Meena Kumari biopic takes a sad turn

Internal strife prevails over filming the tragedy queen’s life events

A biopic of actor Meena Kumari was in the pipeline but a clash between the film’s producer and director has brought the project to a standstill. Director Shashilal Nair and producer Tajdar Amrohi, who is the son of late filmmaker Kamal Amrohi and the stepson of Kumari, have clashed over the portrayal of the actor’s life in the film, reported the Times of India. 

Amrohi confirmed the news saying, “He [Nair] wants to take certain cinematic liberties but I am not playing to the gallery. I know we are not making a documentary, but we have to stick to the truth,” he said. The director and producer are also in disagreement over the choice of actor. In addition, the two can’t reach a consensus on the title of the film.

“Nair also wants a few song situations, which I am not comfortable with,” said Amrohi, adding that “besides the heroine and the title, there are several other things that need to be shown in correct perspective. Creativity doesn’t mean that you tell a warped story.”

Amrohi disagrees with how certain things are being portrayed. For instance, it was said that his father didn’t let Kumari bear a child. “The truth is that she had conceived twice, but she terminated the pregnancy herself, both times,” he clarified. The director further insisted that the two “did not divorce each other.”

He insisted that his father was not the villain in his choti ammi’s life. “I am going to put the truth across in this film. These misconceptions need to be erased,” he said. When contacted, Nair confirmed the differences, saying, “Duniya hai. Objections tou hote rahain ge.”

Amrohi and Nair plan on sorting things out and working as a team. “Nair is the right man for the job and we will make it work,” said the producer.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2014.

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