Entry 9.0 - Spark of Madness - Chello Show Ft. Cinema Paradiso
Its been a decade
of falling in love with books and movies for me. A decade old love affair of
read, re-reads, screenings and re-runs.
I am sure we all have our stories
of when we fell in love with books, cinema or anything. What’s Yours?
My obsession began with watching
the movie “Titanic” 20 times in a row in my 8th grade summer
vacations. To be caught into the world woven by James Cameron and that to on a
borrowed CD. In books, my first was the “Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown , twice.
Because, come on, who would understand everything in that book in the first go,
that too in the 8th grade.
There are a few people to thank for
making me fall in love with the world of Cinema and Stories (you know who you
are). Thank you for showing me movies and books which have left me in awe, in
deep thoughts, made me laugh and cry like anything in a span of minutes and
hours.
A few weeks ago, I watched a movie
about a kid from village named “Chalala” who had the same love but way beyond
mine and that too just at an age of 9. So, it took 2 whole years and a bit of
spark to finally write something again here, even in its rusty form.
Chello Show/ Last Film Show
In the era of our multimillion
dollar films which sometimes don’t get almost anything right, this shining star
by Pan Nalin has arisen.
Story, Dialogues, Screenplay,
Acting, Production, editing. In each department, they have done more than a
splendid job.
The story is about a 9 year old
kid, “Samay” and his love.
His love, that are “Films”.
Son of a railway kitli (tea
stall) owner of Chalala, Samay is in awe of films. Bunking school and sneaking
in in theatres, is his favourite time of the day. The love, curiosity,
observations and dedication he has towards films is like a will of fire.
It’s a simply made movie, but it’s not
quite a simple one. Pan Nalin has shown a lot of things which seem so small,
petty or childish but tells the story of a thousand dreams and emotions.
Beauty, Love and Substance can be
found in any scene. It might be the heartful support of Samay’s friend for his
obsession or Baa’s (Samay’s Mother) art of making food and putting all her love
and efforts in the Golden Dabba wrapped in the red cloth. From Samay’s father
struggle and war with Reality to Fazal Bhai’s Sufi Dance on “Khwaja mere
Khwaja”, there is so much to cherish.
All of this being connected in a
nexus through Samay’s dream of studying light.
If Pan Nalin has mandated us to keep our eyes glued on the screen with his writing and direction than Cyril Moran has done everything for our ears and mind to experience the beautiful scores of Love, Death and Grief.
One of the scenes which is etched in my memory is the journey of Samay and his friend from Chalala to Rajkot chasing the truck with old black 35 MM film reels. The tragic face expression by Samay while he sees the death of something he truly loves. It’s almost cruel, how he comes to realize their recycling process into colourful bangles. All of this beautifully ending with a montage of bangles where Samay guesses the name of directors and artists on the basis of design and colours of the bangles in the train.
Somehow, I could clearly see some
sprinkles and reflections here and there which reminded of the gem made by
Giuseppe Tornatore in 1988, “Cinema Paradiso”. It gave the world story of “Toto
and Alfredo”. It’s a beautiful tale of Circle of Time (Birth, Life and
Death)covering the emotions of Love, Grief and Passion. All of it made more
powerful by the brilliant scores by Ennio Morricone. (It’s a must watch)
It felt like Pan Nalin took some
pages out of Paradiso and dyed them in his own art form creating a story with
beautiful colour pallets and layers.
The story of Toto and Alfredo
The Story of Samay and Fazal
One in Sicily, Italy and other in
Chalala, India
One in Italian and the other in
Gujarati
Ennio Moricone and Cyril Moran,
Giuseppe Tornatore and Pan Nalin,
Their stories are of different
times and moods, yet united by the same spark in eyes of Samay and Toto. Their
love for motion pictures. The spark which keeps their madness alive. Strong
enough to make them pursue and follow it for a lifetime. (That takes guts)
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We have all been there. Staring into the depths of a screen as if
we are stargazing into a night sky, awaiting the strike of an incoming comet
which can touch our hearts and transport us to another world. Even if for some
hours, experiencing moments which truly impact our minds and hearts. Chello
Show and Cinema Paradiso did that for me.
Some lines
from Chello Show,
Baapu: Taare
sacchu ma aa filmo ane ae badhuj karvu che jeevan ma?
(Do you really want to learn about films and work on them)
(Samay replies with his pure innocence)
Samay: Ha, Baapu.
Maare Prakash vishe bhanvu
che.
Prakash maathi vartaa bane,
Ane vartao thi, filmm banne”.
(I want to Study about light
Light helps to make stories
And from stories, films are made.)
Awesome interpretation. Will definitely give it a watch
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