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Raga Time
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There is no stopping Shabana Azmi, whose latest film "Morning Raga" promises to be a real entertainer. SHEKHAR CHANDRAN talks to the actress
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HER HONEST smile reveals invigorating thoughts. Sitting pretty in a blue-green salwar-kameez Shabana Azmi radiates warmth and energy as you walk up to her. Her latest film Morning Raga, directed by playwright Mahesh Dattani is due for release and the actress seems excited about it.
"I always wanted to work with Dattani," says Shabana. "I've watched his plays before and I like the complexity of his characters. When he offered me the film it clearly had the essence I was looking for." The film is about the life of a Carnatic singer who's lost her confidence due to an unfortunate incident in her life. How she comes to terms with her traumatic life years later forms the crux. The music of the film is also a highlight.
Never before role
Talking of her tryst with Carnatic music, Shabana quips, "I've never played such a role before. The swaras in Carnatic music are so intricate that mastering them is no mean feat." Ranjini who is a violinist and also plays a pivotal role in the film was of great help to her. Not only did she explain the nitty-gritty but also helped her sing. The film seems to have garnered an excellent response from those who've seen the rushes. "Whoever has seen it felt it was exhilarating," says Shabana, adding, "My friends such as Anup Jalota and Alka Yagnik have expressed surprise at the way I've done the last bit where I exercise my vocal chords."
She clarifies that "Morning Raga" is not an `art' film as most would expect but quite racy and commercial, meant for the masses. "My mother and brother who never seem to like my roles have for once complimented me whole-heartedly for this one. I guess that explains it all," her brown eyes darken into a dreamy hue.
Talking about the lukewarm response to her earlier films Makdee and Tehzeeb, she says, "Makdee was a huge success. This film has done for me what Arth did years ago. After Arth, women connected to me and now it's the children who've been thronging my house with all sorts of comments about Makdee." She emphasises that the market for children's films is huge in India but no one seems to tap it the right way. Though she agrees that Tehzeeb didn't do well at the box-office, she argues however that the film did appeal to the masses.
After "Raga"
After Morning Raga Shabana is looking forward to the release of Water Borne, a Hollywood production where she plays a Sikh woman out to fleece the commoners after a terrorist threat to the water supply system in Los Angeles. "The film is complete and should hit the theatres soon."
Life after her father Kaifi Azmi is definitely not the same for her. "He still lives among the people." Today, she actively works for the NGO, Mijwan Welfare Society, started by her father in Mijwan, his birthplace. The progress of the place seems to be her dream today.
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