Creativity is reflection of thought-Biyot Projna Tripathy

By Sanjeev Shekhar

She was perhaps meant for creativity. Despite being a law graduate, she never had the leaning to pursue the career in it. "I don't know, why? But my inner instinct drew towards films and creativity," she says.

The love for cinema fulfills her yearning to remain an artist. Having successfully carved a niche for herself as a professional filmmaker, the national award winner, Biyot Projna Tripathy has punched the celluloid yet again.

A 30-minute documentary, Coffee House, marvelously airs the sentiments of the young and vibrant minds of contemporary youth. A classy depiction of lifestyle in any metro, the film is not bound to any place or time.Shot in the commercial capital of the state, Jamshedpur, Coffee House is an adaptation of a short story by a noted Oriya author, Devdas Chottoray, the scriptwriter of the film Indra Dhanush Chayee that was screened at Cannes Film Festival, a few years ago.

“I believe in reality and try to pick up subjects that is happening and authentic,” says Biyot Projana, who has 23 documentaries and short films up her sleeve. Projna, after completing her law, wanted to pursue the legal profession but soon realized that it was not the right place for her. She preferred to do something of her own and responded to the spontaneous instinct to get into the films.

Coffee House is an English film that revolves around a young man. Secluded, and has no friend, rather girlfriend to be precise. This young man fails to attract the attention of even the waiter, who is busy serving the group of young boys and girls flocking in the cafeterias. It typically brings out the discussion among the young boys about their girl friends and the girls in short skirt sashaying their seductive conduct to charm young boys. Some discussing their sexual escapades with their paramour, while another girl giving excuses to her teacher, who has apparently caught her having an intrinsic relationship with her cousin, thereby leaving the lonely character embarrassed, who ultimately steps out of the cafeteria.This documentary brought accolades from viewers much to the satisfaction of Biyot, who is now planning to step into the feature film arena. Having won the national award for best documentary in 2004 for “Ladakh, the Land of Mystery”, she has prepared several documentaries depicting the tribal lifestyle of Jharkhand and Manipur.

While “Hawaimithai” deals with tribal children of Jharkhand, their dreams and the knowledge of their sorrow and lost identity, Manipur Cocktail deals with the sociological change in the culture that was aired on Doordarshan. Another documentary, “Light in the Wilderness,” depicts the life of tribal women of Jharkhand whereas the documentary, “A Different Civilization”, is the strong depiction of the famous folk dance, Chhau.

Biyot has made promotional films for Doordarshan and several business houses. She candidly says that she loves Jamshedpur and has no plans to go out of this place. “After all, this place has given me so much,” she brims.Owner of the Hand Held Productions, Biyot is offering variety of recipe to the film lovers. Majority of her films has brought out the character so well that it has created a desire among viewers to have something new next time.

Sanjeev Shekhar,

Journalist/Media Consultant/PR

Filmmaker Iqbal Durrani in quest of political platform

Iqbal Durrani-politics, my new game

By Sanjeev Shekhar

After carving a niche in Bollywood successfully for more than two decades in the script writing and direction, the ace filmmaker, Iqbal Durrani, has expressed his willingness to join politics and work for the betterment of state.

“I’m willing to join politics but only if people of this state want me there. Being the son of the soil, I want to do something for the state of Jharkhand and its people,” Durrani said without revealing about the choice of party he will be willing to join or the place from where he would like to become the representative.

Born near the village in Deoghar of Jharkhand, Iqbal Durrani, has come a long way to don the mantle of success, with subsequent hiccups of sweetness and bitterness of life, ever since he started his career in Mumbai in the early 80s. The maker of Kaalchakra, Khuddar, Benaam Badhsah, Kohram, Phool aur Khante, Dhartiputra, Betaaj Badhshah so on and so forth, the noted filmmaker has created a history of sorts by doing more than 80-90 films in the form of writer-director.

Substantiating about his decision to join politics, Durrani explained that he was hurt and thoroughly upset the way Raj Thackeray has spitted venom against the Biharis and Jharkhandis recently.

“Mumbai does not belong to Maharashtrians only, but it belongs to those outsiders who have actually made Mumbai what it is today. Outsiders like me have given sweat, blood and tears to build Mumbai and the statement of Raj Thackeray only invoke bad blood and hatred among others, which is not correct. Hence I’ve decided that if Maharashtrians feel proud in saying “Jai Maharashtra” then I will do whatever little contribution possible for my state and make people here feel proud by saying “Jai Jharkhand”, the filmmaker candidly said.

Unlike Dharmendra, Govinda and Hema Malini, who never went back to their constituency after winning election, Durrani was apparently prepared to answer the spontaneous query fired by the scribe, “My idol is late Sunil Dutt Saheb and I want to follow his footsteps to do the best for my people,” he clarified.

Having the hounour of directing great heros like Raj Kumar and Shatrughan Sinha, the down to earth film writer-director has mesmerizing words to put things straight. He said politics demand good people from the intellect class and proper selection of words, which should reflect modesty, softness, love and respect for all.

Durrani castigated Raj Thackeray for using unsavory words to get popular overnight and appealed to media to retrain from giving such hype that serves the vested interest of leaders like Raj.

Sanjeev Shekhar
Journalist/Media Consultant/PR