Bhopal has wonderful locations for shooting movies
BHOPAL: Raajneeti director Prakash Jha like the city that much that he is trying Bollywood’s other units to shoot in the city of Nawabs famous for its natural beauty.
The director recently heard that writer Rumi Jaffery was directing a political satire movie in which Akshaye Khanna playing a role of a Common Man, fighting corruption on a working-class level, from R.K. Laxman`s cartoon strips.
Jha immediately suggested to Rumi Jaffri to shoot his film “Gali-Gali Mein Shor Hai” in Bhopal where the topography and culture are conducive to shooting a satire on a common man`s struggle. For that Prakash also lent Jaffery his entire shooting infrastructure and equipment that he now has in Bhopal permanently.
Writer-director Rumi Jaffery acknowledges Jha`s contribution. “I am from Bhopal. Coming here to shoot my political satire `Gali-Gali Mein Shor Hai` is like a homecoming for me. And Prakashji made it possible,” said Jaffery.
“He lent me his crew and equipment and offered every possible assistance. I feel I am shooting in Mumbai rather than Bhopal. We needed a particular ambience for Akshaye`s character. He works in a government office and travels by scooter,” Rumi added.
Talking about the film he said, “And look at the coincidence… I started writing the film two years ago. Now Anna Hazare has brought the question of corruption to the forefront of our lives.”
Though the main parts are played by Akshaye Khanna, Shriya Saran, Satish Kaushik and Vijay Raaz, Rumi has chosen a lot of local theatre actors from Bhopal, again recommended and provided by Prakash.
The first film to be shot in Bhopal was B.R. Chopra`s “Naya Daur”, followed decades later by Ismail Merchant`s “In Custody” and Vishal Bhardwaj`s “Maqbool”. Prakash shot “Raajneeti” and “Aarakshan” in Bhopal. He will shoot “Satyagrah” with Amitabh Bachchan in Bhopal from January 2012.
“Bhopal is a wonderful location for shooting, not just for its picturesque, almost poetic locations but also because the people are extremely gentle and courteous. Though I`m shooting in some of the most crowded areas of Bhopal, the local people are not the least interfering or intrusive,” said Rumi.
(News Editor- Naushin Fatima Khan)
