Shyam Benegal to direct commercial venture 'Chamki Chameli'
Mumbai, June 20: It will be the coming together of two different genres of cinema as acclaimed director Shyam Benegal is all set to direct a film 'Chamki Chameli', produced under the banner of White Feather films, promoted by actor Sanjay Dutt and director Sanjay Gupta.
Gupta, known for his dark and action-overdosed films like 'Musafir', 'Kaante' and 'Zinda' was at the 7th IIFA in Dubai last week to showcase his latest under-production films. He said he wants to break away from the mould he is known for (action) and work with fresh talented directors as well as veterans.
'Chamki Chameli' is based in modern day Rajasthan and is the love story of a beautiful gypsy girl and a BSF soldier.
Sanjay told mediapersons that the film will go on floors in January next year and will be completed in one schedule, spanning over a month.
A R Rahman will compose the music of the movie, Sanjay said and added that the star cast is being finalised at the moment. ''It is definitely an established actress who will play Chamki and not a newcomer,'' he added.
About the storyline, Sanjay said Chamki is a temptress who is responsible for the downfall of many men. She woos a BSF jawan Dilip Singh, leading him to revolt against his superiors. His infatuation causes him to join a band of drug-runners, of which Chamki is a member. Dilip Singh is happy with Chamki for a brief period, but is driven to madness as things from her dark past and her ambitious future come in the way.
Gupta said among the under-production films under their banner 'Dus Kahaniyan' and 'Woodstock Villa'. Besides, 'Shootout at Lokhandwala', based on a real life encounter in Mumbai in 1991, with a huge starcast, will go on floors next month. 'Shoot out....' will be directed by Apoorva Lakhia and stars Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Vivek Oberoi, Arjun Rampal, Tushar Kapoor and Rohit Roy, among others. The film will be a well researched one and based on facts, Sanjay claimed.
As for him, Sanjay is himself directing 'Alibag', a story of nine friends. ''It is a film about friendship, longing, belonging and memories. It will bring the unexpected to the audiences,'' he said.
It is a story about nine friends. They come together for a weekend and before it is over they have touched each other's soul in a way they have never dreamt of, he said.
Himesh Reshammiya has scored the music of the film. ''I told Himesh that he will not sing for this film. It was not out of disrespect for his style of singing. The film needed a different feel of music and it was a challenge for me as well as for him,'' he added.
On 'Dus Kahaniyaan', 10 stories by seven directors, Sanjay said the themes run the gamut from loss and betrayal to uprootedness and alienation, and that makes for absorbing entertainment. The films are for 9 to 10 minutes duration while one of them 'Rise and Fall', with Sanjay Dutt and Arjun Rampal, is about 18 minutes long. ''Short stories are an interesting kind of cinema, conveying a story in shortest possible time,'' he added.
He said all the films will be completed and ready for release by next year end.
UNI