Thursday, October 15, 2015

Farah Khan my fav director #DirectorsDiaries

#FarahKhan My favorite director. :)

MY TAKE
I tried very hard to meet Farah but could not. I never gave up. She replied to me after many messages; and though her reply was very short, she had addressed me by my first name without knowing me. Later, whenever I messaged her to meet me again for her balance interview, she often replied addressing me by my first name. After Farah first replied to my message, it took me another six months to meet her.

I must mention here, of the four films she has directed, my favourite is Om Shanti Om. It is amongst those rare Hindi films that got all the elements just right, including the rare quality of being tongue-in-cheek about Hindi films in general. From the innumerable films she has worked on as choreographer, the one song that of course stands out is ‘Pehla nasha’ from Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992); she has choreographed some great numbers in blockbusters like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), 1942: A Love Story (1993), Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), Dil Se (1998), and many others, but there’s something about ‘Pehla nasha’ that makes it so fresh even today, a true trendsetter, young even today.

I interviewed Farah over four sessions, spread over three months. The one moment I will fondly remember is when, during the course of her interview. she introduced me to her daughter, who happened to walk into the living room with her doll. I asked her, the name of her doll. She was too shy to reply, so I prodded her by asking her if I can address her as ‘A Happy-doll’. Her daughter nodded yes and smiled.

I mention my very brief interaction with this lovely child, because after I interviewed Farah, I felt I had been speaking to a ‘girl at heart,’ and not just a director who was a very courageous woman by spirit. Farah is one who will harbour a happy heart and high self esteem in spite of the highs and lows of her film’s box office. Of all the interviews for this book, I laughed the most interviewing Farah. She had mentioned her father was witty. ‘Hmmmm so that is where she gets her unrelenting humour from, her Papa; and her high self-esteem, being an independent working woman, from her courageous mother.’

Farah was one director who said, “Raakesh, it is very very hard to get your first break. So my salute to those who do.” People dance with their feet. Farah, uses her wings too, I reflected, while leaving her home. My own heart feeling very happy.

- #RakeshAnandBakshi (From our book Directors' Diaries - The Road to Their First Film. )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Directors’ Beginnings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgbvst-mhOw

The Directors' Convictions: (What convinced the directors to come on board our book) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQgoJwP1sd8


No comments:

Post a Comment