PIX AND THOUGHTS

Jockeying for the future...

2007-05-14T17:52:00.000-07:00

He is from Bihar. Is 5 foot nothing,about 30kgs ...He is not emaciated,just a jockey..at the chennai racing club. During the shoot of Bhima,caught him after his morning training.

Teaching economics at the betting altar

2007-05-14T17:48:00.000-07:00

Odds of a Blessing...

2007-05-14T17:46:00.000-07:00

Aashirwad,a great name for the probable alter of riches or penury...

The monochrome of money

2007-05-14T17:43:00.000-07:00

Crowded around the betting counters,there fortune hanging on a eqqus racing in distant Mumbai...they came in different hues and sizes.They had one thing in common,to earn their livelihood. I was surprized to note,most were proffessional gamblers. This is what they did for a living. Their day started at 11am with studying the odds,peaked at 4 pm at the winning post,and ebbed by 6pm after the last of the races at the teller counters..

Sindh in Chennai

2007-05-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

The Lingasami film BHIMA,with Vikram was being shot at the race club in Chennai. I met this genial,six feet plus gent whose Father shifted to Chennai,6 months before partition from Sindh. He is one of the topmost Brokers at the Ramaswami race course.While others around exhorted me to TREBLE my luck...Even as he showed me around the members box and the betting rink...His continuous refrain was,"dont sir,once you enter this world...you cant go back".Havent I heard this one before !

Corridoors of powerful art

2007-05-14T17:13:00.000-07:00

NK at the Triveni Promenade post lunch...

Posing NK

2007-05-14T17:11:00.000-07:00

Very difficult to expect him to remain still and pose...So I posed questions he answered and I clicked.

Assam at Triveni

2007-05-14T17:05:00.000-07:00

Baharul my class mate from the N.S.D.,is married to one of the finest actresses I have known,Bhagirati Bai from Karnataka.Against tremendous odds,together they run "Seagull" a theatre group in Guwahati.That winter day,I was inDelhi working all night at the Redfort for the Telegu film "Atithi",with Mahesh Babu.The day was free,we met over lunch at The Triveni Cafe over food ,Assam and life...

The Nexus...

2007-05-14T09:38:00.000-07:00

Fresh out of N.S.D.,I met him.Passionate,charismatic,stubborn,eclectic,loving,leftist, and a believer in friendships...He directed plays,led people,gave a ear to anyone who aproached.He was the Agony uncle,who charged seemingly apolitical mortals to go into villages of then burning Punjab,singing songs of peace and Kabir.He was the hive around whom,all hovered...some just wanting to know,why others were there...while most wanting to hear something more.He was fire and ice... He was a child who sulked then cut off links..He was a mentor who wouldnt give up,till we got our wings.On his shift,Actors became poets and composers,small town boys experienced the freedom to talk and make friends with english honours girls...And some people like me,got out of the KLAUS MARIA BRANDEUR cliche in Mephisto... of "I am just an actor".To realy get,that "I am ALSO an actor".NK or nexus as I call him,continues to infuse life and smoke wills.His ACT 1 continues.This pic of him under the NEEM TREE OUTSIDE N.S.D.

My Fortune...

2007-03-30T20:02:00.000-07:00

My Father,Mr.Govind Vidyarthi always spoke about his Fortune and Wealth.His friends..I love to flaunt mine too...Introducing my dear friend Alok Mathur.His love and generosity has enveloped all who know him. I have been addedly blessed,that inspite of living in different cities,we have remained in constant touch over the last 24 years. His wife Romila (whose real name is Seth),though a vegetarian who only eats kaaalay waaalay chholay,laughs at all my jokes and Arjan their son, doesnt mind getting his cheeks pinched by me... (love compounded and matured...)...Through ups and downs ,through euphoria and despair ,through Old monks and groggy mornings...Alok has been constant...Ever present...never changing...Not even has his hairstyle changed !That evening too he was there.First listening to the mesmeric sounds of the Beens and then to help me down from the roof after my photo taking spree..."Oye Ganjay...I love you"-Kaalooo .

The Conductor...

2007-03-30T19:37:00.000-07:00

Maverick Roy

2007-03-30T19:35:00.000-07:00

Roy,since graduating from the National School of Drama has made a niche for himself directing plays and spectacles,rich in design and grandeur...

As I perched myself on the roof of the tenement at the Bharat Scouts and Guide ground...I experienced watching a dervaish...There was a trancelike feel as the "BEENS" hauntingly played as Roy conducted...Bagpipers one had heard of,but 60snake charmers playing in unision is an experience which will stay with me for a while...

Roy's Charmers...

2007-03-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

I was in Delhi for two whole night shoots at the Red fort for my Telegu Film Atithi..I visited my friend Roysten Abel as he rehearsed with more than 60 snake charmers for a spectacle they were putting up for the innaugration of the Central Park at Connaught place...

Sealed and final !

2007-03-23T21:52:00.000-07:00

Actors,Director,Film maker,Marketing whiz,Music company owner...All transfixed as Seal performed.This is one artist,who has caught a bullet fired at him with his teeth...He carries on..While holding on to a day time job in a company.
Any support to him will be a phenomenal contribution to keep this work alive in its land of birth..Thanks Mr. Seal for making our evening.Hope you like the pix.

Dont try this at home...

2007-03-23T19:51:00.000-07:00

We were close to him...Ready to catch him...
I have a feeling,thats what he wanted...

The needle popped from the .....Eye !

Blowing Minds...

2007-03-23T19:44:00.000-07:00

Thats what he did...to all of us...

We shrieked and clapped...

Our Blaine...

2007-03-23T19:41:00.000-07:00

The stage was set on the Bhawanipore terrace.
Friends were there,so were some whom I was meeting for the first time.
Bikram Ghosh,whom I had heard of and seen on hoardings in Calcutta was there with his wife Jaya.
I had worked with Jaya in my first Bangla film a few years back.
My chat with Bikram was insightful.
I got a peek into the maverick world of a much travelled,internationaly acclaimed virtuoso,who a few years back encountered the dilemna of ... What next,after years of playing with Ravi Shankar !

But he too like the rest of us had not expected what Prince Seal,our "Blaine"... wove around us !

Princely Seal of a Magician !

2007-03-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

After a hard days work in Cal,good friend Ringo,Suman and I trooped down to Saurav's for a Bangla meal...

What awaited us,was something we had never ever seen in real life.

It was Magician Prince Seal !

For the better part of the 45 mins we were there,he left us dumb struck...

An exponent of close quarters Magic...He stood less than a feet away,prim and proper with a razor sharp moustache...Seal left us giggling ,wide eyed and embarassed with his dexterity and calm!

Cards were guessed,coins flew out of OUR HANDS,a glass next to my plate dissapeared...
It was a David Blaine..in Cal.
We wanted more..and more people to see him..and feel stupid as we were feeling. So we confimed a performance on Suman's terrace at Bhowanipore!

Rickshaw pulling colours...

2007-02-26T10:23:00.000-08:00

The only rickshaw we saw during the hour long drive from the city to the river and back, was this one.

It was a riot of colour against the stark dusty brown scape.

I shuddered to think,how long the old ladies would have waited for the next rickshaw !

But for now,they had got a lift and I got the pic.
Rickshaw pulling colour...

She talked...

2007-02-26T10:11:00.000-08:00

Enroute Purulia city...

She talked...

Six women. 3 walking 3 waiting...

2007-02-26T09:54:00.000-08:00

These 3 were waiting for a rickshaw.
We gave her a lift,and on the way the lady in the green sari talked...
She spoke of her family,her 13 grand children,and how she still is active.
She was taking her ailing friend to Purulia town.
She knew the Doctor,she had been his nanny.

The Boys...

2007-02-14T04:52:00.000-08:00

These two boys materialized out of,seemingly nowhere.And they both stood still for a very long time.They were neither with the cattle,nor were they playing(the elder one had an inflated football bladder under his arm).
I was mesmerized by the younger ones eyes and his running nose.
I am not happy with the composition,but wanted to share these fiery eyes against the stark landscape of the dusty wintery morning.

He didnt get picked

2007-02-14T04:30:00.000-08:00

Close to Purulia town is the river Kansawati.I drove one misty morning to its banks.All I saw were the Banks,the river bed was mostly dry.
The landscape was pretty much arid and dusty.With cattle being led in search of grazing land.
There I encountered this shepherd. He was sporting the team India cap.
He had paused to gather a straggling lamb,every member of his team mattered.

Awaiting the sun at Purulia..

2007-02-13T21:55:00.000-08:00

Ready with make up,whatever be the call time is the hallmark of a professional actor.
That morning,we had a 4am call.For me it meant a quick 10min makeup and ready !
For any actress it means a 3 am sit down for makeup.
Seeing her always on time,I joked with Indrani..."You get paid for your SINCERITY...your talent is something that you provide gratis".
But a 2am wake up ensured,she was pensive by 6am.
And I love capturing such moments !

The long wait...

2007-02-13T20:23:00.000-08:00

After an hour of being photographed,as she was doing her make up...Indrani cracked up...With her characteristic smile she asked...

HOW MANY PIX WILL YOU TAKE?

I got the one I was waiting for !

The artist and her eyes.

2007-02-13T20:18:00.000-08:00

Devi da watched intently as Indrani put the finishing touches to her eye make up.

There is benovelence and warmth in Devi da.Something I first experienced when he did my makeup,for a film in Guwahati nearly 10 years back.

Haldar paints Haldar...

2007-02-13T19:56:00.000-08:00

In a makeshift makeup room in Hotel Akash Purulia Indrani Haaldar,one of the most accomplished actresses of Bengal was being made up by a senior makeup artist of Bengal,Devi Haldar.

Caught his attentive grimace, wrinkled hands and her eyes....Infact,just one eye.

COOL TEA !

2007-02-13T19:40:00.000-08:00

After the chill of the rain shots,Rajesh downs a not so warm glassa chaaa.Another shot awaited him,as soon as the propellers moved closer...Brrrr...Wind added with rain on a Jan end night in Purulia West Bengal,is BAD NEWS for any actor.Luckily for me, I was'nt working that night.I just roamed around with my camera wearing a light jacket over my thick shirt..And to be honest...It was an absoloute delight catching my dear friend. . .CHILLING !

The Art of wetting...

2007-02-13T19:28:00.000-08:00

The art of creating rain and lightning for movies is...an art.Teams of people struggle with leaky hoses while the lightning man sparks at regular intervals.They drench the set and the actors,all so that it looks real.Not to be missed,are the whooshing Giant propellers providing the gale force winds.

Starr's moment before the take...

2007-02-13T02:20:00.000-08:00

I worked with Ringo in his first feature,last year.It was Bengal's first Feature shot in Digital format.
He is an absoloute live wire at work.He shouts,jokes,cajoles Films edits and directs,while playing the background score of the scene..
I visited him that evening as he shot a tele film,in a mosquito infested area near Ruby hospital Cal.

I caught his one moment of silence,before he called 'Action' !

Saheb...

2007-02-11T10:00:00.000-08:00

Saheb,the chana jor garam chef !
At the Maidan...Cal...

Next morning I was to leave for Purulia for my new Bangla Film,Bonobhumi.

Squishing Lime on Chana..

2007-02-11T09:56:00.000-08:00

As Shuman and I chatted Music and life looking over the Maidan bathed in the evening orange..... I asked for chana.
Saheb is from Bihar. He has been selling chana jor garam for over 19 years.

Every 4 months he goes to his village for a month.While there he works the fields.

This Moharram day he made delectable packets of Chana jor garam for us in Cal.

A Smiley

2007-02-11T09:42:00.000-08:00

The Smile...

The Maidan wink

2007-02-11T09:39:00.000-08:00

He was setting up his shop for the evening at the Maidan in Cal.

He squinted looking at the sun.

I clicked.

Laughter in the times of Decay !

2007-02-11T09:36:00.000-08:00

He found my taking pix while people around stared to my good friend Shuman's embarassment, very funny...
As if on cue,I stood on my toes to get this pic.
Thank you Dada...You are one Dada no one will root for in Cal or elsewhere.
You might have made a living by ferrying people.But for us,that's a reminder of a Decadent past.We wont allow you to work...
Go back to your village and till your land,which has not been acquired for the SEZ.
As we drove away in our Innova,he still had a smile.

Any Mamta for him?

2007-02-11T08:30:00.000-08:00

Like many lost causes,his too has no one to carry the torch.

He though carts the poster of another's cause...

Looking back...

2007-02-11T08:25:00.000-08:00

Creviced face,between the mudguard and the wheel.

Thinking of going extinct...

2007-02-11T08:01:00.000-08:00

He sat in a pensive mood,opposite the Mitra institution,Bhowanipore Kolkaata...

What was he thinking about?

Was it about a car plant? Or was it about his hand drawn livelihood,which will soon be wrentched out of his hands...

Gaayey holood ceremony during Upanayan...

2007-01-29T04:02:00.000-08:00

Aunts applied Haldi...

There was love and cheer...

Hands stretched,smearing yellow.

Couple Laughs...

2007-01-29T03:48:00.000-08:00

Karan and Smita recently moved to Bby.He is with Asian Paints.

He is 6'3'' & has a voice,which is knocking on Jagjit Singh's.

When he sang, we all clapped.

When he laughed, I clicked.

Born again...

2007-01-28T22:44:00.000-08:00

Ready to take on life... and all its challenges.

Best wishes to you Joy !
Keep the smile and remain Joyous !

The Shloke whisperer...

2007-01-28T22:41:00.000-08:00

Bannujo,as I call Sushovan was a year senior to me at The Hindu College.He is presently a D.I.G.

A cricketer then,a man of many roles now.

As part of this initition ritual,he whispered the gayatri mantra into Joy's ears...

Through the crook of the purohit's arm I saw the child,as the father of man !

MOVIENG IT...

2007-01-28T22:37:00.000-08:00

Joy's Cousin

2007-01-28T22:34:00.000-08:00

Nirvana...Bliss...

2007-01-28T22:32:00.000-08:00

Bliss...Nirvana...

Wash the turmeric...

2007-01-28T22:31:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the videographer's light...I got the KICK for this pic !

Joy's Upanayan

2007-01-28T22:29:00.000-08:00

Sharmila and I have been class mates since standard 6th.

It was her son's Poitay(janeu/sacred thread ceremony).

I was the (self nominated) unofficial(sic )photographer...

The women applied Haldi(turmeric),laughed,joked and poked fun...Joy got embarassed.

Made my pic !

Cameraman shot...

2007-01-24T21:20:00.000-08:00

Many years back I worked with Arun,who then was an assistant with the noted cameraman/director Teja.
Now he has turned independant.He shot this film I was working in Hyderabad over the past three days.

He listened intently to the actor/producer over lunch.
With the steel utensils in the foreground...I shot him.

Eyes of the Dev...

2007-01-24T18:27:00.000-08:00

I first met Rahul years back in Utah U.S.A. while shooting the original DUS,which was being made by the late Mukul Anand(It still lies incomplete).He was then a topnotch model being launched as an actor.
On this flight,we caught up after ages.
Pulling each others leg over my intake of tomato juices (thanks to Anjali mukherjee )and his frequent strolls to the wash room .
He like me,for the past few years has been busy doing a lot of work down south.
Catching the eye of many a Telegu director.
I caught his,
thanks again to the New reading lights of Jet!

The tee totaller with the Beer man story...

2007-01-24T17:58:00.000-08:00

I typically prefer taking the 1st flights out,while going for a shoot.
Saves the producer one night's hotel stay & I get to spent an extra evening at home.

The first of the 3 alarms goes off at 4am. By 5.45am am at the airport,then its snooze time on the flight.
Not this time.
This morning I had good friend Rahul Dev as the guy"next seat".
I used the new Jet Business class reading lights,to light my model...

The injured starlet...

2007-01-21T07:04:00.000-08:00

While rehearsing a zigzag series of dance movements for Vinayan's film in Kerala, a co actor accidently stepped on her tiny toes.

She was in pain,he was in guilt,her assistant put an ice pack and I clicked.

The Dance master and her two assistants.

2007-01-20T02:29:00.000-08:00

Last week I was working at the exquisite Lulu Centre in pristine Trishur,which is 80 kms from bustling Cohin in Kerala.

This was the final schedule of this film directed by Vinayan.
For a change I was involved in a song and dance sequence...

Caught the Choreographer and her team,but the twirling dancers eluded capture !

And Justice for all-- At the filming of an AIDS awareness spot.

2007-01-19T20:22:00.000-08:00

My friend gajju,came from Delhi a few years back.
By his sheer grit and determination he has carved a niche for him self.

Enroute to my shoot,I dropped by on his set at Aarey Milk colony Mumbai..

He looked back, just for this pic !

A Growing tree, in a Shantiniketan canteen.

2007-01-06T17:09:00.000-08:00

He painted amidst the hullabaloo of Nimbu chaai(lemon tea) and ghugni(Boiled white gram sprinkled with shredded onions,and two toasts at Rs3 per plate !) being served to customers at this canteen at the Kala bhavan (The Fine arts faculty) VishwaBharati..

What caught my eye was the silence this artist had managed to create around him.

Two customers stepped out to wash hands, the boy serving went into the store room to get...maybe more onions.

I got my opportunity.

The tree kept growing in solitude...

Mothers feed.

2007-01-06T16:43:00.000-08:00

Not much of a composition,but this juxtaposition had a tale to tell.

Jethu and his family,Bolpur

2007-01-06T16:28:00.000-08:00

I loved this moment.
The patriarch stood tall,his family behind him.
His eyes spoke to me.
There was benovelence and acceptance.
He had seen a lot,he will see more...

Jethu Jethi ma in Bolpur.

2007-01-06T16:20:00.000-08:00

My friend Bapi's,uncle and Aunt..

Aging but standing tall.

The Actor Awaits

2007-01-04T03:58:00.000-08:00

He remained still,mouth agape.

Watching the other actors,clap and sing.

He was still awaiting his cue,when we walked on.

The Teacher's seat.

2007-01-04T03:41:00.000-08:00

This young lad watched the rehearsing kids.

Mouth agape,very still.

Was he accompanying an actor?

Or was he an actor,waiting for his cue while sitting on the teacher's seat?

2007-01-04T03:21:00.000-08:00

Children rehearse under the very trees,where classes are held.

Rabindranath set up this educational institution for students to be a celebration of the Indian ethos of shiksha.

Where the mind was unfettered,free and naturaly vibrant.

A tradition still proudly maintained here in Shantiniketan.

Rabindranath Thakur's creation,Vishvabharati.

2007-01-04T03:07:00.000-08:00

As we walked into the Vishvabharati complex,the feeling was one of an era gone past, meeting today.

This was a window for me into the mind of a person who long ago, dared to be different.

Here was a writer,poet,painter,and a thinker.

He did what many would have thought of,but dared not do.

He walked his thought.

Salutations to you Thakur.