Rang Rasiya

Infobox Film
name = Rang Rasiya


caption = Promotional poster for the film
writer =
starring = Randeep Hooda
Nandana Sen
director = Ketan Mehta
producer = Deepa Sahi Anand Mahendroo
editing =
distributor =
released =
runtime =
language = English, Hindi
budget = Rs. 12 crores
cinematography = Anil Mehta
music = Sandesh Shandilya
soundtrack =
country = India
awards =
followed_by =
amg_id =
imdb_id =

"Rang Rasiya" is a forthcoming Indian drama film that is based on the life of the 19th century Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma.cite web|title=Ketan Mehta’s Rang Rasiya at BFI London Film Fest|url=http://www.screenindia.com/news/STILL-OF-THE-WEEK/351162/|publisher=Screenindia.com|date=2008-08-22|accessdate=2008-08-22] The film, which is directed and co-produced by Ketan Mehta, stars Randeep Hooda, Nandana Sen and a newcomer Triptha Parashar in the lead roles.

Production

After his last commercial cinema "" (2005), Mehta chose to make a film on the 19th century painter, Raja Ravi Varma's life. Incidentally both these movies were based on a subject from the 19th century. His new film is an adaptation of a Marathi writer Ranjit Desai's biographical novel "Raja Ravi Varma". This bilingual in English and Hindi is titled as "Colour of Passion" and "Rang Rasiyaa" respectively. Mehta thought that Varma is the most fascinating artist of that era and his character, persona and paintings fascinated him from his days at Film and Television Institute of India. After reading Desai's novel, he formulated the story of his new film.cite web|title=No scope for controversy in 'Rang Rasiya': Ketan Mehta|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/news/news.aspx?it=12888|first=Aparna|publisher=Nowrunning.com|date=2007-11-27|accessdate=2008-08-22]

When Mehta first met Sen at her house, he saw two life-size reproductions of Raja Ravi Varma's paintings. This assured him that she was familiar with the artist and his works, and in turn his job as a director easier. Speaking of the character she was to portray, he said:

To me, she was the perfect woman to play the muse of an artist who sparked off debates about censorship of art. She has that child-woman quality, which was so much a part of Sugandha's personality.cite web|title=Meet the seductive Nandana Sen|url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/jul/22sld1.htm|work=Man's World|publisher=Rediff.com|date=22 July, 2008|accessdate=2008-08-22]

Speaking about her character, Sen said that "Varma saw in her (Sugandha) the face and soul of a goddess. (For him) she is passionate, possessive and hungry for love." To portray this character, Sen was required to dress and look like a young Maharashtrian woman with long hair, light eyes, waist chain and a nose ring. In addition, she also gained five kilos for the character since she had to look voluptuous. She was helped with her familiarily with the physical patterns in Varma's paintings of women, such as, "the way they tilt their hip, the way they play with their hands. Though the film has a few scenes in which she had to expose, she chose to do it because she thought that the sensitive scene formed the story's basis. Although it was not an easy decision to take, she felt absolutely comfortable while performing the scene. One such scene is a wide angle shot that shows a bare breast of a skimpily clad Sen. Though this scene was aesthetically shot, the Central Board of Film Certification, which regulates the ratings and certification of media in India, objected to it and ordered for a review based on consensus. [cite web|author=ApunKaChoice|title= Rang Rasiya Censor Board Objects to Frontal Nudity |url=http://apunkachoice.com/scoop/bollywood/20080913-0.html|publisher=ApunKaChoice.com|accessdate=2008-09-13]

Mehta saw Hooda's previous films "Risk" and "D" and he thought that he was a skillful actor. In this film, he played the role of Raja Ravi Varma in two phases — first as a 60-year old and then as a 20-year old in a span of 10 days.cite web|title=Randeep back in the gym to get in shape|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/news/news.aspx?it=12088|last=K. Jha|first=Subhash|publisher=Nowrunning.com|date=2007-09-22|accessdate=2008-08-22] As a preperation for his role, Hooda tried to learn the basics of painting. He was happy working in the film and said that his acting skills were well-groomed by Mehta's filmmaking abilities.cite web|title=Portrait of an artist |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/09/29/stories/2007092950850100.htm|last=Nagarajan|first=Saraswathy|publisher=The Hindu|date=2007-09-29|accessdate=2008-08-22]

Besides Hooda, since Mehta wanted to work with new faces, he introduced a Scottish actress and another from India. Paresh Rawal was also set to play an important role. Triptha Parashar, whom Mehta spotted in an advertisement, was immediately offered the role of a princess without auditioning for the role.cite web|title=Good going|url=http://www.screenindia.com/news/Good-going/348396/|last=Sahgal|first=Geety|publisher=Screenindia.com|date=15 August, 2008|accessdate=2008-08-22] Ferena Wazier, who was born to Kashmiri parents in Britain, plays a Parsi girl's role in the film.cite web|title=Bollywood newbie Ferena Wazier is an angelic beauty!|url=http://www.apunkachoice.com/scoop/bollywood/20070916-3.html|first=Aparajitha|last=Ghosh|publisher=Screenindia.com|date=2007-09-16|accessdate=2008-08-22]

Sangita Kathiwada debuted as the costume designer for the film.cite web|title=Connecting film with other art forms|url=http://www.screenindia.com/news/Connecting-film-with-other-art-forms/338890/|last=De Cunha|first=Uma|publisher=Screenindia.com|date=25 July, 2008|accessdate=2008-08-22]

Release

The film will be screened at 2008 The Times BFI London Film Festival.cite web|title=Ketan Mehta's Rang Rasiya to screen at London Film Fest|url=http://businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=9454|publisher=Businessofcinema.com|date=2008-08-12|accessdate=2008-08-22]

References