Gaja Gamini Explained

Gaja Gamini
Director:M. F. Husain
Producer:Rakesh Nath
Starring:Madhuri Dixit
Shabana Azmi
Inder Kumar
Naseeruddin Shah
Music:Bhupen Hazarika
Cinematography:Ashok Mehta
Editing:Waman Bhosle
Virendra Gharse
Distributor:Yash Raj Films[1]
Country:India
Runtime:122 minutes
Language:Hindi

Gaja Gamini (English: Woman with an elephant's walk) is a 2000 Indian film written and directed by M. F. Husain and is his ode to womanhood and his muse of the time, Madhuri Dixit, who stars as the lead in the film with Shahrukh Khan and Naseeruddin Shah.[2] [3] challenging Set by Art Director Sharmistha Roy, Assistant Art Director Sachin Gayakwad, and team The film was a box office failure.[4]

Plot

The central figure of the film is represented by a mysterious figure called "Gaja Gamini", who inspires, arouses, and confuses the common man. "Gaja Gamini" is the inspiration behind Leonardo da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa', Kalidas' poem "Shakuntala", and a photojournalist named Shahrukh's photographs. The mysterious "Gaja Gamini" appears as four characters, one of them being Sangeeta, a blind girl from Banaras at the beginning of time, who inspires village women to revolt against a male-dominated system and carve a niche for women forever. Another character is Shakuntala, who is the subject of Kalidas' poem of the same name. Shakuntala incites jealousy in the women and love in the men around her, charming humans and animals alike in the forests of Kerala. "Gaja Gamini" is also Mona Lisa during the Renaissance, the object of painter Leonardo da Vinci's obsession. Finally, Monika, the most confusing sector of the film, is supposed to represent the woman of the New Millennium. Kamdev, the God of Love, walks the earth throughout history, attempting to win the love of "Gaja Gamini".

Thrown into this mix is a large black wall, separating two different periods, and confrontations between science and art at different points in history, showing that the world itself can change, but its original ideas will always be the same. For example, a play by Shakespeare written and performed by actors in the 15th century will still be performed in the 21st century, but with different actors. The confrontations between art and science also bring about the idea that while science is firmly set on believing that which can only be proved, the basis for art is that which can be proved and an intuitive sense that can be felt. Science uses the brain, while art uses the brain and the heart. Another facet of the film is a "gathri," a small bundle which a woman carries upon her head, like a burden, with which she must walk forever.[5] [6]

Cast

Reception

Sumnan Tarafdar of Filmfare gave a positive review of the film, calling it "not something that comes along every day".[7] Taran Adarsh said "The film has a very colourful look, with the visuals being eye-catching. But as a director, Hussain fails to convey his thoughts on celluloid. On the whole, Gaja Gamini is an artistic film which will not be understood by any strata of an audience – classes or masses. Business-wise, the film is sure to spell disaster. A waste of precious celluloid."[8] [9]

Soundtrack

Gaja Gamini
Type:Soundtrack
Artist:Bhupen Hazarika
Released:1 January 2000 (India)
Genre:Film soundtrack
Label:Sa Re Ga Ma
Producer:Bhupen Hazarika
Prev Title:Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence
Prev Year:2001
Next Title:Darmiyan
Next Year:1997

Hussain approached A. R. Rahman to compose the music for the film, but due to time constraints, he had to turn down the offer. The music was composed by Bhupen Hazarika.

Song Singer(s) Lyricist
"Gaja Gamini"Bhupen HazarikaMaya Govind
"Meri Payal Bole"Kavita KrishnamurthyMaya Govind
"Hamara Hansa Gaya Videsh"Kavita KrishnamurthyMaya Govind
"Shloka – Part 1"Suman DevganKalidas
"Shloka – Part 2"Suman DevganKalidas
"Yeh Gathri Taj Ki Tarah"M. F. HussainM. F. Hussain
"Do Sadiyon Ke Sangam"Udit Narayan, Kavita KrishnamurthyJaved Akhtar
"Deepak Raag"Shankar MahadevanMaya Govind
"Protest March"Instrumental
"Yeh Gathri Taj Ki Tarah"Kavita KrishnamurthyM. F. Hussain

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.yashrajfilms.com/movies/MovieIndividual.aspx?MovieID=7a60adf3-3140-489d-90bd-9f268856329c Gaja Gamini
  2. Web site: This film is my tribute to women: M F Husain . "cinematic essay of Indian womanhood" . 8 October 2009 . 20 October 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091020123403/http://geocities.com/MotorCity/3506/gajgamini.html . dead . dmy .
  3. News: Gaja Gamini Overview. https://web.archive.org/web/20071106053809/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/246203/Gaja-Gamini/overview. dead. 6 November 2007. Movies & TV Dept.. The New York Times. Mark Deming. 2007. 8 October 2009.
  4. News: Through the eyes of the besotted. https://archive.today/20130203133450/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110610/jsp/nation/story_14095070.jsp. dead. 3 February 2013. Telegraph India. Priyanka Roy. 1 July 2011. 10 June 2011.
  5. Web site: The Paradox of Progress II: Gaja Gamini (2000). 8 October 2009.
  6. http://in.movies.yahoo.com/movies/Gaja-Gamini/details-9090.html Gaja Gamini
  7. News: Tarafdar . Suman . Gaja Gamini . 13 October 2020 . . Indiatimes Movies . . 2000 . https://web.archive.org/web/20010208075944/http://www.indiatimes.com/movies/reviews/gajagamini.html . 8 February 2001.
  8. Web site: Gaja Gamini. https://web.archive.org/web/20120124031650/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/534450. dead. 24 January 2012. Bollywood Hungama. 8 October 2009.
  9. Web site: Sharma . Ruchi . The wonderful timelessness of a Woman . 18 September 2022 . Rediff.com.