Mumbai, April 26, 2005
Subhash K Jha (IANS)
Deepa Mehta can finally breathe easy. After causing
a spark in a tinderbox, her film Water is finally
complete and ready for an early release. With a new
cast and new settings, the film will hit theatres
in November.
"I'm so glad I've got it out of my system. Now
I feel I could just retire. I'm that satisfied with
Water," said the director, speaking on phone
from her villa in suburban Toronto.
The film's rights have been given to NRI entrepreneur
Ajay Virmani, who has financed some Hindi films earlier.
"Water was the last of my elemental trilogy
after Fire and Earth. I felt incomplete without it.
I just had to make Water," said the director,
whose script had sparked violent protests and even
death threats in India.
But will it be shown in India? "I hope so."
Mehta has her fingers crossed.
"It must be seen by Indians to know how unfair
the fundamentalists were in their premature perceptions
on the film's theme."
"(But) It's entirely up to Virmani when he chooses
to releases it in India. On my part, I'm just elated
to have made this film."
The period piece on the Indian widows in the 1930s
had been thwarted even before its shooting began in
February 2000. The Uttar Pradesh government withdrew
the film's location permits as mobs stormed the ghats
along the Ganges, destroying the film's sets and burning
effigies of Mehta.
"I've gone through an ordeal by fire - no pun
intended. In fact (Pakistani litterateur) Bapsi Sidhwa
has written a book on the making of Water, which will
be published when the film is released," Mehta
laughs.
But she was not to be deterred. Last year, Mehta
got together a new cast. Seema Biswas replaced Shabana
Azmi. John Abraham and Lisa Ray took over the roles
originally marked for Akshay and Nandita. The film
was shot and completed in Sri Lanka, instead of Varanasi.
"All those who have seen the film have told
me it's my best work, though I like all the three
parts of my trilogy equally. But since Water underwent
a very painful gestation period, I guess it will always
remain my favourite."
Mehta is all praise for her cast.
"Seema Biswas is outstanding as usual. But it's
John and Lisa who are going to stun the audiences.
For all those who think Lisa would be unconvincing
as a Hindu widow, the film is a revelation,"
she said.
"My script required the girl to be a lotus in
a murky pond. That's exactly how Lisa comes across.
As for John he has left all of us overwhelmed. When
he came to Sri Lanka to shoot for Water he was fully
prepared.
"He knew how to wear the dhoti, how to play
the flute. He knew the body language and the historicity
of his character and he simply transformed into the
character."
"The chemistry he shares with Lisa onscreen
has to be seen to be believed. She's so fragile and
vulnerable and he's so strong and yet so sensitive."
And how does she assess her film? "It's pure
and honest, not melodramatic at all."
"For me the final seal of approval came from
AR Rahman. When he saw the film he was completely
overwhelmed. The music score that Rahman has done
for Water has given the film a whole new dimension.
In fact, I couldn't have made Water without him, or
John, Lisa, Waheeda Rehman and Seema Biswas."
Besides Water, Mehta is delighted by the turn of
events in the Hindi film industry this year. "Films
like Page 3, Black and My Brother ... Nikhil show
the audiences are ready for a change."
"Nikhil... I believe is about a HIV positive
gay man. When my Fire was released in India, the fundamentalists
had argued there was no lesbianism in India!"
