Within the filmography of the late celebrated filmmaker Shyam Benegal, Mammo (1994), Sardari Begum (1996) and Zubeidaa (2001) stand out for they’re part of a trilogy on three Muslim girls. The frequent issue amongst all three motion pictures is that the titular character in every was impressed from three girls associated to veteran journalist Khalid Mohamed. Whereas Mammo and Sardari Begum had been impressed from his two grandaunts Mehmooda Begum and Bugam Akhtar, Zubeidaa was impressed from his mom Zubeida Begum, who was an actress. Mohamed served as a author on all three movies.

25 years of Zubeidaa EXCLUSIVE: Khalid Mohamed, author and son of Zubeida Begum, shares, “Not many theatres needed to threat displaying a ‘woman-centric’ movie”; additionally reveals the movie’s sequel primarily based on his slain half-brother Rao Raja Hukam Singh by no means discovered takers

Zubeidaa noticed Karisma Kapoor essay the titular character whereas it additionally starred Manoj Bajpayee, Rekha, Rajit Kapur and Surekha Sikri. Because the movie accomplished 25 years at the moment, Khalid Mohamed opened up about varied points associated to it in an unique interview with Bollywood Hungama.

Even after 25 years, Zubeidaa continues to be appreciated. In all these years, what has been probably the most memorable response for this movie that you’ve got come throughout?

It’s solely with the passage of time that Zubeidaa, as you say, is being ‘appreciated’. It’s to the credit score and the braveness of its producer Farouq Rattonsey that he didn’t pay any heed to the discouraging distributors, together with, I feel, Shyam Shroff. He stated that it ought to be launched solely at a restricted variety of cinemas for morning exhibits, although he denies this. Furthermore, the agent appointed by Faruq sir informed me that not many theatre homeowners had been prepared to take the danger of displaying ‘a woman-centric’ movie.

Additionally after Zubeidaa grew to become a favorite, particularly girls audiences, all OTT channels had been refusing to accumulate it for streaming. There’s a vicious system possibly that the highest channels purchase movies in a bulk from the mafia of go-betweens. They didn’t categorical the slightest curiosity, maybe as a result of pirated variations in hazy prints and plenty of scenes lacking had been uploaded by whoever indulges in such unethical if not unlawful methods on YouTube. In the end, it was bought for a piffling amount of cash to YouTube, which is streaming Zubeidaa in a spanking new print, although I feel it’s divided into two components, which is mindless to me. Anyway such are the ’politics’ or possibly the avowed ‘coverage’ of the channels. Mercifully, I’ve stored an unique DVD print and digitalised it, so the movie doesn’t vanish right into a limbo. I simply hope the Nationwide Movie Archives, Pune has a correct print. Additionally, I’m baffled that the much-publicised Movie Heritage Basis of Shivendra Singh Dungarpur hasn’t lifted a finger to accumulate a print of Zubeidaa, although I’ve referred to as him a number of occasions.

Be that as it could, crucial – not memorable response comes from inside myself, that, no less than, I may narrate the story of my mom, whom I misplaced once I was two years outdated. But, I’ll add that the story of Zubeidaa (the additional ‘a’ was added by Faruq for numerological causes) stays half-told. Why her son from the Maharaja of Jodhpur, Rao Raja Hukam Singh, my half-brother, was murdered many years in the past remains to be cloaked in thriller. The case was shut with out a lot of police investigation in Jodhpur. I wrote a script, a sequel to Zubeidaa – titled Rutba – which didn’t discover any monetary backing. Regardless of my steady efforts with TV journalists in Mumbai and Delhi to probe into the homicide, I failed numerous occasions over. The slain Jessica Lal’s case in Delhi was re-opened after public and media protests. However I’ll should be content material or am helpless to relaxation with the thought, “No One Killed Hukam Singh”.

 

Zubeidaa accomplished a trilogy of movies primarily based on girls out of your life after Mammo and Sardari Begum. How does it really feel whenever you suppose that these girls from your loved ones have turn into immortal via the medium of cinema?

I don’t know if ‘immortal’ is the best phrase. Numerous variety of important movies of the Nineteen Forties and ‘50s have been forgotten. In the meanwhile, I’m most recognized with Mammo, Zubdeidaa and likewise Fiza, which I directed myself, and am proud about for narrating the trauma amongst Muslim households of their sons going lacking after the 1992-’93 communal riots of Bombay.

As for Sardari Begum, it’s remembered largely due to its semi-classical music rating by Vanraj Bhatia and the lyrics of Javed Akhtar. Even Benegal sir used to say, “I don’t know what, however there was one thing missing within the ultimate product.”

Secondly, it was wrongly considered a semi-fictionalised biopic of Begum Akhtar. Additionally frankly, I’d written the script with Dimple Kapadia in thoughts however she had nixed the provide for causes finest recognized to herself. Kirron Kher did a marvellous job in her place, however maybe Dimple suited the function extra, as her persona matched that of the actual Sardari Begum, who lived in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. Anyway, I really consider it was Dimple’s loss to overlook out on working with Benegal sir.

What went via you whereas writing the script of those three movies, particularly Zubeidaa, contemplating their emotional significance for you?

Writing the scripts weren’t an emotional catharsis in any respect. It was easy, I had practised writing scripts earlier – fictional ones. So when the actual and the reality had been with me, each second got here organically and fluidly. That’s why after the trilogy, I questioned if I may exit of myself and since I used to be a newspaper reporter, interviewed grieving moms, for the misplaced and located division (it was barely purposeful) and made Fiza, an alter-ego of myself, looking for lacking brother, patterned unconsciously on my half-brother Hukam Singh, whom I beloved deeply solely to lose him without end.

I had spoken to Mr Benegal 5 years in the past when Zubeidaa had accomplished 20 years. He had stated that he signed Karisma Kapoor for the titular function regardless of not having watched any of her movies. What had been his discussions with you concerning her casting?

I knew Karisma Kapoor ever since she was a baby. Benegal sir was searching for an actress who might be each strong-willed and weak. These qualities I’d seen in Karisma from close-up, particularly in her starting years when she had clearly gone via the repercussions of her dad and mom’ separation. Karisma and I went over for lunch to Benegal sir’s dwelling. She got here with none make-up, sporting denims and a white tee-shirt. Sir favored her instantaneously and was extraordinarily happy along with her efficiency, which had a sure pure spontaneity and a agency backbone behind it.

Rajit Kapur performed Zubeidaa’s son, which was a personality impressed by you. What was your response whenever you noticed him enact the character on display screen for the primary time?

Rajit Kapur was already part of the Benegal repertoire, and likewise skilled in theatre. So, I had no issues, apart from one minor level; for one elaborate scene, he wore cheesy denim denims and a jacket, which I supposed is the misunderstanding about how journalists gown. For the remainder of the way in which, Rajit was very endearing, which is greater than what I can say for myself.

The sooner two movies within the trilogy Mammo and Sardari Begum had Benegal’s common composer Vanraj Bhatia. What was responsible for bringing AR Rahman on board for Zubeidaa?

Vanraj Bhatia wasn’t in any respect completely happy about this, however each Benegal sir and Farouq felt that AR Rahman would give us a rating that might combine the assorted Rajasthani people and fashionable components. I don’t suppose anybody however Rahman may have composed a extra emotionally shattering theme tune, used within the background rating – ‘So gaye hain’– or the ‘mehndi’ tune, which remains to be performed at weddings. The truth is, it was due to Rahman’s music that Farouq recouped a fair proportion of his funding, because it was purchased by Sony Music at a premium value. Such industrial issues aside, I nonetheless consider the music by Rahman and the costume designs by Pia Benegal contributed infinitely to the movie’s total impression.

Karisma Kapoor stated in an interview in 2024 that Zubeidaa was the primary sync sound movie in India. What was this expertise like for the folks on set?

So far as I now, Benegal sir had at all times used sync sound, despite the fact that whereas capturing at Jogeshwari for Mammo, a brand new constructing was being constructed there. To keep away from the noise, they labored in the course of the early mornings and late at evening. Perhaps, it was Karisma’s first expertise with sync sound.

Final yr, you stated in an interview that the journalistic fraternity was very damaging in direction of your first directorial Fiza (2000). What had been the opinions for Zubeidaa like again then?

The hostility in direction of Fiza from (my) personal skilled neighborhood was a nightmare. Lies had been written, and the opinions, together with one by Mr Subash Ghai, are one thing I’d slightly neglect, however not forgive.

As for the opinions of Zubeidaa, they had been extra cautious because it was Benegal sir’s movie. The one I recall with gratitude was by Radha Rajadhyaksha in The Occasions of India. And in an apart, the supportive overview by Deepa Gehlot on Fiza in Mid-day, in addition to a scathing letter to the editor about Mr Ghai’s overview of kinds of Fiza. I presume the final angle was how dare a critic who lambasts movies dare to make a movie himself. Their useless try was to make me style my very own drugs, which strikes me as each humorous and ridiculous.

Additionally Learn: EXCLUSIVE: Suneel Darshan speaks highly of Karisma Kapoor, “She was at the top, Akshay Kumar was going through a low, Jaanwar was male-centric and yet she signed the film”; also reveals why Juhi Chawla was ‘eased out’ and replaced with Karisma in Ajay”

Extra Pages: Zubeidaa Box Office Collection , Zubeidaa Movie Review

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