Leela (2002 film)

Last updated

Leela
Directed bySomnath Sen
Produced byKavita Munjal
Anjalika Mathur
Starring Dimple Kapadia
Deepti Naval
Vinod Khanna
Music by Shantanu Moitra
Distributed byLemon Tree Films
Release date
  • 1 November 2002 (2002-11-01)(India)
Running time
97 min
CountriesIndia
United States
LanguageEnglish

Leela is a 2002 drama film directed by Somnath Sen. The movie stars Dimple Kapadia and Deepti Naval. The film's story is loosely based on Summer of '42 . [1] The film premiered at Reel World Film Festivalm, Toronto, in 2005. [2] It also was featured in the 2002 edition of the IAAC Film Festival, [3] conducted by the Indian diaspora, which works to showcase the Indian films to the West.

Contents

Plot

Leela is a professor from Bombay. Married to a popular poet, her life has always been prefixed with the title 'Nashaad's wife'. She wins a chance to be sent as a visiting professor to California, where she rediscovers herself, the woman she is, beyond the duties of a wife that she had always devoted her life to. Kris comes as a bright sunshine in her life, who makes her realise her own desires, the desires of the body. Is it going to be an happily ever after fairy tale? Or another Bollywood melodrama?

Cast

Music

  1. "Champai Dhoop Ke Saye" - Shubha Mudgal
  2. "Dhuan Uttha Hai" - Jagjit Singh
  3. "Jaag Ke Kaati Raina" - Jagjit Singh
  4. "Jabse Kareeb Ho Ke Chale" - Jagjit Singh
  5. "Jabse Kareeb Ho Ke Chale v2" - Jagjit Singh
  6. "Kanha Teri Bansuri" - Falguni Pathak, Dev Choudhury, Karsan Sagathia, K.K.
  7. "Mavan Te Dhiyan" - Jaspinder Narula
  8. "Tere Khayal Ki" - Jagjit Singh

Production

The film was shot mostly in Los Angeles with funds raised by Kavita Munjal and Anjalika Mathur. This is the directorial debut of Somnath Sen. [4] "It's a universal story that many women will be able to relate to," remarked Dimple Kapadia, on the sets. [5]

Critical reception

The film was well received by critics. [6] Kevin Thomas of The Los Angeles Times called Leela "a worthy departure from the culture clash comedies that have marked an emerging Indian American cinema". [7] Dave Kehr of The New York Times called it "an unusual combination of Bollywood and Hollywood sensibilities". [8]

Anil. S. Arora, of Chowk, wrote that film could be considered "the first art film made on the Indian community in north America". He added that the film was about the taboo that sex still is to the Indian Community and their "inability to accept them as the basis for family relationships". He though was dissatisfied with the way Leela is portrayed as a faithful wife to a straying husband, which he wrote is quite outdated for a Mumbai woman who dwells on sexual equality. [9]

The review in The Hindu was moderate, which mainly lauded Dimple Kapadia's acting, declared that the plot has many loose ends and signed off with a note that it is not a bad choice to watch "at the end of a long, lonely day". [1] Deccan Herald wrote, "good performances, deft handling of a complex theme, unconventional method of storytelling, a crisp script, and of course, a taut storyline sure make Leela a movie that’s more than just a tale well told." [10]

The Daily Telegraph declared it as a flop in its positive review on Shantanu Moitra. [11]

Recognition and awards

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dimple Kapadia</span> Indian actress (born 1957)

Dimple Kapadia is an Indian actress predominantly appearing in Hindi films. Born and raised in Mumbai by wealthy parents, she aspired to become an actress from a young age and received her first opportunity through her father's efforts to launch her in the film industry. She was discovered at age 14 by the filmmaker Raj Kapoor, who cast her in the title role of his teen romance Bobby (1973), which opened to major commercial success and gained her wide public recognition. Shortly before the film's release in 1973, she married the actor Rajesh Khanna and quit acting. Their daughters, Twinkle and Rinke Khanna, both briefly worked as actresses in their youth. Kapadia returned to films in 1984, two years after her separation from Khanna. Her comeback film Saagar, which was released a year later, revived her career. Both Bobby and Saagar won her Filmfare Awards for Best Actress. Through her work over the next decade, she established herself as one of Hindi cinema's leading actresses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanjay Leela Bhansali</span> Indian film director, producer and screenwriter

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is an Indian filmmaker and music composer, who works in Hindi cinema. He is the recipient of several awards, including seven National Film Awards and 12 Filmfare Awards, in addition to a nomination for a BAFTA Award. In 2015, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award. Bhansali is best known for his use of aesthetics, musical vision and Period dramas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikkhil Advani</span> Indian filmmaker

Nikkhil Suresh Advani is an Indian director, producer and screenwriter who works in Hindi cinema. He along with his sister, Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani, co-founded the entertainment company Emmay Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IIFA Award for Best Actress</span> International Indian Film Academy Award

The IIFA Award for Best Actress is given by the International Indian Film Academy as part of its annual award ceremony for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The recipient is chosen by viewers and the winner is announced at the ceremony. The most recent recipient is Rani Mukerji who won her record-tying fourth Best Actress award for Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress</span> International Indian Film Academy Award

The IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress is chosen by the viewers and the winner is announced at the ceremony.

<i>Rudaali</i> 1993 Indian Hindi-language film

Rudaali is a 1993 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Kalpana Lajmi, written by Lajmi and Gulzar and based on a 1979 short story of the same name by Bengali author Mahasweta Devi. Set in a small village in Rajasthan, the film stars Dimple Kapadia as Shanichari, a lonely and hardened woman who, despite a lifetime of misfortune and abandonment, is unable to express grief through crying and is challenged with a new job as a professional mourner. Raakhee, Raj Babbar, and Amjad Khan appear in supporting roles. Produced by the National Film Development Corporation of India and Doordarshan, the film was labelled part of India's neo-realist parallel cinema, but it employed several of the common elements of mainstream Hindi cinema, including songs composed by Bhupen Hazarika.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suhasini Mulay</span> Indian actress (born 1950)

Suhasini Mulay is an Indian actress in Assamese, Bollywood and Marathi films as well as television. She won five National Film Awards.

<i>Lekin...</i> 1991 film directed by Gulzar

Lekin... (transl. But...) is a 1991 Hindi drama mystery film, loosely based on the 1895 short story Kshudhit Pashaan by Rabindranath Tagore and directed by Gulzar. It stars Vinod Khanna, Dimple Kapadia, Amjad Khan, Alok Nath, and Beena Banerjee, and features a special appearance by Hema Malini. The film tells the story of Reva, a restless ghost who seeks liberation and haunts the ancient palace of Raja Param Singh in Rajasthan when she is discovered by Sameer, a museum curator sent by the government to salvage valuables in the region. As she recreates a visual representation of the history of the palace which reveals her tragic story, Sameer becomes determined to help set her free.

<i>Janbaaz</i> 1986 romantic action film by Feroz Khan

Janbaaz is a 1986 Indian action drama film, produced and directed by Feroz Khan, it stars Khan, Anil Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia. It is inspired by King Vidor's Duel in the Sun.

<i>Drishti</i> (film) 1990 Indian film

Drishti (transl. Vision) is a 1990 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Govind Nihalani, starring Dimple Kapadia, Shekhar Kapur and Irrfan. The film depicts the marital life of an urban couple from an upper-class milieu in Mumbai and follows their trials and tribulations, infidelity, divorce, and meeting after years of separation.

<i>Bombay Mittayi</i> 2011 Indian film

Bombay Mittayi is a 2011 Indian Malayalam-language film directed by Umar Karikkad starring Vinu Mohan, Neelambari, Amar Singh and Sreenivasan in the lead roles. This film marks the acting debut of leading politician Amar Singh. This film also marks the entry of Bollywood actress Dimple Kapadia into Malayalam cinema. Sri Lankan actress Neelambari Perumal enters Indian Cinema through this film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leela Mishra</span> Indian actress

Leela Mishra was an Indian actress. She worked as a character actor in over 200 Hindi films for five decades, and is best remembered for playing stock characters such as aunts. She is best known for her role of "mausi" in the blockbuster Sholay (1975), Dil Se Mile Dil (1978), Baton Baton Mein (1979), Rajesh Khanna films such as Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein, Aanchal, Mehbooba, Amar Prem and Rajshri Productions hits such as Geet Gaata Chal (1975), Nadiya Ke Paar (1982) and Abodh (1984). Her career's best performance was in Naani Maa in 1981, for which she received Best Actress award at the age of 73.

Antareen is a 1993 Bengali-language Indian film directed by Mrinal Sen. Although based on the 1950 Saadat Hasan Manto story Badshahat Ka Khatimah, the screenplay has a different ending. It stars Anjan Dutt and Dimple Kapadia. Antareen was the first non-Hindi project Kapadia took part in since Vikram (1986). She played a woman caught in a loveless marriage. Insisting on playing her part spontaneously, Kapadia refused to enroll in a crash-course in Bengali as she wrongly felt that she would be able to speak it convincingly. Her voice was eventually dubbed by actor Anushua Majumdar, something Kapadia was unhappy with.

Pathreela Raasta is a 1994 Indian Hindi-language action drama film directed by Ajay Kashyap, starring Dimple Kapadia, Varsha Usgaonkar, Sadashiv Amrapurkar and Mukesh Khanna in pivotal roles.

<i>Listen... Amaya</i> 2013 Indian film

Listen... Amaya is a 2013 Hindi drama film directed by Avinash Kumar Singh, and starring Farooq Shaikh, Deepti Naval and Swara Bhaskar as leads. The film also marks the return of popular lead pair of the 1980s, Farooq Shaikh and Deepti Naval, in films like, Chashme Buddoor (1981), Saath Saath (1982), and Katha (1983), together again on screen after 25 years. This was also their last film together, as Farooq Shaikh died several months after the film's release.

The GiMA Best Male Playback Singer Award is given by Global Indian Music Academy as a part of its annual Global Indian Music Academy Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a male playback singer who has delivered an outstanding performance in a film song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shantanu Maheshwari</span> Indian actor, dancer, and choreographer

Shantanu Maheshwari is an Indian actor, dancer, and choreographer, known for his versatility and vibrant performances. He gained fame for his debut role as Swayam Shekhawat in the popular youth television show Dil Dosti Dance. Shantanu's impressive dance skills earned him widespread recognition, leading to his victory in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 8. He has also represented India internationally as part of the Desi Hoppers dance crew, winning the World of Dance Championship in Los Angeles. Additionally, he made his Bollywood debut in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dimple Kapadia filmography</span>

Dimple Kapadia is an Indian actress who predominantly appears in Hindi films. She was discovered by Raj Kapoor at age 14, who gave her the title role in his teen romance Bobby (1973), opposite his son Rishi Kapoor. The film became a massive commercial success and made her an overnight star. Her role as a Christian teenager from Goa established her as a youth fashion icon and won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Kapadia retired from acting following her marriage to Indian actor Rajesh Khanna earlier in 1973, and returned to the film industry in 1984, after her separation from Khanna. The release of her comeback film, Saagar, was delayed, with Zakhmi Sher becoming the second film of her career. Released in 1985, Saagar earned her a second Best Actress award at Filmfare, and she went on to establish herself as one of the leading actresses of Hindi cinema in the 1980s and early 1990s. The early roles she played following her return included the Hitchcockian thriller Aitbaar (1985), for which she received positive reviews, and the commercially successful action films Arjun (1985) and Janbaaz (1986). During this period, she acted in several films in South India, which she admitted to having made for financial gain and dismissed their quality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shoma A. Chatterji</span> Indian film scholar, author and freelance journalist

Shoma A. Chatterji is an Indian film scholar, author and freelance journalist. She has been the recipient of a number of awards including the National Film Award for Best Film Critic in 1991 and the National Awards for Best Writing on Cinema for her study of the works of Aparna Sen in the publication, Parama and Other Outsiders: The Cinema of Aparna Sen (2002). Notably, she is the only woman to have won both the national awards. She is the author of several biographies including those on Pramathesh Barua, Ritwik Ghatak and Suchitra Sen.

References

  1. 1 2 Ziya US Salam (15 November 2002). "'Leela'". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 27 June 2003.
  2. ↑ Shoma A. Chatterji (26 February 2005). "'Deepti Naval in conversation with Shoma A. Chatterji'". The Statesman .
  3. ↑ Aroon Shivdasani (15 October 2002). "'Indian Diaspora Film Festival Runs Nov 6-10 at Clearview Cinema, New York; Event Highlights...'". Business Wire .
  4. ↑ David Alm (1 July 2005). "'The new, new, Indian Cinema'". The Independent .
  5. ↑ "'"I got more than my share in my life"'". Rediff . 25 May 2001.
  6. ↑ Adarkar, Vivek (2003). Tomassini, Christine; Schwartz, Carol (eds.). Magill's Cinema Annual. Gale Research International, Limited. p. 262. ISBN   978-1-55862-459-7. The film's innocuous charm has elicited a kind reaction from critics.
  7. ↑ Thomas, Kevin (8 November 2002). "'Leela' a deft bicultural portrait". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 14 November 2002. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  8. ↑ Kehr, Dave (8 November 2002). "FILM IN REVIEW; 'Leela'". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  9. ↑ Anil. S. Arora (6 November 2002). "IA review of Somnath Sen's film 'Leela'". Chowk. Archived from the original on 26 October 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  10. ↑ Dinesh, Chethana (10 November 2002). "Leela". Deccan Herald . Archived from the original on 1 December 2002. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  11. ↑ Sushmita Biswas (10 December 2005). "'The new melody moguls '". The Telegraph . Archived from the original on 22 September 2006.
  12. ↑ "'Indian diaspora film festival 2002, New York '". Upperstall.com. 2002.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.