“Men like Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt made all-time classics even when there was no financial help from the Government. Good film-makers always experiment, and bring something new on screen. However, commercial films are need of the masses”We know Dr Jabbar Patel as a renowned theatre and film director of India. We know him for Ghashiram Kotwal - a classic in modern Indian theatre. We know him for classic films in Marathi cinema like Jait Re Jait, Umbartha, Simhasan, for his most acclaimed film Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, for national award winning Mukta, for Ek Hota Vidushak (Which revealed a serious actor in Laxmikant Berde) and so on.
However, a very few of us know that Dr Patel is a paediatrician, and, therefore, enjoyed himself truly in Doctors’ company’ on Sunday. He was the chief guest at the installation ceremony of the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS). But, how one can resist to ask him questions about the classic school of cinema - of which he has been a stalwart?
Talking to a visibly relaxed Dr Jabbar Patel after the AMS function revealed his thoughts on ever-changing cinema, new generation directors and producers, and of course, his upcoming ventures.
“Cinema is a creative art. Concept of creativity changes with generations. Young directors and producers today, are exceptionally talented. As an encouraging fact, the Government provides financial assistance to film-makers these days. Many a youngsters is making really good use of this money,” expressed Dr Patel mentioning the internationally acclaimed films Harishchan-drachi Factory and Vihir. But out of 120-plus Marathi films produced this year, only three or four could won the critical acclaim. When asked about this, Dr Patel said, it depends on the mood and skill of a film-maker, and not on the Government aid.
Men like Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt made all-time classics even when there was no financial help from the Government. Good film-makers always experiment, and bring something new on screen. However, commercial films are need of the masses, he explained.
“Commercial and parallel cinema always progress hand in hand. In old times, I and Dada Kondke used to work together. N S Vaidya was our common editor. He had worked for me and Dada at the same time. Many a times, I borrowed Dada’s camera for shooting my films. These two are totally different genres of cinema,” Dr Patel recalled. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, his celluloid biopic, was dubbed in nine regional languages. However, it took a long time of nine years. “After the English version received the award, the decision was taken to go in for different dubbed versions. So, it needed time to write the script, go for script approval from prominent Sahitya Akadami winners, and then find proper voices for voice-over,” he said.
After Dr Ambedkar, Dr Patel is presently working on Mahatma Jyotiba Fuley. Simultaneously, he is working on a literary masterpiece by Marathi poet N D Mahanor - Ajantha.
“Mahanor’s Ajantha is a long narrative poem describing the love story of a rural girl and an English officer, who discovered the Ajantha caves. Making this film would be challenging, as well as exciting task,” he said. “Well, I would try to cope with the zeal of contemporary film-makers,” Dr Patel concluded with a smile.
