Thursday, May 12, 2011

Amole Gupte interview

'Food is a metaphor in the film'

Amole Gupte, whose film Stanley Ka Dabba releases today, talks about the benevolent shooting patterns he adopted for the film, and how acting can never be his priority. Sandhya Iyer chats up the director/writer



Amole Gupte is visibly nervous and excited. His film Stanley Ka Dabba releases tomorrow, and the pre-release reports he tells us have been excellent. "I'm getting 4 star reviews," he says, as we catch hold of him for a quick interview during his Pune visit. Incidentally, the actor's parents stay in the city, and Amole is a regular visitor. Positive reviews are a shot in the arm, but the actor-director-painter is still anxious for his film. "It's delivery day, so I'm feeling labour pains now," he says.

Amole came into prominence with his writing for the celebrated Taare Zameen Par - - a poignant tale of a 8-year-old on the precipice of suicidal depression. He was supposed to direct the film as well, but as is public knowledge, an ugly controversy erupted with actor-producer Aamir Khan taking over the directorial reigns. It was seen as an act of betrayal from an old friend and much newspaper ink was expended on the topic. Whatever the truth of that episode, the one thing that emerged through the film was Amole's passionate commitment towards the cause of children. And TZP was certainly not going to be the last of it, he had made clear. Having worked for years with his wife Deepa Bhatia in the area of childrens' welfare, Amole knew there was a fount of stories that needed to be told. And thus came about Stanley Ka Dabba.

The writer/director agrees that the film is a continuation of the process that started with TZP, though the feel and tone of Stanley...is very different, he says, "TZP was about depression in a child, Stanley...celebrates life seen through the life of a 9 year old."
Not many know but Amole has a great love for food, both eating and cooking - and at one time he had been all set to make a film about Mumbai's delectable street-food. It almost appears he found a way to bring together two of his favourite subjects in his new film. "Yes, you could say that. You'll see a lot of food in Stanley.... It is going to make everyone madly hungry," he smiles. But the film per se is not about food, and has other issues it deals with, though Amole would not like to reveal them just yet. "Food is the metaphor, because the theme is about hunger of a certain kind. Food is the carrier of that message, a Dabba."

Stanley Ka Dabba, produced by Fox Star Studios, also saw a unique shooting pattern devised by Amole, where the kid were called for just four hours every Saturday, and a still camera was used. "All the children were from the same class, so there were no auditions. I held some workshops with them and on other Saturdays, we filmed the scenes. There was no paper given to them. It was all oral narration," he says. Amole is clearly pleased with the departure he made from conventional shooting practises where children are asked to be on the sets for hours. "I think I changed the rules of the game. I wanted the process to be benevolent for the children. And none of that affected the lucidity or grandness of the film," he says.

Amole is also an acting in the film, but he insists, it was only because he couldn't have got another actor to make time every Saturday. "Senior actors like Divya Dutta etc showed a lot of grace by adjusting their schedules, and rallying behind the kids." he says.

There was speculation that Amole had taken this script to Aamir, who in spite of their acrimonious split, had given him a patient hearing. Ultimately, it was reported that Aamir thought the film was too similar to TZP. Amole terms the news complete concoction. "I never went to him with anything," he says firmly. Would be work with Aamir again? "I can't say that." he dismisses.

There were creative differences between Aamir and Amole during TZP. Were there any aspects that he found freedom to rectify this time around, considering he was the director on Stanley..? "I wouldn't say I had problems with TZP. That was also my vision," he says, clearly unwilling to make any controversial statements at this juncture.

Amole started off being an actor, having done over a hundred diploma films at FTII. He was also a stage performer for many years, until he turned his attention to cause of children. He started to be identified as a talented painter, writer and social worker. Acting was long forgotten, until a couple of years ago, when Vishal Bhardwaj offered him a meaty role in Kaminey. Amole says the gesture flattered him. I asked him 'Why are you taking me when there are so many other actors?' But I enjoyed that film. For me processes are important. But no, I don't suddenly perceive myself as an actor now, because I always knew I was one. But my priority is not acting. My focus is always to table childrens' issues. When I do films, it's to earn some money. Like I did Bheja Fry 2 and Phas Gaye Re Obama," he says candidly.

For now of course, the actor only has Stanley... on his mind, before he embarks on anything new. "This is it for now." he says.

65 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

facebook likes
1000 facebook likes

http://www.modmomsclub.com/content/make-treats-little-less-sweet http://www.biotechinstitute.org/node/1616?page=1
buy facebook likes buy facebook likes get facebook likes
Whenever I play a game on the computer, and hold down a button on the keyboard for a long time, when I press another key it has a VERY slow response time. It will still be doing keyboard movements from earlier. I thought it was a virus and reinstalled my computer, but I still have the problem. Please help.

get facebook likes 1000 facebook likes [url=http://1000fbfans.info]facebook likes [/url] facebook likes

August 10, 2011 at 1:38 AM  
Anonymous Backpack said...

Thank you for posting this article.I'm really tired of the difficulty of finding relevant and intelligent comments on this topic.Everybody today seems to go to Cheap Louis Vuitton Handbagsat home or their views or suggest training everyone in the world is wrong.Thank you for your understanding concise and Replica Hermes.

November 15, 2011 at 11:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

generic xanax drug test kits xanax - overdose by xanax

February 21, 2013 at 3:34 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

buy tramadol no prescription buy tramadol online in florida - tramadol overnight shipping cod

February 21, 2013 at 8:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol dosage grasscity - buy tramadol online with american express

February 23, 2013 at 5:54 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

carisoprodol 350 mg carisoprodol indications - soma carisoprodol narcotic

February 23, 2013 at 6:03 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

xanax online effects yellow xanax bars - how to buy xanax online

February 23, 2013 at 6:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online what's the tramadol high like - tramadol dosage body weight

February 23, 2013 at 7:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol 100mg capsules - buy tramadol online overnight shipping

February 23, 2013 at 1:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

generic xanax xanax withdrawal buspar - drug interactions with trazodone xanax

February 23, 2013 at 7:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

order xanax online xanax drug test facts - generic xanax pill pictures

February 24, 2013 at 2:44 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol overdose vomiting - order tramadol visa

February 24, 2013 at 6:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

buy cheap tramadol legal buy tramadol online us - took 3 50mg tramadol

February 24, 2013 at 11:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

xanax medication xanax withdrawal really bad - how does generic xanax pill look like

February 25, 2013 at 9:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

where can i order xanax online fastest way pass drug test xanax - xanax 10 mg side effects

February 26, 2013 at 1:19 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol online no prescription cheap - order tramadol 100mg

February 26, 2013 at 11:20 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol online in usa - buy tramadol with cod

February 26, 2013 at 12:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online non generic tramadol - tramadol 100 mg slow release

February 27, 2013 at 4:05 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

buy cialis online cialis super active reviews - cheap cialis professional

February 27, 2013 at 9:41 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol kidney damage - tramadol overdose long

February 27, 2013 at 12:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

cialis pharmacy generic cialis vs brand cialis - cialis daily dose side effects

February 27, 2013 at 1:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

xanax online long you high xanax - xanax drug test detox

February 28, 2013 at 8:38 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

xanax online xanax side effects benefits - xanax on employment drug test

March 1, 2013 at 8:40 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

xanax online xanax withdrawal length - drug interactions lexapro xanax

March 1, 2013 at 7:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

xanax online dosage xanax 0.25 - generic xanax brand

March 2, 2013 at 10:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://landvoicelearning.com/#63987 buy tramadol pharmacy - tramadol ultram pregnancy

March 5, 2013 at 6:54 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol legally - tramadol 50 mg 377

March 5, 2013 at 10:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

learn how to buy tramdadol tramadol withdrawal long does last - tramadol 100mg buy online

March 6, 2013 at 4:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://landvoicelearning.com/#63987 tramadol 627 get high - order tramadol from usa

March 6, 2013 at 3:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol sleep - buy tramadol cod overnight

March 7, 2013 at 6:31 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://landvoicelearning.com/#74967 tramadol 50 mg with alcohol - can you buy tramadol online legally

March 8, 2013 at 3:04 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

buy tramadol soma tramadol high - buy tramadol 150 mg

March 8, 2013 at 4:20 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol for ultram - tramadol and us overnight no prescription

March 8, 2013 at 1:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol sr 100 mg - buy tramadol usa

March 8, 2013 at 3:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://landvoicelearning.com/#63987 ultram tramadol overdose - tramadol liver damage

March 8, 2013 at 5:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cash on delivery tramadol dosage bnf - buy generic tramadol no prescription

March 10, 2013 at 12:14 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

learn how to buy tramdadol tramadol 1 hcl 50mg - tramadol hydrochloride 50 mg get high

March 10, 2013 at 2:55 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol hcl er 100mg - buy tramadol online without rx

March 10, 2013 at 4:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol headache - tramadol high opiate tolerance

March 11, 2013 at 1:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://reidmoody.com/#36921 ativan overdose+hospital - buy ativan online cheap

March 13, 2013 at 1:41 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ways to buy ativan online buy lorazepam canada - ativan usual dosage

March 13, 2013 at 1:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

generic ativan ativan make you high - ativan withdrawal wiki

March 13, 2013 at 6:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://reidmoody.com/#49853 ativan blood pressure - ativan online

March 13, 2013 at 8:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol for dogs drowsy - buy-cheap-tramadol.org

March 15, 2013 at 8:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

oZzy moved away ever before, I miss his cock, and i am always hungry for making love.


FUCK MY PUSSY!

Also visit my blog post :: hcg injections
My web site > hcg injections

March 16, 2013 at 3:48 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://staam.org/#56821 tramadol no prescription usa - tramadol online no prescription fedex

March 16, 2013 at 7:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://ranchodelastortugas.com/#51462 order xanax online no prescription mastercard - upjohn generic xanax

March 19, 2013 at 6:11 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

xanax no prescription xanax 2mg drugs.com - xanax side effects women

March 20, 2013 at 4:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

geotorelxzp credit consolidation
consolidate credit cards

April 4, 2013 at 1:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Τhe write-up haѕ verіfied neсeѕѕary
to myself. It’s vеry helpful and yοu aгe naturаllу quite ωеll-informed in this field.
You gеt opened up mу eyе to numеrous opinion
of thiѕ sρecіfic subјect matter togetheг ωith
intriquing, notablе аnԁ solid content mаtеrіal.
My site - Cialis online

April 5, 2013 at 2:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thе pоst featureѕ vеrifiеԁ necessary to myself.
It’s еxtremely educаtional and you're simply certainly extremely experienced in this region. You have got opened up our eye for you to numerous views on this kind of matter with intriguing and sound content.
Look at my homepage :: viagra

April 5, 2013 at 6:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Your write-up haѕ verіfied bеnеfiсial to me.

It’s very helpful аnd yοu're simply certainly really educated in this area. You get opened our eye in order to different thoughts about this subject along with intriguing and sound articles.
Check out my web-site ... buy viagra

April 5, 2013 at 8:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Υour геpoгt provides prοven bеneficial tο
me. It’s veгy infoгmаtive and you're certainly extremely experienced in this field. You possess exposed my face in order to varying views on this subject along with intriguing, notable and strong articles.
Review my site - http://www.Syllogix.ca/

April 5, 2013 at 8:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Youг curгent post offегѕ verіfіed useful to me.
It’s гeаllу helpful anԁ уou're clearly extremely knowledgeable of this type. You have got opened up our sight for you to different opinion of this kind of subject along with intriquing, notable and sound articles.
Here is my homepage - Buy Viagra

April 5, 2013 at 8:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Youг current rеpогt featuгes
confiгmed beneficial to me. It’ѕ quite helρful and you're naturally really well-informed of this type. You have got opened up my personal face to be able to various thoughts about this specific subject matter using intriquing, notable and reliable articles.
Look at my web page Buy Valium

April 7, 2013 at 2:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The artісle offеrѕ proven useful to myѕelf.
It’s quite useful and you are naturallу quіtе ωell-informed in thiѕ field.
You have gοt oρened my eyes to numerοus thoughtѕ
аbout this toρic ωіth intriguing аnd
stгοng wrіttеn contеnt.
Also see my web site - buy viagra online

April 7, 2013 at 9:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Υour current post proѵiԁeѕ proven
useful to me. It’s verу helpful аnd yоu aге cleaгly еxtremely еducated of thiѕ tyρe.
Yοu get еxposеd ouг sіght in order to ԁifferent opіnion of this kind оf subjесt using
іntrіguing аnd sοlid wгіtten content.
Also visit my page : buy soma

April 8, 2013 at 5:02 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

more info buy ultram legally - buy tramadol 50 mg

May 4, 2013 at 12:47 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What i ԁo not realize is аctually how уоu're now not actually a lot more neatly-favored than you may be now. You are very intelligent. You know thus significantly on the subject of this matter, produced me in my view imagine it from so many various angles. Its like men and women don't
seem to be intеreѕted unless it is one thing
to do with Laԁy gaga! Youг іnԁividual
stuffs outstanding. All the time handle it up!

Hеre is my web-ѕite; hcg injections

May 28, 2013 at 6:50 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

December 13, 2016 at 2:20 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

www.emedsretail.com/blog/benefits-and-uses-of-acai-berries

December 13, 2016 at 2:20 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

You amazingly come with really good posts. Thanks a lot for sharing your blog.Please visit my site also corporate gifts in mumbai- India

June 9, 2017 at 1:32 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

شركة الماسة لمكافحة الحشرات بالاحساء
شركة تنظيف كنب بالقطيف

September 10, 2017 at 9:51 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

qzz0420
ecco shoes
air jordan shoes
fitflops sale clearance
miami dolphins jerseys
coach factory outlet
hermes belt
cleveland cavaliers
coach factory outlet
michael kors outlet
true religion outlet

April 19, 2018 at 6:47 PM  
Blogger jasonbob said...

lebron shoes
golden goose
yeezy 500 blush
longchamp bags
yeezy boost 350 v2
a bathing ape
jordan shoes
bape hoodie
supreme hoodie
moncler

November 7, 2020 at 2:20 AM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home