Gaja Gamini
| Gaja Gamini | |
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| Directed by | M.F. Husain |
| Produced by | Rakesh Nath |
| Written by | Kamna Chandra (writer) M.F. Husain |
| Starring | Madhuri Dixit Shahrukh Khan Naseeruddin Shah |
| Music by | Bhupen Hazarika |
| Cinematography | Ashok Mehta |
| Editing by | Waman Bhosle Virendra Gharse |
| Distributed by | Yash Raj Films [1] |
| Release date(s) | 1 December 2000 |
| Country |  India |
| Language | Hindi, English |
| Box office |  1.08 crores [2] |
Gaja Gamini (Devanagari: गज गामिनी, translation: One with a walk like an elephant) is an 2000 Indian film written and directed by M.F. Husain and is his ode to womanhood and his muse of the time, Madhuri Dixit, who stars as the lead in the film.[3][4]
The film bombed at the box office.[5]
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[edit] Plot
Gaja Gamini, the embodiment of the Indian spirit, inspires artists of all kinds, interacts with and influences the West, and exists through the ages. Made in a mold very similar to that of V. Shantaram's films (Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje, Jal Bin Machchli Nritya Bin Bijli), Gaja Gamini is a timeless film that explores the woman. The central figure of the film is represented by a mysterious figure called "Gaja Gamini" (Madhuri Dixit), who inspires, arouses, and confuses the common man. "Gaja Gamini" is the inspiration behind Leonardo Da Vinci's (Naseeruddin Shah) ´Mona Lisa´, Kalidas´ poem "Shakuntala", and a photojournalist named Shahrukh's (Shah Rukh Khan) photographs. The mysterious "Gaja Gamini" appears as four characters, one of them being Sangeeta, a blind girl from Banaras at the beginning of time, who inspires village women (Farida Jalal, Shilpa Shirodkar, and Shabana Aazmi) to revolt against a male-dominated system and carve a niche for women forever. Another character is Shakuntala, who is the subject of Kalidas´ poem of the same name. Shakuntala incites jealousy in the women and love in the men around her, charming humans and animals alike in the forests of Kerala. "Gaja Gamini" is also Mona Lisa during the Renaissance, the object of painter Leonardo Da Vinci's obsession. Finally, Monika, the most confusing sector of the film, is supposed to represent the woman of the New Millennium. Kamdev, the God of Love (Inder Kumar, in a fine breakthrough performance as a hero), walks the earth throughout history, attempting to win the love of "Gaja Gamini", with whom he is in love.
Thrown in to this mix is a large black wall, separating two different time periods, and confrontations between Science (Ashish Vidyarthi) and Art (Mohan Agashe) at different points in history, showing that the world itself can change, but its original ideas will always be permanent. For example, a play by Shakespeare can be written in the 15th Century and performed by actors of that time. The same play will still be performed in the 21st Century, but with different actors. The confrontations between Art and Science also bring about the idea that while Science is firmly set on believing that which can only be proved, the basis for Art is that which can be proved, and an intuitive sense that can be felt. Science uses the brain, while Art uses the brain and the heart. Another interesting facet of the film is a "gathri", a small bundle which a woman carries upon her head, like a burden, with which she must walk forever.[6][7]
[edit] Cast
- Madhuri Dixit - Gaja Gamini/Sangita/Shakuntala/Monika/Mona Lisa
- Shabana Azmi - Premchand's Nirmala
- Shahrukh Khan
- Naseeruddin Shah - Leonardo da Vinci
- Shilpa Shirodkar - Sindhu
- Tej Sapru - Tansen
- Farida Jalal - Noorbibi
- Mohan Agashe - Kalidasa
- Ashish Vidyarthi - Scientist
[edit] Crew
- Art direction : Sharmishtha Roy
- Costume Design: Reza Shareefi
- Choreography: Saroj Khan, Jojo Khan
- Sound: Buta Singh
- Background music: Anuradha Pal
[edit] Reviews
Critic Taran Adarsh said "The film has a very colourful look, with the visuals being eye-catching. But as a director, Hussain fails to convey his thoughts on celluloid. On the whole, GAJA GAMINI is an artistic film which will not be understood by any strata of audience -- classes or masses. Business-wise, the film is sure to spell disaster. A waste of precious celluloid".[8]
[edit] Soundtrack
| Gaja Gamini | ||||
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| Soundtrack album by Bhupen Hazarika | ||||
| Released | 1 January 2000 (India) | |||
| Genre | Film soundtrack | |||
| Label | Sa Re Ga Ma | |||
| Producer | Bhupen Hazarika | |||
| Bhupen Hazarika chronology | ||||
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The Soundtrack includes the following tracks and instrumentals,composed by Bhupen Hazarika.
| Song | Singer(s) | Lyricist |
|---|---|---|
| Deepak Raag | Shankar Mahadevan | Maya Govind |
| Do Sadiyon Ke Sangam | Udit Narayan, Kavita Krishnamurthy | Javed Akhtar |
| Gaja Gamini | Bhupen Hazarika | Maya Govind |
| Hamara Hansa Gaya Videsh | Kavita Krishnamurthy | Maya Govind |
| Meri Payal Bole | Kavita Krishnamurthy | Maya Govind |
| Shloka - Part 1 | Roop Kumar Rathod | Kalidas |
| Shloka - Part 2 | Udit Narayan | Kalidas |
| Yeh Gathri Taj Ki Tarah | Kavita Krishnamurthy | M.F. Hussain |
| Yeh Gathri Taj Ki Tarah - 2 | M.F. Hussain | M.F. Hussain |
| Protest March | Instrumental[9] |
[edit] References
- ^ Gaja Gamini Yash Raj Films.
- ^ Gaja Gamini Film Box Office details
- ^ and the other casts are Shah Rukh Khan and Naseeruddin Shah. This film is my tribute to women: M F Husain ""cinematic essay of Indian womanhood" "
- ^ Gaja Gamini Overview New York Times.
- ^ http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110610/jsp/nation/story_14095070.jsp
- ^ The Paradox of Progress II: Gaja Gamini (2000)
- ^ Gaja Gamini Yahoo! Movies.
- ^ http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/review/6578/index.html
- ^ Gaja Gamini: Songs Bollywood Hungama
[edit] External links
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