FILM INTERVIEW: SHONALI BOSE
‘Amu’ Director a Critical Hit at Sundance 2012, Connects with Aamir Khan
History was quietly made in Park City, Utah a couple weeks ago, as Shonali Bose was the first-ever Indian filmmaker to win the prestigious Global Filmmaking Award at the Sundance Film Festival. Presented to Ms. Bose by the Sundance Institute and Mahindra for her latest project, Margarita, with a Straw, the Amu director joined Australia’s Ariel Kleiman (Partisan), South Africa’s Etienne Kallos (Vrystaat), and Chile’s Domina Sotomayor (Late To Die) in receiving $10,000 and other perks to help make her next production a reality.
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The award recognizes and fosters independent filmmakers from around the world. Ms. Bose made an impression with her award-winning film about the 1984 Delhi Riots, Amu. Receiving support for Amu from Bollywood actor and producer Aamir Khan, Ms. Bose appears to be on the fast track to becoming one of the most renowned Indian filmmakers in the world.
Buzzine Bollywood had a few moments to chat with the Aamir Khan-supported and the Sundance-award-winning filmmaker shortly after receiving her honor. Below is a brief insight of the touching story that is Shonali Bose’s life.
Who are you, and where do you hail from?
Shonali Bose: Born in Calcutta in Woodlands Nursing Home on June 3, 1965. Mother. Filmmaker. Yogi. Activist.
Where are you right now?
New Delhi since August 14, 2011. Before that, I was in Manhattan, New York from 1987 to 1990, and in Los Angeles from 1991 to 2011.
How did you get from where you are from to where you are right now?
I left India in 1987 straight after finishing my Bachelor's Degree in History honors for a PhD at Columbia University. I actually wouldn't have gone, had it not been for the tragic death of my mother in December 1986, caused by medical bungling in Nanavati Hospital, Bombay. I was so angry and burning with the injustice of what happened, I needed to leave India. This scholarship fell in my lap, which made it possible to leave. Twenty-five years later, I left the US because of the tragic death of my 16-year-old son caused by the negligence of a large US multinational corporation. I needed to come back home to India to heal.
If your mom were to draft up a biodata about you, what would be the three most impressive entries?
1. Full scholarship to do PhD at Columbia University and full scholarship to do MFA in directing at UCLA Film School;
2. Debut film winning two national awards, international critics award and many more awards, opening in Berlin film festival, toasted at many international festivals from Toronto to Cape Town; and
3. Being the first Indian (possibly first person in the world) to have a novel published and released on the same day as film release (Amu published by Penguin; released by Shringar – January 5, 2005) and the first Indian to win the global filmmaker award at Sundance.
Why are you answering these questions (what are you promoting)?
Good question. Only because you asked me! (And Mahindras asked me!) Not interested in promoting my next script yet -- too early.
What four words best describe your directing and writing styles?
Honest. Authentic. Powerful. Emotional.
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What one word or phrase best sums up working on 'Amu'?
Excruciatingly challenging.
Which filmmaker or writer has had the most influence on your career?
No one.
What does it mean to you to have Aamir Khan supporting 'Amu'?
A lot. He had nothing to do with the film. He supported it because he loved it and believed in the cause. That is so generous and so rare.
What can we expect to see in Margarita, with a Straw?
Something mind-blowing and not seen in Indian cinema to date!
Tell us about your reaction to winning the Global Filmmaking Award.
Utterly thrilled and moved.
Beyond the award, what was your experience at Sundance 2012 like?
Had some amazing meetings. Watched some brilliant films.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hope to still be living in India and hope to have made three more films.
What is your motto?
Accept with grace what you cannot change, like box office success, illness, and death; fight and resist that which is unfair like the Indian Censor Board, exploitation of workers and peasants, human trafficking, war, et al.
Where online can fans find out more about you?
My Facebook page is easy to access.
Barnu
Thanks for the opportunity to buy term paper in order to make the blog better and more popular