Meghna Gulzar Is Enjoying Thefirst 100-crore Hit Of Her Career. Analita Seth Meets The Heart And Art Behind Raazi.
Meghna Gulzar’s penchant for complex emotions and nuanced narratives was noticed way back in Filhaal in 2002. Talvar, in 2015, was her moment of epiphany when she gently changed perception about the 2008 Noida double murder case. Yet again, she stepped on the firing line with Raazi, based on Harinder Sikka’s book Calling Sehmat. The story of a Kashmiri Muslim woman, who married a Pakistani army officer to spy for her country, may have earned patriotic patronage and 100 crores plus at the box-office. But Meghna’s triumph lies beyond that. It lies in her ability to dwell on the vulnerability in valour, the human ravage of war and those stories of heroism that do not make way into history books. Above all, her triumph lies in commemorating Sehmat, a heartbroken woman, who died years before her final rites...
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE AMAZING RECEPTION RAAZI HAS RECEIVED?
When people you look up to as filmmakers, praise your work, it’s precious. Like Rajkumar Hirani sir did. I was moved because I look up to him. It’s heartening when you read tweets about people giving a standing ovation to the film. Pakistanis, who have seen the film, well... their scepticism seems to have faded. This is the response you wish for a film like this, particularly in the times we live in. There’s gratitude and relief.
WAS IT DIFFICULT TO ADAPT SUCH A POLITICALLY SENSITIVE STORY?
When you’re aware of what could foster divisiveness, you avoid it while writing or directing it. Also, your own sensibility is not the kind to rake up controversy rather just to tell a story.
WHAT WAS THE ONE MOMENT IN HARINDER SIKKA’S NOVEL SEHMAT CALLING THAT URGED YOU TO MAKE RAAZI?
This story is from the July 2018 edition of Filmfare.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2018 edition of Filmfare.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
New beginnings
All that transpired at the press conference held to herald the 69th SOBHA Filmfare Awards South 2024 with Kamar Film Factory
Footprints of the Giants
It has been years since Hrishikesh Mukherjee left us, yet his words still resonate: Zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahi.
Shatrughan Sinha's Rapid fire
Any affair, especially an extramarital affair, should always be kept secret. Especially from your wife.
"I was the only heroine whose name sold films"
Hit machine Asha Parekh looks back at her life and times in a heartwarming chat with Farhana Farook
THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD
MAXIM BALDRY PLAYS ISILDUR, SHAPED BY JRR TOLKIEN AS A TRAGIC HERO. HE CONFIDES IN TANZIM PARDIWALLA ABOUT HOW TOLKIEN AND LOTR SHAPED HIS CINEMATIC JOURNEY
A CELEBRATION OF CULTURAL BONDS
INDIAN CINEMA SHINES AT THE MOSCOW INTERNATIONAL FILM WEEK, REPORTS SUMAN SHARMA
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
BRITISH ACTOR DANIEL CALTAGIRONE, WHO WAS RECENTLY SEEN IN THANGALAAN, TALKS WITH VEDANSHI PATHAK ABOUT WORKING IN INDIAN FILMS, BREAKING THE BRITISH ACTOR STEREOTYPE AND MORE...
ENTER THE VILLAIN
Australian hottie Charlie Vickers has become an international sensation, thanks to his interpretation of Sauron from The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power series. Tanzim Pardiwalla notes down his charm as well as modesty
Follow the money
DEVESH SHARMA HIGHLIGHTS THE HIGHS OF BOLLYWOOD BOX OFFICE SO FAR IN 2024
ART OF THE MATTER
AANAND L RAI TALKS ABOUT MAKING SEQUELS AND MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS IN A HEARTY CHAT WITH SUMAN SHARMA