Indian screen?

How was it working in South Africa? I believe it is a lawless country? Did you meet Mandela?

Mr B,What made you cast Rajit kapoor in two of your films-Suraj...and mahatma?

Were you an adherent of Gandhi's philosophy or did you just make this film because it came your way? I believe you are now working with Jabbar Patel on a film on Ambeadkar?

Michelle: My next film has already been made it is called Sardari Begum and will be released in India in November .

What in your opinion has led to India becoming what it is today?

Do you plan to retire sometime?

Mr Benegal, who according to you are the other great Indian directors?

Mr Benegal u have not answered my first ques. but i would like to ask u what do u think about the Indain actresses are ther any good actresses in the conventional cinema too, or our list ends at a few like Smita, Shabana who have featured in most of ur ventures( of late Pallvi Joshi too)

Mr. Benegal some months ago a friend of mine wrote me from Bombay saying that you are working on a film called 'THUMRI" in fact she has done a dance piece in that film. Please tell us more about this film and where i can see this film?

i heard that sardari begum has a few steamy scenes

Hello Mr Benegal ? How would you rate Martin Scorcesse and Kurosawa as your peers ?

Mr B,How long do you think the present Govt. will last?

Ram Gopal: I was never a concious adherent of Gandhi's philosophy although I was uncounciuosly affected like a lot of our countrymen. I made the film on Gandhi because of how the personal transformation of Gandhi took place. I was a consultant at the script stage on Jabbar Patel's film on Ambedkar. I have no other role to play in that production.

Good morning, Sir. I am sorry I am late. Are you disenchanted with the way things are in the Hindi film industry? Is there no way out to establish a parallel film circuit? To make ansd show good films. Is there something seriously wrong with the way things are going? I hear there are no film societies in Bombay anymore. Is all this an outcome of liberalisation?

Purvi: Yes there are many excellent actresses in cinema today. Madhuri Dixit, Manisha Koirala, Tabu and several others. They would be an asset to any film.

?????

By making films like Sardari Begum, are you not shutting your eyes to the reality that is India? why is it that unlike Govind Nihalani you have never made a political film?

:-(

Mr Benegal is parallel cinema dead in India? Why is it that actors like Om Puri,Farukh Sheikh,or directors like Kundan Shah are either seen on Indian TV or are not seen at all?

Mr Benegal: How was your experience in shooting Discovery of India? What made you come in to this project?

A P Kamath: There are many problems that beset cinema today I won't go into the details because it has to do with economics, land values sky rocketing and so many problems that are seemingly unconnected with the cinema. It will take a while before some clarity will emerge. Meanwhile we are presently in a populist mode and must expect films of the kind that are dished out by the industry.