Pankh (film)
Encyclopedia
Pankh is a 2010 Bollywood
film written and directed by Sudipto Chattopadhyaya and starring Bipasha Basu
, Lilette Dubey, Mahesh Manjrekar
, Ronit Roy
, Sanjeeda Sheikh
and newcomers Maradona Rebello and Amit Purohit. The film was released on 2 April 2010. The film is reportedly based on the case of child actor Ahsaas Channa
, who's apparently a girl passed off as a boy in movies like Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
and Vaastu Shastra.
but he denied the film. Then he went to Sanjay Gupta
who after a 20 minute narration signed him for the film. According to an interview with Times of India Chattopadhyaya drew inspiration from a documentary titled Children Of The Silver Screen by Dilip Ghosh in which child artistes are interviewed as adults and expressed their trauma. The protagonist Jerry, always imagines Bipasha to be a diva and director, Sudipto Chattopadhyay, who has styled the actress’ look in the movie, says that this idea was executed by Rocky S and Gavin Miguel. Rocky wanted Bips to look like two divas - Sophia Loren
and Liza Minnelli
from ‘Cabaret’. Bipasha reportedly cut her hair for a song, as the wig didn’t fit her.
plays an imaginary character who exists in the protagonist Jerry's (Maradona Rebello) mind. Bipasha said that she consented to do the role after one narration of the script. Newcomer Maradona Rebello
was picked to play the character of Jerry after auditioning 250 candidates. He freaked out after hearing the script and Sudipto had to make him and his parents understand the story and convince them. He had to do the same for his other lead Amit Purohit who plays Salim. Bipasha reportedly does not want to use her real name in the film. The movie also has Mahesh Manjrekar
making a comeback as an actor. Producer Sanjay Gupta
says "I gave Mahesh Manjrekar pivotal roles in my ‘Kaante’ and ‘Musafir
’. I think he’s a really good actor. And if one has to choose between Mahesh Manjrekar the actor and the director I’d go for the former" Sanjeeda Sheikh
of Nach Baliye 3 fame was chosen for a character who is less than 17 years old.
has reportedly sang the song "Jiya Jala Na" where Bipasha seduces Maradona.
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
film written and directed by Sudipto Chattopadhyaya and starring Bipasha Basu
Bipasha Basu
Bipasha Basu is an Indian actress who mainly appears in Bollywood films. A former model, she was the winner of the Ford's Godrej Cinthol Supermodel contest in 1996.-Early life:...
, Lilette Dubey, Mahesh Manjrekar
Mahesh Manjrekar
Mahesh Manjrekar is an Indian director, actor, writer and producer. He is credited with directing the critically acclaimed films Vaastav: The Reality , Astitva and Viruddh... Family Comes First . He has won a National Film Award and two Star Screen Awards...
, Ronit Roy
Ronit Roy
Ronit Roy is an Indian television and Bollywood actor, known for the roles of Dharamraj Mahiyavanshi, Rishabh Bajaj, Mihir Virani and Aparajit Deb. He is now in the serial Adaalat as KD Pathak. Roy has been referred to as the Amitabh Bachchan of small screen...
, Sanjeeda Sheikh
Sanjeeda Sheikh
Sanjeeda Sheikh is an Indian television and Bollywood actress best known as the winner of Nach Baliye 3 and for her award winning portrayal of Ayesha, in Kayamath. She spent her childhood and schooling days in Ahmedabad .-Early life:Sanjeeda was born on the 20 December 1984 in Kuwait City, Kuwait...
and newcomers Maradona Rebello and Amit Purohit. The film was released on 2 April 2010. The film is reportedly based on the case of child actor Ahsaas Channa
Ahsaas Channa
Ahsaas Channa is a child actor in India. She used to play the role of Ganga Walia before Priya Bathija took the role in Zee TV's Kasamh Se by Ekta Kapoor. She was a contestant in Zee TV's Ek Se Badhkar Ek. She has acted as a boy in movies such as Aryan, My Friend Ganesha, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna...
, who's apparently a girl passed off as a boy in movies like Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna commonly known as KANK is a 2006 Bollywood film directed by Karan Johar and produced under the Dharma Productions banner...
and Vaastu Shastra.
Plot
The film is the story of the repercussions that have happened to a boy - a child artist who once played girl roles in films as Baby Kusum - once he becomes an adult and wants to be launched as a hero. Baby Kusum is a child star, a cute little girl. In reality, Baby Kusum is boy, masquerading as a girl. He was christened Jerry, and then named Master Jai for the movies. He and his mother Mary (Lilette) share a turbulent relationship. The boy’s family is poor and they want to make it big. The pressure of parents and ridicule make it a very sad situation for him. He becomes a drug-abuser who has never been to school and spends all his time at home. Eventually he creates an imaginary character he is in love with, & that imaginary character happens to be Bipasha who taunts him and fights with him, an alter ego who questions his every move. Jerry is made to face the camera again as a young man, which leads to the final catastrophe. The film highlights the common practice in the Indian film industry of casting children in role contrary to their natural genders.Cast
- Bipasha BasuBipasha BasuBipasha Basu is an Indian actress who mainly appears in Bollywood films. A former model, she was the winner of the Ford's Godrej Cinthol Supermodel contest in 1996.-Early life:...
— Nandini - Lilette Dubey — Mary
- Mahesh ManjrekarMahesh ManjrekarMahesh Manjrekar is an Indian director, actor, writer and producer. He is credited with directing the critically acclaimed films Vaastav: The Reality , Astitva and Viruddh... Family Comes First . He has won a National Film Award and two Star Screen Awards...
— producer - Ronit RoyRonit RoyRonit Roy is an Indian television and Bollywood actor, known for the roles of Dharamraj Mahiyavanshi, Rishabh Bajaj, Mihir Virani and Aparajit Deb. He is now in the serial Adaalat as KD Pathak. Roy has been referred to as the Amitabh Bachchan of small screen...
— director - Sanjeeda SheikhSanjeeda SheikhSanjeeda Sheikh is an Indian television and Bollywood actress best known as the winner of Nach Baliye 3 and for her award winning portrayal of Ayesha, in Kayamath. She spent her childhood and schooling days in Ahmedabad .-Early life:Sanjeeda was born on the 20 December 1984 in Kuwait City, Kuwait...
— Kusum - Maradona RebelloMaradona RebelloMaradona Rebello is an Indian actor who works in the Bollywood film industry. Rebello's first name was inspired by the footballer Diego Maradona and was kept by his father...
— Jerry Dacunha - Amit Purohit — Salim
Development
Initially, Sudipto Chattopadhyaya narrated the script to Rohit RoyRohit Roy
Rohit Roy is an Indian television star known for his role in Hindi television serials, such as Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand and Swabhimaan. Besides working in television series, Rohit has also acted in some of the Bollywood movies, such as Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena, Plan, etc...
but he denied the film. Then he went to Sanjay Gupta
Sanjay Gupta (Director)
Sanjay Gupta is a Bollywood writer-director known for his dark thrillersSanjay Gupta comes from an affluent business family of South Mumbai. He completed his studies at Palm Beach School at Napean Sea Road and Sydenham College at Churchgate in Mumbai. He has frequently worked with Sanjay Dutt. The...
who after a 20 minute narration signed him for the film. According to an interview with Times of India Chattopadhyaya drew inspiration from a documentary titled Children Of The Silver Screen by Dilip Ghosh in which child artistes are interviewed as adults and expressed their trauma. The protagonist Jerry, always imagines Bipasha to be a diva and director, Sudipto Chattopadhyay, who has styled the actress’ look in the movie, says that this idea was executed by Rocky S and Gavin Miguel. Rocky wanted Bips to look like two divas - Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren, OMRI is an Italian actress.In 1962, Loren won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Two Women, along with 21 awards, becoming the first actress to win an Academy Award for a non-English-speaking performance...
and Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
from ‘Cabaret’. Bipasha reportedly cut her hair for a song, as the wig didn’t fit her.
Casting
Bipasha BasuBipasha Basu
Bipasha Basu is an Indian actress who mainly appears in Bollywood films. A former model, she was the winner of the Ford's Godrej Cinthol Supermodel contest in 1996.-Early life:...
plays an imaginary character who exists in the protagonist Jerry's (Maradona Rebello) mind. Bipasha said that she consented to do the role after one narration of the script. Newcomer Maradona Rebello
Maradona Rebello
Maradona Rebello is an Indian actor who works in the Bollywood film industry. Rebello's first name was inspired by the footballer Diego Maradona and was kept by his father...
was picked to play the character of Jerry after auditioning 250 candidates. He freaked out after hearing the script and Sudipto had to make him and his parents understand the story and convince them. He had to do the same for his other lead Amit Purohit who plays Salim. Bipasha reportedly does not want to use her real name in the film. The movie also has Mahesh Manjrekar
Mahesh Manjrekar
Mahesh Manjrekar is an Indian director, actor, writer and producer. He is credited with directing the critically acclaimed films Vaastav: The Reality , Astitva and Viruddh... Family Comes First . He has won a National Film Award and two Star Screen Awards...
making a comeback as an actor. Producer Sanjay Gupta
Sanjay Gupta (Director)
Sanjay Gupta is a Bollywood writer-director known for his dark thrillersSanjay Gupta comes from an affluent business family of South Mumbai. He completed his studies at Palm Beach School at Napean Sea Road and Sydenham College at Churchgate in Mumbai. He has frequently worked with Sanjay Dutt. The...
says "I gave Mahesh Manjrekar pivotal roles in my ‘Kaante’ and ‘Musafir
Musafir
Musafir is a 2004 Hindi thriller film, directed and produced by Sanjay Gupta starring Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor and Sameera Reddy. The film was controversial because of some sensual scenes, including kissing, between Kapoor and Reddy...
’. I think he’s a really good actor. And if one has to choose between Mahesh Manjrekar the actor and the director I’d go for the former" Sanjeeda Sheikh
Sanjeeda Sheikh
Sanjeeda Sheikh is an Indian television and Bollywood actress best known as the winner of Nach Baliye 3 and for her award winning portrayal of Ayesha, in Kayamath. She spent her childhood and schooling days in Ahmedabad .-Early life:Sanjeeda was born on the 20 December 1984 in Kuwait City, Kuwait...
of Nach Baliye 3 fame was chosen for a character who is less than 17 years old.
Promotion
A 1-minute promo shot was released for the movie on January 2008. It shows the essence of the film, a little boy being readied for the film and when he emerges he's a child actress Baby Kusum. It then shows the boy grown up as a young man - a dropout-drug-addict. As he struggles to discover his true self, he is shown rebelling against his mother and getting violent with whoever tries to get close to him. Bipasha appears in the last few seconds of the promo and is shown as the alter ego of Maradona.Music
Newcomer Raju Singh directs the music for the movie. Singer Sunidhi ChauhanSunidhi Chauhan
Sunidhi Chauhan is an Indian playback singer, best known for her Hindi film songs in Bollywood. She has also recorded songs for Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Assamese and Gujarati films and is credited with over 2000 songs....
has reportedly sang the song "Jiya Jala Na" where Bipasha seduces Maradona.