About the Author
Niranjan Iyengar began his career as a journalist in 1991 when he joined 'g' - a film magazine. He has been closely associated with the Hindi film industry for over a decade.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
From Introduction: Professional life, for a film journalist, is divided into two separate worlds demarcated only by the imposing doors of a film studio. Despite close interaction with the film world through my 10 years as a scribe, I have always been on the periphery of the entertainment business. My attempts at understanding the mechanics of the system gave me a few answers, but raised a whole new set of questions. I realised that the only way to view the big picture was to be a part of it.
When Karan zeroed in on his mammoth star cast for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and one night casually announced it over coffee at a common friend's house, my mind wandered instantly to the million cinematic moments that would be the result of professional interactions between the mega stars from different generations. I strongly felt someone had to chronicle these valuable moments for posterity. I suggested the concept to Karan and decided to put the project together. I was further excited about the added advantage of this assignment which would be my close proximity to the entire film-making process - from the birth of a story to its deliverance onto celluloid.
The 18 months that I spent with the various departments of film-making were as perplexing as they were revelatory, but more than fulfilled my urge to belong to the process. My questions never ended and neither did Karan's patience as he clarified all my doubts, speaking into my Dictaphone, right through several costume calamities, date hassles or creative blocks. The concept of documenting the making of a film in print was new, but the enthusiasm was unmistakable. The book was an extension of Karan's film and it was treated such by the producer - Yash Johar. He gave photographer Ayesha (Monani) and me complete access to every aspect pertaining to the film and instructed the entire unit to cooperate with us.
The creation of a mainstream commercial Hindi film, replete with moments of joy, sorrow, triumph, stress and camaraderie forms an interesting narrative in itself and this book attempts to unfold the emotional story. My conversations with Karan gave important insights into his oeuvre and underlined the fact that it required great talent to blend a film's artistic content with popular appeal. The book also attempts to shatter the myth that detailing, grandeur and scale is the domain of a historical or science fiction film. A good mainstream commercial film, which combines a big star cast with emotions and opulence requires just as much tenacity, if not more.
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Ghamis about Yashovardhan Raichand and his wife Nandini's clash of ideologies...it deals with Rahul's pain on being an adopted offspring...it expresses Anjali's undying faith in her country and elders...it tells us a story of an emotional family that shatters over a small issue and reunites just as easily when Rohan and Pooja play the catalysts. But as I watched Karan mumbling the film's dialogues to himself as he took long walks in London or shook him out of his reverie on dinner tables at social dos, I was convinced that it was more his story which he lived over and over again - till he finished the film.
A book chronicling the film-making process must reflect the emotions of the film, its maker and its unit. And if I manage to take the reader through even a fraction of emotions that are integral off-screen moments, I would have achieved my goal...
