Doosra Kinara - Kristi Hutchinson

Someone said acting is all about giving meaning to the words and for me Kristi perosnified this theory. A good actor can bring life to medicore words and can take any film to a new level. She nailed this role to a tee - could not have asked for a better actress.

In addition she is not the type of blonde stories are made of - she is quick witted, smart and very humble. She is a World Citizen who knows no man made political boundries - she is just awesome!

Yes, you can expect here in my next film that I am writting these days!

Iqra - To Read ...

Mullah what was that deal about wanting to see the card? I asked.
What about it? – Mullah Luis responded with a grin.
Why you wanted to know if she has a library card? She is going to be your real estate broker, what a library card has got to do with it?
EVERYTHING. Mullah was confident, and right then I knew a sermon is on its way.

Everything?
Yes. I had decided long time ago not to do business with anyone who is not a reader. See people who read have some personality traits. They are compassionate, confident and open-minded and care for the whole World. They are adventurous and are not afraid to let others (authors of books) take over their brain for a few days and weeks. These are the secure people that I want to encourage and deal with all my life.

Is it not discrimination?
May be, but It is my way of doing things and I am sticking by it. Why don’t you look around and make a list of people that are readers v/s non-readers. You would know what I am talking about.

Look at the global political scene since Adam, and see what kind of a people brought misery to this already suffering world – you will be surprised my friend. For example Genghis Khan who brought so much destruction to Iraq was not a reader where as Columbus was a reader so was Gandhi. Even this is true in films; Don Carleone in Godfather was not a reader nor was Mughambo in Mr. India. Can you imagine Gabbar Singh reading Femina or War and Peace? Compare them to Dr. Zhivago, Raziya Sultana, and even Umrao “Rekha” Jaan was a reader. Did you notice in film Shakti, Ashwini Kumar, the honest DCP played by Dilip Kumar was a reader where as Vijay played by Amitabh was not.

What about our parents?
Those are the only exceptions built in this model. I do not care what people read as long as they read, be it newspapers, holy books, gossip magazines, cartoons, horoscopes, fortune cookies, sports magazines, even girlie magazines are fine by me. They must read something if they want to earn my trust and business.

Why you never asked me if I read?
I did not have to, half the time what you say comes straight out of an ideological novel and other half is cluttered with signal timings, accident data, sight distances, tangents and curves. Whatever little is left you pack it with films…

That's very deep Mullah how did you pick up this up?

Mullah gave me that mischievous smile and said " coz I READ!"

You are not alone ...

If there is one principle more deeply rooted in the mind of every American, it is that we should have nothing to do with conquest.

~Thomas Jefferson

...no mother would ever willingly sacrifice her sons for territorial gain, for economic advantage, for ideology.

~Ronald Reagan

War remains the decisive human failure.

~John Kenneth Galbraith

( Courtsey:Huffingtonpost.com and antiwar.com)

Hero, Heroine and the Jebroni...

When Mullah Luis saw this picture he wanted to know the "status" of what he referred to as the Blonde "Front Page News", and whether the Hero is on the right or left of her?

Well, I told him Kristi is in the middle for sure, and she is the Heroine (and her status is non- negotiable!). As far as the Hero is concerned – this time the Hero is in the eye of the beholder….

Vikas, Peace !

Doosra Kinara - Crew

When the US army announces it sending 1000 soldiers to Iraq, what it really means is that it is sending 329 combat troops and 671 support personnel. For every soldier fighting and taking bullets, there are two more to support him. These so-called support troops are very important for any combat operations. They are Engineers, Doctors, Psychologists, Corpsman, Mechanics, and Bomb Loaders to name a few and holds ranks ranging from Private First Class to a Colonel.

That’s how it is in making films – I reckon. For every Blonde and beautiful actress romancing her boyfriend on the screen; there are many (depending on the Paymaster) that "support" her, and make it possible for those scenes to happen jus right or as per whims and fancies of the most nervous guy on the set usually referred to as “the Director”!

Even though the folks above are part of the word “crew” they are much more than that. If weren’t for them my challenges would have had a field day. I am obliged to these and many more (…and you know who you are!) that made it possible for me to realize a long cherished dream.

A short cut to find how happy you are is to find how many friends you have. I am happy that this film multiplied my happiness by bringing closer these bunch of good-hearted people. Some of these would be my friends for life and some would move on chasing their own Doosra Kinara. However, I am happy to have known them.

Above: Sandhya Bhagat, Akansha Joshi, GiriMohan Coneti and Rafique Batcha.

BTW the folks shown here are all 4 stars Generals in their own rights. They are Tarantinos, Deepa Mehtas and Mahesh Dattanis of the future - Watch out for these faces.

Mullah Luis – Back to school…

Mullah Luis registered for some 2000 level classes at a local university this semester. I asked him, Mullah how do you feel learning accounting with students much younger than yourself. He said that he felt – vindicated.

He always prophesied a theory which he calls career @ 16, that questions the ability of a 16 year high school student to choose a career of a LFIETIME. He says at 16 you make all kinds of “hormonic” mistakes and to believe all your life that what you choose at 16 was right - is absurd. We must decide on life when we have somewhat complete information and no blinders. He adds God forbids if you decide on your life partner at 16; then you are pretty much doomed, unless you are a local Sheikh with a secret harem in Southern France!

My days have gotten more interesting with new stories and observations that he comes back with each day. I am also beginning to appreciate accounting 2000 as well. It is good to see him with a bag pack filled with books these days. He says that there are two kinds of people who use bag packs:

- Students
- Losers

As far as Mullah is concerned, I think he just got himself promoted!

Doosra Kinara - Editing

Jeff Shipman and I have two things in common. Both of us have passion for story telling and both are certified rebels. From FY 2007, I have vowed to check my tenencies to swim against the current - Jeff still is making up his mind.

Jeff is an awesome friend and an expert editor. I was amazed at his expertise of film editing and insights of human nature. How many editors can edit a film in a foreign language that too with comic scenes?

A film is made three times ( writting, filming and then editing) and I am glad that Jeff agreed to cut my film as he has kept the same vision that I had while writting it.

Jeff lives in "Trilok". If he is not on earth editing, then either he is in sky flying to Wisconsin to spend time with his girlfriend or he is 200 feet under water in Lake Lanier. Rumor has it that he is searching for his Doosra Kinara down yonder......!!!

Doosra Kinara - Cast

Life is not about two people. It involves a number of others who play "character" in your life. These good hearted people called simply "characters", add so much to your life making it live-able beyond imagination. Sometime they take away a lot without even realizing it - there is a reason it is called life!!

Barring a few most of my cast were new, and were acting for the first time. It added more challenge to the mix but in the end it all worked out fine. It invariably does.....isn't it?

Doosra Kinara - Cast

Ahmad Plays Rustom.....
Sorry, can not go further than that....

Hosla ...

Ye Hosla Kaise Jhuke ?
Ye arzoo kaise Ruke ?
Manzil Mushkil to kiya
Dhundla Sahil to kiya
Tanha ye Dil to kiya ?

Rah pe katen bikhre agar
Us pe to phir bhi chalna hi hai
Shaam chupale suraj magar
Raat ko ek din dhalna hi hai
Rut ye tal jayegi ...
Himmat rang layegi ...
Subah phir aayegi ...

Ye Hosla kaise jhuke
Ye arzoo kasie ruke?

(Mir Ali Husain in Nagesh's Dor)

Hayat ....( Zindagi)

Khird ke paas khabar ke siwa kuch aur nahi
Tera Ilaaj nazar ke siwa kuch aur nahi

Har Ek Mukaam se aage mukaam hai tera
Hayat Zoke safar ke siwa kcuh aur nahi

Urus-e-Lala munasib nahi hai mujh se hijab
Ke main naseem-e-sahar ke siwa kuch aur nahi --- Iqbal

2006 ...

Doosra Kinara - Music

II think Doosra Kinara is the only film in the World that has its music composed by a Harvard educated MBA! Apurva Shrivastava has done a splendid job and it was fun working with him.

I remember narrating the story to him for the first time; and asking him if he could come up with a signature tune with a wailing sound, preferably a fusion of east and western styles. I am very happy to see how he translated my musical vision into a great score. Music is in his blood (literally!) and he has composed awesome music scores.

Above he is with sound engineer Sandeep Savla and Oboe Player Lauren Winterbottom. Sandeep Savla is a Guru himself with two decades of sound engineering experience. He is THE soundman of Atlanta. Lauren is from music school, University of Indiana.

Doosra Kinara - Kristi Hutchinson

Kristi plays Amber Elizabeth Anderson. She is the live - in partner of Sameer. She is an awesome actress and a wonderful human being.
Education: Bachelor in Fine Arts
Industry: Arts and Museum
What is she upto? - that is the Million Dollar Question.

Mullah Luis called..

Mullah Luis called a few minuets ago and wanted to know if " Tanha" meant " Lonley". I said yep and this exchange followed:

Shahid, cut it out man. Why are you so pessimist?
Mullah, How in the World you found time to read my blog on a Friday night and that too in Miami?
Let us stay on the topic. Why are you so pessimits man? 2006 is going to be history in a couple and you again talk of being lonely. You know what lonlines is....imagine being on south beach and without a news man. No front page news, no good news, not even bad news, nothing...am I omplaining man?
Does not sound like it.....that is lonley man... I agree...
Yeah - so stop your sob stories man. You do not know what awaits you in 2007. Do me a favor, will ya....? delete that negative post and write anything else instead...

and he went on and on....so here I am, writting again.
"Hue tum dost jis ke "..as a wise man said.

Tanhaa...

Just got back from work to this empty ---empty ----damned empty apartment for n+5899 times. Some aprtments are destined to be empty I reckon. May be this is how it was meant to be - May be this is better for everyone.

I try to avoid comparison between people, places, cars, houses and yes - years. Each person , each year is so unique and deserves unique and special treatment I think. But some years, by accident or by design break the backbone of your personality. 2006 took away my INNOCENCE big time. I am no more the same Shahid that I was at the begining of 2006, and I will always yearn for that Shahid of pre 2006.

But life goes on and so will mine too. However, I will no longer be able to FEEL for others the way I used to. I will no longer be able to swim against the current irrespective of the consquences. I will longer be able see the World in shades of Grey where one is allowed to even symphatize with killers and murderes. In 2007 I will no be able to have cmpassion for the victim and aggressor both. Its time to take sides now.

I came home and found a book of Insha ji in my library. Here is what he has to say about folks like me.

" Insha ji bahut din beet chuke
Tum tanha the tum tanha ho
Ye jog bajog to theek nahi
Ye rog kisi ka accha ho ??
Kabhi purab main kabhi pacchim main
Tum purwa ho, tum puchwa hi
Jo nagri nagri Bhatkaye
Aisa bhi na man main kataa ho

Aye jogi aye darwesh kawi
Kiyoon umr gawanye ramta ho
Kiyooon tan par rakh bhbaoot male
tu goarkh nath ka chela ho?
Ye purab pacchim kcuh bhi nahi
Ye jog bajog bhi dhoka ho
jo tujh se juda sab maya hai
paa apne ko gar pana ho
kiyoon aur pe jee ko rijhata hai?
ye peet ki reet to phanda ho
Jo haraa jaan se haar gyaa
Jo jeeta woh bhi ruswaa ho?

Dhooni na ramaa bisraam na kar
Bas alakh laag kar chalta ho
Tu apna reh - tu apna ban
Tu Insha hai - tu Insha ho !! " --- Ibne Insha

Doosra Kinara ...

Vikas Plays Sameer Azad, the protagonist, grew up and lost his heart in Northern India...
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Education: MBA Finance
Industry: Investment banking
What is he upto? - Buy DVD and find out !!!!

Crying over a Coffee...

I was at a Starbucks on Holcomb Bridge when Mullah Luis ran into me.

Crying over a coffee?
No am not
Why not?
I am cool – Why should I cry?
You are cool? Yeah – that’s right…have you worked on your new year’s resolutions?
I do not wait for the New Year to resolve anything.
You should – but this time I have made a resolution for you.
And what is that?
Yeah and it says, “ I will fight three enemies of mine at all costs”
What are you talking about? I do not have enemies.
This is your biggest problem; you do not see the fucking World, THE WAY IT REALLY IS. You see it with your ideological lenses in which everyone looks like a F***g angel. Look around; here in this place if some folks find out you'r a “Moslem”, they would like to see your ass kicked right away.
You are generalizing people. There are some good people around here!
May be you are right, but I am not wrong either.
Ok – Whatever…
Listen – you have a problem and I am here to help.
Listen Mullah, if you want to help – help me find an actor who can deliver. I am looking for a Caucasian male, 45 years old, for my next film and….
You do not want to know the New Year resolution?
Ok – Go ahead.

Your New Year resolution is to fight three enemies that you have, and they are:
1 – Your f***g Ideology
2 – Your F***g Emotions
3 - your F***g Heart

Don’t look at me like I am some fool. You call me a Mullah for a reason – right? Listen, smart people in this World even capitalize on their enemies to make profits. You on the other hand gets hammered because of these three enemies you carry all over with you.
This is the way I am …
That ain’t is going to cut this time Shahid.
I am sick and tired of your explanations man. Get Real. You know it is so fucking easy to take you for a ride. All one needs is to know the names of a few books, philosophers, film writer/directors and one has to hate right-wingers of all major religions, and you will be a buddy in no time.
Aren’t you oversimplifying it man?
I do not care. All I know is that I see a good guy, who gets motivated because of ideology and emotions, takes up a challenge and comes down here to cry over a coffee…

I am not crying over a coffee…….

(I lied ....)

My First Dream !

My first dream, Doosra Kinara is ready for release. I used my entire christmas vacation to fine tune it and provide sub titles. When my team gets back from holidays, the first busienss of the day would be to decide on a vanue and time for the Premier.

Ye maana ke is Zameen ko na gulzaar kar sake
Kuch khaar kam kar gaye guzre jidhar se hum !

Tarkash Films