RAVI SHANKAR

26 min, 1970 Director – Pramod Pati Produced by Films Division

Pramod Pati, one of Films Division’s most
experimentative film makers seems restrained while making this film. So, the film is only mildly over the top (unlike his other films), switching effortlessly from delightful cinema-verite in the opening sequence as Pandit ji entertains guests at a party and plays back recordings of his work, to concert sequences which go from being studied to flamboyant before you notice. We see Ustad Alla Rakha performing with Ravi Shankar, as he talks about spending most of his time abroad and facing criticism for compromising, westernizing his music, to make it hippie-friendly. He says he performs shorter pieces to make Indian music accessible to people in the west.

Pandit ji, the consummate performer, charms with ease, whether at home or on stage. reason for it being an inspiration and beacon to coming generations of musicians. He talks of Kumar Gandharva as not a singing legend but as musicologist too.

HANS AKELA

'Hans Akela' defying the traditional norms of a documentary becomes a delightful journey into the world of the singing legend Kumar Gandharva who not only defied the norms of traditional Hindustani Classical but critically analyzed traditional Hindustani Classical before revolutionizing it. Highlighting on the various facades of his life, his work and his music are friends, family, followers and fans. A treasure trove of information, incidents, photographs and some rare footage unravels through these people who at some points in their lives or Kumarji's have been a part of his art and his life.

Kumar Gandharva is a legend in the world of Hindustani music. Jabbar Patel pieces together his story using the familiar conventions ofdocumentary film making- interviews, footage, photographs.

This process creates an archive of information and images that has immensevalue for all music lovers.

Jabbar Patel : Born in 1942, Maharashtra, Dr Patel is pediatrician by education and runs a polyclinic at Daund, on the outskirts of Pune, with his wife, a gynecologist. Inspired by the richness of Marathi literature he was drawn to theatre where he made a name for himself as a director of refinement and perception. His most famous play is the Vijay Tendulakar written Ghashiram Kotwal' which has been staged all over the world. Dr. Patel has also directed several highly regarded feature films. Filmography:Maharashtra' (1986), S. M. Joshi' (1987),Laxman Joshi' (1989) Forts of Maharashtra' (1990),Indian Theatre' (1990), `Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar' (1994).

FD Zone is a monthly docu event organised in collaboration with Films Division, Mumbai. Apart from remarkable old and new documentaries commissioned by FD, it also features accomplished independent Indian and foreign documentaries.