The Hungry was one of the revelations in the world of Indian independent cinema; the avant-garde adaptation of Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus saw success in all spheres, among the common viewership and critics.
The veteran actor, Jayant Kripalani, played a very crucial and effective, albeit short role in the film as the corrupt politician, Poddar. It's an intense and effective role, which needless to say, the experienced thespian delivers as.
The majority of us Indians still have our apprehensions about the genre "Shakespeare". There are different interpretations when the name is uttered in the context of cinema.
Naseeruddin Shah is the best actor in the world. Period. Not one of the. He is the best
On being asked if it the job of working on a story based on a play by Shakespeare however, he asked us a counter-question,
"Why should it be?"
For someone like him who has worked in hundreds of plays, he is familiar with classical dramas like Kalidasa's 'Abhigyanshakuntalam', Sudraka's 'Mrchhkatikam'. He has also acted in the Sanskritised Hindi play, Surendra Verma's 'Surya Ki Antim Kiran Se Surya Ki Pehli Kiran Tak' (From Dawn Till Dusk), and he goes further to confess,
"It was as pleasurable and as difficult to work in a Shakespeare adaptation as in any other film. Irrespective of whether it's a movie or a play, you give it your best shot."
Sab toh saale mar jaate hain. Aadmi ho ya aurat ho, gender ki aisi ki taisi.
The relationship with director Bornila Chatterjee and co-writer/producer Tanaji Dasgupta and Mr Kripalani is old.
He was "their guru" when they had started off their careers ten or twelve years ago in theatre' and working on this particular film for him thus, "was marvellous", as he got "to surrender himself to Bornila and Tanaji". "I got into the character aur bohot mazaa aya", beamed Mr Kripanali.
The entire cast delivers very powerful and effective performances in this film. Mr Kripalani called 'The Hungry' one of the "most dramatic works" he has worked in, personally; his thoughts on the other veteran and star of the cast, Naseeruddin Shah too were very powerful.
He said, being old friends in real life did magic for their on-screen chemistry and their relationship on set. Mr Shah, he said "is the best actor in the world. Period. Not one of the. He is the best"; he exuded a singular "grace and graciousness" that made Mr Kripalani and his other co-stars and crew members, totally comfortable around him, "something you don't see in everyone".
"Even if I made a mistake, he would be graceful enough to let it go and say chalo phirse le lete hain", he said on Naseeruddin Shah.
Mr Kripalani totally won us over with his warm ways and his wit over the course of the interview.
The Hungry won many accolades and nominations: one of which was a Special Mention at the Oxfam Awards, as the best film on Gender Equality. We asked him about his reaction to this, particularly unique accolade.
In a very characteristic jovial manner he quipped: "Sab toh saale mar jaate hain. Aadmi ho ya aurat ho, gender ki aisi ki taisi. Aisa script likha hai, ki saare mar jaate hain. Achha hi hai."
As a conclusion, we asked him, how he views the future of independent cinema in India. He said first of all, as a professional actor it was quite impossible to distinguish between genres, independent and mainstream, alternative and "new-wave". He acknowledged how there was nothing "new" and that stories are stories which get re-fashioned in their own way. For him, it was a job, and he made sure to do it to the best of his abilities.
He further pointed out with the arrival of digital platforms like Amazon Prime, the world of film too was changing. "It has exploded. Now anyone can make a film; and if it's good, it will get bought by [such platforms] just like in the olden days, big theatres bought rights to films that were good."
As an example, he spoke from his personal experiences:
"The world has changed. In my lifetime, the fax machine was introduced and it disappeared in my lifetime too. That's how fast the world and the movie-making business is changing. And all the more power to it."
The old, ripe and experienced finds itself in juxtaposition with the new, the radical and fresh, in the film. The old order falls and the new order [despite of the tragedy that it took to bring about the change] replaces it like a storm.
Change is a big part of everything in life; the film industry to has made sure to come a long way and we too at the Moviean wish it the best.
Watch the trailer of The Hungry
READ the director- Bornila Chatterjee interview:
READ the Cinematographer- Nick Cooke interview:
