Kaali Paani

 This story is set in a remote area, Adaman and Nicobar Islands which are part of India, but under some protection because of indigenous people.  Tourists are not allowed into areas set aside for the indigenous tribes and there is a limit for most visitors.  

The series starts in 2027 and tourists are being given greater freedom to visit.  

 The Trolley dilemma presented early to illustrate that sometimes choices can involve choosing between 5 strangers and one that is loved.  A lot of the characters face such dilemmas.  Another series with a trolley theme:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/02/the-trolley.html

The head doctor establishes herself as ruthless.  Borrowing from an American television plot she questions an elderly woman suffering from an undiagnosed illness implying that the real cause is sexual relations in a home for the aged that turns out to be true..  

As disaster approaches in the form of a pandemic the film provides many scenarios.  Some are plotting an escape from the island while others are searching for an antidote.  The Orakas are to be protected mainly through isolation.  Skepticism, deception and selfishness all play a role.

The Orakas were depicted as humans, not wanting Indian intervention and respecting nature.  They were not unified, but were shown arguing about what they should do.  There is a bit of twist from what happened to the North American indigenous that did not have immunity from such European diseases as measles. 

The end might have been predictable for a few, but really was stunning.  One of my top ten.

Sameer Saxena and Amit Golani (also writer) shared directing and producing.  Sameer is a showrunner for this film with 14 credits as a producer, 7 as a director and 5 as a writer. including "Jaadugar" (2022). He had started as a engineer student.  His partner did write for one episode as well as director and producer.  He has 4 writing credits, 5 directing credits and 3 producing credits also including "Jaadugar" (2022).    See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/07/jaadugar.html

Biswapati Sarkar, wrote most of the script.  He has 10 credits as a writer. and 12 as an actor including "Jaadugar" (2022)A childhood visit to the Adaman Islands helped inspire the script.  He was familiar with a Cellular Jail were Indian dissidents were imprisoned during British colonial times.

Rachita Arora provided the music.  She is a composer and playback singer with 16 film credits including "Newton" (2017) and "Sacred Games" (2018-2019).  She started with composing theatre music.   She researches relevant material for a film "to find the music inside." 

Cinematography was handled by 3 different men.  Dhananjay Navagrah has 19 credits including "Article 15 (2015) and "Anek" (2020).  Barney Crocker has over 70 credits including "Casino Royale" (2006) and "Ted Lasso" (2020-2021) 11 episodes.  Ewan Mulligan has over 60 credits including "Article  15" (2015) and "Anek" (2020).  There is a lot of lush scenery, but although the jungle was meant to convey its true beauty it was also to convey claustrophobia.  Check http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2019/09/article-15.html

Dev Rao Jadhar was the editor.  He has 15 credits including "Badhaai Ho" (2018) and "Jaadugar" (2022).  Check http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/03/badhaai-do-lgbt-film-from-conservative.html

Ashutosh Gowariker played Zibran Qadri, the military leader.  He started as an actor in both Hindi and Marathi films.  He then moved into directing,writing and producer.  His credits include "Lagaan Once Upon a Time in India" (2001), my favorite Bollywood film, "Swades" (2004), "Jodhaa Akbar" (2008) and "Mohenjo Daro" (2016).  A post outlining the work for Oscar nominated film  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/07/the-making-of-lagaan-chale-chalo-lunacy.html

Arushi Sharma played Jyotsana Dey.  Her parents were both judges while she set out to be an engineer.  She has 5 film credits including "Tamasha" (2015) and "Jaadugar" (2022).   Check:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2016/02/tamasha-wonderful-story.html

Amey Wagh played Ketan Sharma, a manipulative officer.  He had a career in both Marathi and Hindi films, altogether 36 credits including 2 episodes with "Sacred Games" (2019) and 9 episodes with "The Great Indian Murder" (2022).

Radhika Mehrotra played Ritu Gagra, a post doc student who looked for a plant as an antidote.  She has 2 film credits.

Sukant Goel played Chiranjeevi, the half Oraka tourist guide.  He was in chemical engineering and got involved with theatre.  He has 15 credits including "Shaitan" (2011), "Kapoor & Sons" (2016) and "Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar" (2021).

Mona Singh played Dr. Singh, the head doctor.  She has 26 credits including "3 Idiots" (2009) and "Laal Singh Chaddha" (2022).  A popular television host she won an award as best female television person of the year for 2004.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/10/the-bollywood-version-of-forrest-gump.html

Rajes Khattar played Saurah Wani, a rich man with connections wanting to escape.   He is fluent in English, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.  Frequently used as a dubber including for actors like Tom Hanks, Hugh Jackman, Robert Downey Jr., Mads Mikklesen, Samuel L. Jackson and more.  As an actor he has 51 credits including "Khiladi 786" (2012).  

David Warawa played Osei, an Oraka leader.  Born in Africa, he is based in Vienna, Austria and is an international award winning actor who speaks English, German, Shona and Italian.  He has 78 acting credits, 9 for producing and one as writer

Plans are already being made for a second series.  I look forward to it.

The Making of Lagaan Chale Chalo The Lunacy of Film Making

"Chale Chalo:  The Lunacy of Film Making" is almost 2 1/2 hours long and tries to give an idea of the efforts to make "Lagaan:  Once Upon a Time in India" (2001) the classic it became.  But "Lagaan" is even longer at 3 hours and 44 minutes and it is very likely many details were skipped over which is just as well as the process was overwhelming.

"Lagaan:  Once Upon a Time in India" (2001) had been recommended by my sister Rebecca and I enjoyed it, becoming my introduction to Bollywood.  I was annoyed by Aamir Khan who has since become a favorite.  This making of film reinforces my respect for Aamir who does much more than just act.

 Ashutosh Gowariker , the director and writer originally developed an idea that involved British colonists being challenged to a cricket match by unsophisticated Indian natives in an attempt to get tax relief, but risking even higher taxes.  He approached Aamir Khan who saw it as an undesirable sports film and turned down the offer twice before Ashutosh Gowariker convinced him to take a closer look.  Aamir loved the script.  Eventually Aamir became intimately involved, not only being the lead actor, but a producer and even making this film his first under Aamir Khan Productions. 

 I didn't consciously appreciate A. R. Rahman at this point, but this film contains one of my very favorite songs with a sort of love triangle  and they do show a few snippets.  Aamir Khan negotiated with Rahman looking for a commitment while A.R. had questions that annoyed Khan, but were resolved.   A.R. Rahman went on to win two Oscars for "Slumdog Millionaire" (2008).  He is one of my very favorite film composers.

Most expensive Bollywood film until then.  Part of the problem was one of the locations and the large cast that included a lot of overseas talent from England.

 The script called for cloudless days.  Most of the filming was done in and near an actual village.   Bhuj was the nearest city and it had no hotel.  Production had to build one and to accommodate toilets acceptable for the British cast.  Cast and crew were bused to filming location daily.  There were days when clouds cancelled filming and overhead jets from a nearby military base cut into camera time.  The heat often caused problems.  To provide crowd scenes they needed 10,000 villager who all needed to be fed and provided with appropriate costumes.   All of this caused stresses on the schedule and the budget and at one time stopping the project was considered.

Further stress came from the cricket match that wasn't as smooth as predicted.  They had to take many more takes than expected to get the effect needed.  One Indian actor really bombed and it was decided to do closeups, catch the swing, but not the ball.  The British male actors had been selected for cricket experience, but a few of them needed lots of shots.  The British knew they would lose match in film, but insisted on a real match with crew and in fact the British did win.

Towards the end of the filming Ashutosh had a slipped disc and was told he had to rest for one month, but they could not afford to shut down.  With a big stake in the film he agreed to direct with the help of a mobile bed.  He was in pain, but was able to finish the filming.   

 A few points of interest to film buffs were included.

Some of the British actors had to learn some Hindi, notably Paul Blackthorne and Rachel Shelly.  .A couple from the British crew got married in traditional Hindu style.  Rachel Shelley made a few frank comments regarding relationships during the shooting time which meant for the British that for several months they were in close quarters far from home.  They would also form attachments to the Indian crew and cast realizing they might never meet again.

After the filming was done and turned to a finished product there was a major earthquake in the village area they had filmed in.  People who had participated in the crowd scenes and performed various chores were affected including deaths.  Aamir made a trip back to Bhuj to present the finished film.  He anticipated a glum response, but in fact the villagers were delighted.

Obviously many elements for the documentary were planned and done during the original filming  However it takes additional contributions to help us appreciate what is required to let the viewers have a better understanding.

Aamir had made his wife Reena Dutta the production manager.  A few months later they divorced.  Also on the staff was Kiran Rao as the third assistant director.  A few years later Aamir married her, but more recently they have divorced.

Reema Kagti was another assistant director  who has since been involved as a writer and director, often pairing up with Zoe Akhtar.  Her film credits include:  "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" (2011), "Talaash" (2011),  "Dil Dhadakne Do" (2015) and "Gully Boy" (2019).    http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2019/05/three-bollywood-films-that-got-my.html

Another assistant director was Dr. Priyamvada Narayanan, who found her medical training useful during the filming.  She has been involved with two other films, including "Talaash."   She is also a psychiatrist practicing in Los Angeles.

Satyajit Bhatkal was the first time director.  His background included ten years as a practicing lawyer involved with many social causes.  In his mid thirties he decided his future was in film and television.  He worked in the production department for "Lagaan:  Once Upon A Time in India." He had written a book, "The Spirit of Lagaan" which reached a big segment of India.  He later wrote and directed "Bombay Lawyers"(2007) bringing social issues into a fictional courtroom setting.  He participated in a project with Aamir Khan, "Satyamev Jayate" (2012-14) a television series dealing with social issues.

Vipin Bhati, the writer has been a sound designer including for "Lagaan:  Once Upon a Time in India" and Chale Chalo: The Lunacy of Film Making"  Other films including  for sound work credit:  "Dor" (2006), "Bombay to Bangkok" (2008), "Jodhaa Akbar" (2008), "8 x 10 Tasveer" (2009), "Asshayein" (2010), "Mod" (2011) and "Lakshmi" (2014),

Aamir Khan is one of the premier actors and film makers in the world.  As he got established he became an actor who concentrated on one film at a time.  Abstains from drinking and smoking, but will do so if film role requires it.  Related to filmmakers he started as a child actor, but became a star with "Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak" (1988).  Most of his films were successful at the box office including "Dil Chata Hai" (2001), "Mangal Pandey" (2005), "Like Stars on Earth" (2007), "Ghajini" (2008), "3 Idiots" (2009), "PK (2014), "Dangal" (2016) and "Secret Superstar" (2017).  "Lagaan" started his success in the Chinese market (meaning he was at various times the most famous actor in the world--two huge markets). Check:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2011/07/dil-chatha-hai-bollywood-classic.html and  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2015/03/pk.html

Ashutosh Gowariker started as an actor and met Aamir Khan in "Holi" (1984).   Some of his credits include. "Swades" (2004),  "Jodhaa Akbar" (2008) and "Mohenjo Daro" (2016).  As an actor he appeared in Hindi and Marathi films, tv. shows and commercials before having scripts accepted and associated directing jobs. 

As usual I have bolded the first mention of movies I have seen.