SEJAL SHAH TO MAKE AWARD WINNING DOCUMENTARY ‘JOGINIS’ INTO COMMERCIAL FILM
WEST SIDE PLUS(TIMES OF INDIA -JUL 2004)
By Skimmy Gupta
Internationally acclaimed documentary ‘Joginis- Servants of God’ by Mumbai based filmmaker Sejal Shah will be screened at Locarno for the second time next month. The documentary which recently won the Grand prize at the Festival Du Film Sur Les Droits Humains, the first international film festival on Human rights in Geneva has been screened at International festival at Biarritz in France, Tongues on Fire festival in London, Festival resistances in France amongst many other international venues. Versatile filmmaker Sejal is now planning to make a film based on her first documentary with Bollywood stars .She is also working on another script to direct her first feature film.
Sejal, a Khar resident began her career as a journalist and soon switched to film direction She moved to Los Angeles for an intensive course in filmmaking and directed four shorts in Hollywood .On her return to India she made her first Documentary ‘Joginis- Servants of God’ about the prevalent Jogini system existing in India despite a ban by Indian government. She says, “Joginis said to be servants of God are dedicated to Goddess Yellamma making them goddesses themselves and forfeiting their right to ever marry. This documentary has some exclusive footage of an initiation of a baby girl and a young woman being dedicated to the temple goddess and becoming a Jogini.”
Speaking on her dream to convert the documentary into commercial film she feels “ It will be a film based on a true life story of a woman who was a jogini. Since this documentary has done so well in the international festivals I am sure the film will evoke great interest too. The film was officially selected for the Locarno Film festival 2003, one of the most prestigious international film festivals in the world and will be screened this year too. It is a real honour.”
Her second film Mangala Tamasha Party, a 52 minutes documentary on Mangala Bansode of Maharashtra - one of India’s well-known Tamasha dancer won the best documentary award at IDPA in India and award for excellence in Direction at RAPA, India. Sejal also specializes in television Software, Commercials, Documentaries and Corporate Films. Her creativity took another turn when she recently just shot a 45 mins Dv film about a couple on their way to Goa. It stars Ashwini Kalsekar and Rajesh Khera was shot on the road in a completely experimental form. “Depending on how it goes I plan to make another 45 mins film with the same theme and maybe release it in theatres,” adds Sejal.
Sejal has won several awards for investigative and social issue based journalism including the British Chevening Award for outstanding young Indian Journalists and Award for excellence. On her stint with commercial cinema she says, “I have just completed a film script which has been written for me by Bhavani Iyer who has also written ‘Black’ directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. I am in the process of meeting actors and producers for this film.”
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By Skimmy Gupta
Internationally acclaimed documentary ‘Joginis- Servants of God’ by Mumbai based filmmaker Sejal Shah will be screened at Locarno for the second time next month. The documentary which recently won the Grand prize at the Festival Du Film Sur Les Droits Humains, the first international film festival on Human rights in Geneva has been screened at International festival at Biarritz in France, Tongues on Fire festival in London, Festival resistances in France amongst many other international venues. Versatile filmmaker Sejal is now planning to make a film based on her first documentary with Bollywood stars .She is also working on another script to direct her first feature film.
Sejal, a Khar resident began her career as a journalist and soon switched to film direction She moved to Los Angeles for an intensive course in filmmaking and directed four shorts in Hollywood .On her return to India she made her first Documentary ‘Joginis- Servants of God’ about the prevalent Jogini system existing in India despite a ban by Indian government. She says, “Joginis said to be servants of God are dedicated to Goddess Yellamma making them goddesses themselves and forfeiting their right to ever marry. This documentary has some exclusive footage of an initiation of a baby girl and a young woman being dedicated to the temple goddess and becoming a Jogini.”
Speaking on her dream to convert the documentary into commercial film she feels “ It will be a film based on a true life story of a woman who was a jogini. Since this documentary has done so well in the international festivals I am sure the film will evoke great interest too. The film was officially selected for the Locarno Film festival 2003, one of the most prestigious international film festivals in the world and will be screened this year too. It is a real honour.”
Her second film Mangala Tamasha Party, a 52 minutes documentary on Mangala Bansode of Maharashtra - one of India’s well-known Tamasha dancer won the best documentary award at IDPA in India and award for excellence in Direction at RAPA, India. Sejal also specializes in television Software, Commercials, Documentaries and Corporate Films. Her creativity took another turn when she recently just shot a 45 mins Dv film about a couple on their way to Goa. It stars Ashwini Kalsekar and Rajesh Khera was shot on the road in a completely experimental form. “Depending on how it goes I plan to make another 45 mins film with the same theme and maybe release it in theatres,” adds Sejal.
Sejal has won several awards for investigative and social issue based journalism including the British Chevening Award for outstanding young Indian Journalists and Award for excellence. On her stint with commercial cinema she says, “I have just completed a film script which has been written for me by Bhavani Iyer who has also written ‘Black’ directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. I am in the process of meeting actors and producers for this film.”
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Labels: Entertainment
posted by Skimmy @ July 10, 2008
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