Ab Begum Hero Banegi: Mehrunisa
Panaji: Mehrunisa screams loud against the male-dominated Indian film industry. The Umrao Jaan fame Farrukh Jaffar has played the role of an 80-year-old actress who boldly tells the audience to follow their dreams and that age doesn’t matter.
‘Mehrunisa’, the Austrian film in Hindi language and the Mid-Fest Film at the 51st International Film Festival of India, had its World Premiere at the festival yesterday.
Addressing a press conference today, director, producer, and screenplay writer Sandeep Kumar said: “The sense of the film is Indian, and hence we wanted its premiere on Indian soil. I am fortunate to be here at IFFI with Mehrunisa. We are very overwhelmed by the response to yesterday’s screening. It is a great tribute to this grand lady of Indian Cinema who has had a hallowed place in Indian cinema for more than 40 years.”
A woman’s age matters only in Indian Film Industry. When men, who are equally old, can play lead casts in films, ‘why not women?’ questions the film, which was shot in Lucknow. “I believe in shooting in real locations. All locations of Mehrunisa are real”, said the Director.
Kumar explained how the idea for the film took root. “The idea of this film came up as I was wondering where all the yester years’ actresses were, and why they are not seen in Indian cinema. They only come as placeholders. My thought was ‘why aren’t there any stories around them?’ In Europe, senior citizens in 80s, 90s who are actors have their films running with them in lead roles.”
The director pointed out an intriguing fact about his lead actor’s career. “In her 40-year long career, Farrukh Jaffar has acted with the three Khans, but this is her first lead role, at the age of 88! ‘Mehrunisa’ will be a game changer in the Indian Film Industry.”
“Story bhech rahe ho ya star bhech rahe ho?: Mehrunisa
(Are you selling the story or the star?)
Sharing her experiences of the film, Actor Ankita Dubey who plays Mehrunisa’s grand-daughter says: “The script was so real and raw, that it took my attention the very first time I saw it. It had something hidden.”
Actor Tulika Banerjee, who plays the role of the Mehrunisa’s daughter had this to say: “The youth may have knowledge and gadgets, but it is the elders who have experience of life. Age is just a number. That’s a strong message the film gives.”
When asked about Indian film makers, Director Sandeep: “I am a big admirer of Mira Nair who connected American cinema with Indian Cinema and of Gurinder Chadha who connected English Cinema with Indian cinema; I also like Anurag Kashyap’s style of film making.”
He also stated that Bollywood overshadows the regional cinema that India has got and that IFFI is a great platform for regional cinema.