Actor and filmmaker Naseeruddin Shah shared that he once engaged in a conversation about originality with renowned screenwriter Javed Akhtar. During this discussion, Shah expressed his belief that Akhtar's iconic 1975 film "Sholay" drew inspiration from the works of Charlie Chaplin and Hollywood director Clint Eastwood.
"Sholay," co-written by Akhtar and his former writing partner Salim Khan, is celebrated as one of the greatest and most impactful Indian films in cinema history.
"I remember Javed Akhtar had once said to me, 'Something can be called original when you can’t find its source'. I was talking to him about Sholay, and I said, ‘You have copied every scene, you didn’t leave any of Charlie Chaplin’s films, besides Clint Eastwood is felt in every frame."
But he remarked, "The question is not about where you have lifted a reference from, it’s about how far you have taken it’. It’s difficult to define originality. William Shakespeare, who is considered a great playwright, apparently was also copying stuff from old plays. But originality was there in the way they presented,"
Naseeruddin Shah said on Saturday on day one of IFP Season 14. Directed by Ramesh Sippy, "Sholay" is a Dacoit Western that blends influences from Spaghetti Westerns, made famous by Clint Eastwood, and Samurai cinema. The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast featuring some of the biggest stars of the 1970s, including Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri, and Amjad Khan.
Naseeruddin Shah, known for his impactful performances in both parallel cinema and mainstream films, has left an indelible mark with works like "Nishant," "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro," and "Mirch Masala," while also carving a niche in commercial cinema with titles such as "Hero Hiralal," "Vishwatma," and "Mohra." He expressed his admiration for directors like Mrinal Sen, Basu Chatterjee, Satyajit Ray, Anurag Kashyap, and Vikramaditya Motwane, noting that films by Sen, Chatterjee, and Ray were groundbreaking. Shah pointed out that while films like "Bhuvan Shome," "Sara Aakash," and "Ankur" received significant attention, the number of filmmakers creating such works was relatively small.
The 74-year-old said, “Today, there are people like Anubhav Sinha, Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, and there are successors to Basu Chatterjee, like Rajkumar Hirani. So, there are a group of madmen who are making the movies they believe in, but another wave is unlikely. Today, the situation in the industry is grim.”
Naseeruddin Shah described his directorial venture, “Man Woman Man Woman,” a short film featuring his wife Ratna Pathak Shah, son Vivaan Shah, Saba Azad, and Tarun Dhanrajgir, as merely a "small drop in the ocean." The 26-minute film explores themes of love and companionship across two generations and was recently showcased at the IFP. Shah noted that audiences often anticipate darker and more intense narratives from him.
Shah’s son Imaad Shah, who scored the music for the film, was all praise for his parents. “I was growing up around wonderful actors… The workshops that would happen at home, dealing with different kinds of texts whether English, Hindi or Urdu. I feel they both are not offered their best roles, films are waiting to utilise them fully,” he added.
Shah mentioned that his recent projects include the web series “IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack” and the films “Kuttey” and “Gehraiyaan.” He expressed his enjoyment in taking on cameo roles, emphasizing that having fun is his top priority at this stage in his career. He stated that he no longer feels the need to chase significant roles, as he has already had his fair share of them, and finds contentment in the ease that comes with cameo appearances.
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