"Abar Aranya" a cross-over production

Aishwariya Rai in the role of Binodini in Chokher Baali

If Gautam Ghosh juxtaposes the past and the present in "Abar Aranye", Rituparno Ghosh turns the focus once again on his favourite subjectcomplex human relationships in his latest film which is the celluloid recreation of Rabindranath Tagore's novel "Chokher Baali" (A Grain of Sand).

Rituparno has lined up a star-studded caste for his film, the tallest of them of all is of course Bollywood megastar Aishwariya Rai in the role of widow Binodini. The film has already been screened in three key international film festivals in Locarno, where it missed the top prize, Venice and Toronto.

Exploration of human relationships and their subtle nuances have come under Rituparno's scanner in all his movies so far--Unishey April, Dahan, Bariwali and Ashookh to name some from his list of films.

The buzz in film circles is that Aishwariya Rai may have taken a risk in appearing in the role of a widow shorn of the glitz and glamour so common to Hindi commercial films at a time when she is the most sought-after by Bollywood film-makers.

Film industry experts say the role in "Chokher Baali" may have given Aishwariya the chance to be noticed at the international level, something the actress has been trying for quite some time, especially acting in Hollywood movies.

Rituparno's earlier films "Dahan" and "Bariwali" won national awards for actresses Indrani Halder, Rituparna Sengupta and Kiron Kher. Will it be the turn of Aishwariya now?

Far removed from the settings of "Abar Aranye" and "Chokher Bali" is the film "Maqbool," directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, a modern-day adaptation of the spirit of "Macbeth" in the story of human relationships in the underworld of Bombay.

Bhardwaj is known in India more for his musical composition in the film "Maachis" released some years ago. He, however, is not new to direction, for he has already made "Makdee" featuring Shabana Azmi.

The director says he has not dared to venture into celluloid production of "Macbeth" but sought to stick to only its spirit in setting the story of ambition and jealousy in the underworld of Bombay.

The story is about Maqbool, played by promising actor Irfan, who is the confidante of underworld don Abbaji (performed by veteran TV actor Pankaj Kapoor). Abaji's mistress (played by actress Tabu) gets into an affair with Maqbool and this destroys the entire gang.

Some critics have found in "Maqbool" echoes of Macbeth in the character of Maqbool, of Lord Duncan (in Shakepeare's play) in Abbaji, of Lady Macbeth in Abaji's mistress and of witches in the drama in Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah playing out the roles of corrupt cops.

Bhardwaj's film has already done the round in the international circuit, having been screened in Toronto and Morocco film festivals recently. The director as well as Bobby Bedi, producer of "Maqbool, hope the connection between the film and Shakespeare's play would help its market internationally.

The film has once again brought to the fore acting capabilities of Irfan who shot into limelight after his performance in the widely-acclaimed Hollywood film "The Warrior". He has already a bagful of meaningful as well as commercial film assignments.