Dial K For Kashyap

                                                      

                                                 

                             

 

         What does it feel like to face rejection as a filmmaker? 

Rejection from the state. 

Rejection from the critics. 

Rejection from the media. 

And finally.

Rejection from the audience.

A graduate in zoology from Delhi University, who decided to take the train to Mumbai after a life altering experience of catching Di Sica's Bicycle Thieves on screen at a film festival. Anurag Kashyap's foray into the world of films and his subsequent crusading works serve as a beacon for all to be writers, directors, actors and even producers of films.

Like all newcomers and outsiders coming into the melting pot of Bollywood, stories of Kashyap's struggles in the 90's now fill the pages of Wikipedia gloriously. As fate would have it, after the initial years of success the collaboration with the then reigning Ram Gopal Varma took place for Kashyap. The pair went on to give us some of the best Bollywood films of the 90's, including the cult Satya (1998), the thrilling Kaun (1999) and the fiery Shool (1999). Meanwhile, Anurag who had studied zoology in college, aspiring to be a scientist drew inspiration from his own life and combining that with the megalomaniac personality of Colonel Kurtz, developed the black kurta-pyjama clad Kay Kay Menon's character for his first tele-film Last Train To Mahakali.

 

Apocalypse Now and Last Train to Mahakali

Many, including the man himself (as evident from his beaming interviews from the period) might have thought it was smooth sailing from thereon which would infuse the touch of realism that Bollywood lacked big time then. But it was not to be, although Bollywood did get its due of gritty, realistic dramas and thrillers from Kashyap after a certain period of prolonged wait.

The causes of this wait have been listed right at the beginning of this piece.

Paanch, which remains unreleased till date ( a grainy preview copy is available on YouTube, for a better copy, contact me 😛) was the film that started Anurag's ever lasting war with the Central Board of Film Certification of India. If you are a fan of Kay Kay Menon, then brace yourself for watching the most unabashed performance of his lifetime in this film, as a bully rockstar. The film thoroughly explores the underground rock music scene of the city, which survives on the abuse of sex, drugs, violence, ultimately leading to the destructive path of crime. Also you can't take your eyes off, the wild at heart Tejaswini Kolhapure ( younger sibling to the pretty Padmini of the 80s). Not seeing her in more films, sure breaks my heart. A talent that surely went awry in the labyrinth of Bollywood.

Kay Kay Menon in Paanch

Soon after this, the making of another project titled Allwyn Kalicharan failed to materialize for Kashyap. The film was supposed to be based on the crazy and dark nightlife of Delhi.

Allwyn Kalicharan first look

Imagine being a new filmmaker with eyes full of dreams to change the entire landscape of Indian Cinema and facing such obstacles. Life went on for Anurag during this period by writing screenplay and dialogues for many films, including Yuva, Water etc.

Up next, Kashyap started working a film based on the 1993 Bombay blasts, that would remain unreleased till 2007. Yes, I am talking of the very brutal Black Friday. It was the first of Kashyap's films that would employ the guerilla style of filmmaking, employing hidden cameras on busy locations and the crew coordinating the shoot over walkie-talkies. Subsequently many famous portions of Gangs of Wasseypur were shot in this manner, year later. The indie nature of the film, reverberates through the tunes of Indian Ocean, till the end credits roll. 

Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Black Friday

A film that was so much ahead of its time, in fact maybe still is for the Indian audience, that critics as well as viewers unanimously sent it packing from the theaters was No Smoking. On the surface it is a ride of surrealism and dream of the unconscious mind, but if you are brave enough to scratch a little on the surface it reveals the finer nuances of organized facism, deep rooted religious bigotry of the decaying society and souls of this land. A must see for any film buff, who wants his mind blow, an experiment that had not happened in Indian films before, dig a little deep and you will see Anurag taking on the establishment concealed behind the veneer of his gritty film making.

John Abraham in No Smoking

The abysmal failure and disappointment associated with No Smoking however did not deter Anurag from continuing to do what he felt was the best. He came back with the animation film Return of Hanuman, especially made for his daughter Aaliya and all other kids, who grew up listening to the stories of the mighty Lord Hanuman. 

The year 2009, was somewhat successful for Kashyap as it saw the release of Gulaal and Dev D. Dev D is a very edgy and contemporary take on the well known novel Devdas, the doomed lover. It certainly was bold enough to view relationships as they are in present day India, sans any over the top set designs or costumes, Anurag is an auteur in his own league. Gulaal addressed the widespread prevalence of violence in student politics in the Indian heartland and how the egoistic male chauvinism still has the last say in the most developed corners of this country.

                              Piyush Mishra in Gulaal.                                                                        Abhay and Kalki in Dev D

The tumultous side of relationships, the sheer uncertainity and curelty of the circle of life got explored in That Girl in Yellow Boots of 2011. You can spot the very exciting debut of Gulshan Devaiah in this film. Ultimately 2012, would mark the beginning of the chapter of Kashyap's career that has made him a household name now, the Gangs of Wasseypur had arrived with full aplomb.

I would start to conclude my piece here, the Anurag Kashyap from hereon is known, admired, respected or loathed by all elements of the society. Anurag seems to have made peace with all the elements(mentioned in the beginning), atleast to a certain extent now. The Anurag Kashyap, his style, treatment of Paanch or Black Friday does not come forth anymore now. You might catch some in Ugly, And it is the collective failure of a generation of critics and viewers who have let this happen. I can't even imagine the kind of films he would have made if he had been allowed to work with the required freedom and given the deserved recognition, applause or even money.

His style of filmmaking has been compared by many to that of the dark and disturbing universe of David Lynch. Only Kashyap, hails from Gorakhpur and has seen many shades of darkness in everyday lives of people, unimaginable in the West. The comparison in itself is quite uncalled for, as Kashyap simply makes an effort to bring alive in screen what is actually happening around him., without even going in the direction of the absurd. I have personally been stunned at many interactions with fellow cinephiles, who do not want to watch Kashyap as he is too real and hard hitting. The truth and ground reality after all, seems too hard for people to digest.

People actually wish to see the Hrishikesh Mukherjee kind of take on the evils plaguing our society till date, instead of making an effort to see the events in flesh and blood (pun intended), something that will really move them and spur them into action. Seems like we will continue to live on, in our bubble of ignorance and laugh our heads off binge watching something like F.R.I.E.N.D.S, meanwhile another Kashyap will never dare tell his story. Most 'film critics' are no different in our country, too complacent to even make an effort to understand alternative form of cinema, deciding the fate of someone's entire career at the mercy of a few overused terminologies of their 'reviews', while the dough rolls on from the big houses to justify their mediocrity.

 

The last scene of Mukkabaaz, has a dazed Vineet Singh looking into the camera, with an unvanquished smile and mischievious wink on his face. He knows he can't fight it out against the entire rotten system anymore. He will not win even if he dedicates his entire life to his cause. He just chooses what he feels is best for his peace of mind and remainder of his life. Anurag too collaborates with the biggies of Bollywood nowadays and life goes on. However, the fanboy in me will still be waiting to watch another unbridled Paanch or mind bending No Smoking from the uber talented Anurag. Till then I will keep dialling K, hoping to meet my beloved Guru Kashyap.