The Hindu : Merchant to capture Rajasthan in next film

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Friday, Feb 06, 2004

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Merchant to capture Rajasthan in next film

By Our Staff Correspondent

JAIPUR, FEB. 5. Noted film producer and four-time Oscar nominee, Ismail Merchant, organised the premiere of his latest movie "Le Divorce'' in a charity show for the benefit of Pratham Rajasthan -- a non-Government organisation -- and Excellence Girls' School, Sikar, here on Wednesday evening.

Film actor Shashi Kapoor, and the Hollywood actor, Matthew Modine -- who has performed in the film -- were present on the occasion to extend their support to the cause of education. Among others, the Rajasthan Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje, and Education Minister, Ghanshyam Tiwari, also watched the premiere.

The two-hour-long movie, produced under the banner of Merchant Ivory Productions, is based on a novel by Diane Johnson with a new twist on the classic American-in-Paris theme.

The movie has been directed by three-time Academy Award nominee, James Ivory. The story deals with two American sisters caught up in the intimate intrigue of Paris leading to collision of cultures and human passions and throwing light on what it means to be an American abroad.

Mr. Merchant, whose films have won six Academy Awards, told reporters that he was planning to make a film with the background of Rajasthan and would visit the State next year for its shooting. "The movie will be set in the modern milieu with the focus on the aspirations of the new generation,'' he said.

Asked about his views on the Hindi films, he felt that their theme should be of a "higher standard'' and they must aim at improving the qualities of individuals. He said he had spelt out his vision in his recent book, "My Passage from India: A Filmmaker's Journey from Bombay to Hollywood and Beyond''.

Ms. Raje, speaking at the premiere, called upon the two organisations, for which the charity show was organised, to work for women's empowerment by their drive on education.

"The smiling faces of girls depicted in the documentaries on the two institutions are an inspiration for us,'' she noted.

While Pratham Rajasthan is working for providing primary education to the economically disadvantaged children, mainly from the slum areas in Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kishangarh, the Excellence Girls' School imparts education and formal and practical training in various spheres to girl children in the Shekhawati region.

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