India’s prestigious and one of Asia’s biggest film festivals, IFFI 2015 will be organising a Special Retrospective of this year’s Dadasaheb Phalke Award Winner Shashi Kapoor. In a career spanning over four decades, Shashi Kapoor has given some spectacular performances and has donned many hats as a producer, director, and actor. He appeared in 160 movies including 12 English and 148 Hindi films out of which he played the solo lead hero in 61 films and played lead hero in 53 multi-star cast films. He has also produced 6 films including Junoon, which won National Awards in 1979.
The ace filmmaker, Shyam Benegal who directed Shashi Kapoor in Kalyug and Junoon remembers the actor to be a “thorough professional. He says, “Though, Shashi was one of the biggest stars of his time, he was always punctual. He never made anyone wait even for a minute. He was always ready with his lines and would always seem well prepared on the sets. He has been the producer of my films – Kalyug and Junoon, and it goes without saying that he is the best producer I have ever worked with. He valued professionalism throughout his career and always followed a unique approach of filmmaking.”
The special Retrospective section will screen 8 films of Shashi Kapoor. Junoon (1978) will be screened as the opening film of special Retrospective Section followed by New Delhi Times (1986), Utsav (1984), In Custody (Muhafiz) (1993), Kalyug (1981), Deewar (1975), Shakespearwallah (1965) and House holder (1963).
Along with Hindi language films, Shashi Kapoor has also worked in some landmark English-language films. He is one of the first actors to work in numerous American and British productions. He started doing English language films in 1963, the first being Merchant Ivory’s ‘The Householder’ starring Leela Naidu, which will also be showcased at the International Film Festival of India.
Shashi Kapoor’s son, actor Kunal Kapoor lauds the government decision to showcase his father’s films. Kunal says, “We, Karan, Sanjana, I, and the Kapoor family, are thrilled and proud that the DFF has honoured Dad, Shashi Kapoor, with a special retrospective of his films this year, the 46th edition of the IFFI, in Goa. We are only too sorry that Dad’s health may not permit him to personally attend IFFI in Goa to share some of his his work with you and another generation of film buffs. Holding the retrospective in Goa is an added bonus, as it was here that Dad set up a home in the early 70’s, before he started producing films. It is in Goa where he found peace, tranquility and undisturbed quality time with his family, and where he came to re-charge and be inspired.
He further added, “The family is grateful and indebted to the Government of India for recognising his work and contribution to Indian Cinema by honouring him with the Padma Bhushan, the DadaSaheb Phalke Award and and now hosting a film retrospective celebrating his work. We are thankful and hope you enjoy the wide range of is work.”
C. Senthil Rajan, Director, Directorate of Film Festivals, says, “The Special Retrospective showcases the different shades of Shashi Kapoor- as an actor, producer and director. Three films are international productions while two are the ones where he played both producer and actor and has won a National Award as producer. The Retrospective Section has been carefully curated to give the domestic and international delegates of IFFI a glimpse of the path breaking and landmark works of Shashi Kapoor.
The Directorate of Film Festivals and Entertainment Society of Goa are working in partnership to ensure that the 46th edition of IFFI which is set to begin on 20th November 2015 will be a real good treat for Cinema lovers.
