Desire By The Dozen : Shabani Azmi
THE ASIAN AGE (DEC 2003)
By Skimmy Gupta
Actress and MP Shabana Azmi is a multi-faceted personality with enormous depth and perspective. A nominated member of Rajya Sabha; Shabana exhibits ready wit, an unaffected charm and a natural grace. Shabana has acted in over 60-odd films and a considerable number of stage appearances in a 30-year career and continues to be a leading actress of Indian 'Art Cinema'. She was honoured with best actress Silver Hugo award at Chicago Film Festival (1996) and jury award at Outfest –Los Angeles (1997) for her role in Deepa Mehta’s movie ‘Fire’. She has also worked for foreign directors such as John Schlesinger (Madame Sousatzka), Roland Joffe (City of Joy) and Tony Gerber (Side Streets).
The daughter of Kaifi Azmi - one of country's best-known Urdu poets and the celebrated actress Shaukat; Shabana Azmi decided early on to work in film and theater. Graduating from FTII in 1972,she rose to fame in her mid-twenties. And went on to become perhaps the most recognized star of the New Indian Cinema working in challenging films by Shyam Benegal, Mrinal Sen, Gautam Ghosh, Aparna Sen, and even Satyajit Ray (a small role in The Chess Player). She also became a major star in commercial Hindi cinema — a rare accomplishment for an actress wherein usually the "commercial" and "art" cinema keep a scrupulous distance.
Currently a Member of the Indian Parliament, she is known as a fierce advocate for the disadvantaged, fighting for the rights of minorities, slum dwellers, and women. The sensitivity of her portrayals on film and her unerring sense of timing are part of her personality, which allows sufferings to touch her. Her political work is perhaps an extension of her work as an actress; as often Shabana portrayed women discovering how to stand up to the many forces that seek to oppress them in her roles.
Lately, she is actively involved in the beautification project of Juhu Beach. She also released Rs 1 crore from the MP fund for this restoration plan for the Juhu waterfront carried out by MHADA.The project will emerge as Juhu Beach complete with beautiful promenade, encroachment free with all basic amenities for visitors.
SHABANA'S 12 WISHES
1.Every child should be in school for at least 8 years and good quality education should be provided for all.
2.Equal opportunities should be provided to every citizen irrespective of caste, creed or gender.
3.Communal tension must be replaced by a vibrant pluralism that is India’s greatest strength.
4.There should be equitable distribution of resources particularly water.
5.Hindi cinema should finally start making resources available for independent filmmakers to make films that do not have to cater to the lowest common denominator.
6.Revitalize the institution of street theatre.
7.Good public health services should be available for all.
8.Differences between India and Pakistan should be resolved so that we can become as strong subcontinent along with our neighbours that can give the European Union a run for its money.
9.The problem of slums cannot be solved by demolishing them but by actually giving them fixed land tenure, direct finance and subsidized building materials etc.
10.Cleanliness and civic sense to be ingrained in every citizen.
11.Better public transport and greening of all areas that are lying degraded with BMC and similar organizations.
12.Traffic!Traffic!Traffic!
=========================================
By Skimmy Gupta
Actress and MP Shabana Azmi is a multi-faceted personality with enormous depth and perspective. A nominated member of Rajya Sabha; Shabana exhibits ready wit, an unaffected charm and a natural grace. Shabana has acted in over 60-odd films and a considerable number of stage appearances in a 30-year career and continues to be a leading actress of Indian 'Art Cinema'. She was honoured with best actress Silver Hugo award at Chicago Film Festival (1996) and jury award at Outfest –Los Angeles (1997) for her role in Deepa Mehta’s movie ‘Fire’. She has also worked for foreign directors such as John Schlesinger (Madame Sousatzka), Roland Joffe (City of Joy) and Tony Gerber (Side Streets).
The daughter of Kaifi Azmi - one of country's best-known Urdu poets and the celebrated actress Shaukat; Shabana Azmi decided early on to work in film and theater. Graduating from FTII in 1972,she rose to fame in her mid-twenties. And went on to become perhaps the most recognized star of the New Indian Cinema working in challenging films by Shyam Benegal, Mrinal Sen, Gautam Ghosh, Aparna Sen, and even Satyajit Ray (a small role in The Chess Player). She also became a major star in commercial Hindi cinema — a rare accomplishment for an actress wherein usually the "commercial" and "art" cinema keep a scrupulous distance.
Currently a Member of the Indian Parliament, she is known as a fierce advocate for the disadvantaged, fighting for the rights of minorities, slum dwellers, and women. The sensitivity of her portrayals on film and her unerring sense of timing are part of her personality, which allows sufferings to touch her. Her political work is perhaps an extension of her work as an actress; as often Shabana portrayed women discovering how to stand up to the many forces that seek to oppress them in her roles.
Lately, she is actively involved in the beautification project of Juhu Beach. She also released Rs 1 crore from the MP fund for this restoration plan for the Juhu waterfront carried out by MHADA.The project will emerge as Juhu Beach complete with beautiful promenade, encroachment free with all basic amenities for visitors.
SHABANA'S 12 WISHES
1.Every child should be in school for at least 8 years and good quality education should be provided for all.
2.Equal opportunities should be provided to every citizen irrespective of caste, creed or gender.
3.Communal tension must be replaced by a vibrant pluralism that is India’s greatest strength.
4.There should be equitable distribution of resources particularly water.
5.Hindi cinema should finally start making resources available for independent filmmakers to make films that do not have to cater to the lowest common denominator.
6.Revitalize the institution of street theatre.
7.Good public health services should be available for all.
8.Differences between India and Pakistan should be resolved so that we can become as strong subcontinent along with our neighbours that can give the European Union a run for its money.
9.The problem of slums cannot be solved by demolishing them but by actually giving them fixed land tenure, direct finance and subsidized building materials etc.
10.Cleanliness and civic sense to be ingrained in every citizen.
11.Better public transport and greening of all areas that are lying degraded with BMC and similar organizations.
12.Traffic!Traffic!Traffic!
=========================================
Labels: Desire By The Dozen
posted by Skimmy @ June 05, 2008
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