UK Asian FILM Festival To Host In Conversation with Shabana Azmi & Baba Azmi
Tongues on Fire, organisers of the annual UK Asian Film Festival is delighted to announce a special webinar with cinematographer-turned-director Baba Azmi and legendary Indian actor and social activist Shabana Azmi to mark her debut production of Mee Raqsam, which is now streaming on ZEE5.
The engaging and immersive Q&A will be about the film as well as the changing dynamics of Indian cinema. Hosted by Entertainment Journalist Anuj Radia, it takes place on Sunday 20th September 2020 at 11:30 am (UK Time)/16:00 (India Time).
Mee Raqsam is a very poignant story of a father’s unconditional support to his daughter’s desire to learn Bharatnatyam, taking on the wrath of the obscurantist leaders of the community.
It is a tribute to Baba and Shabana’s father – the Late Urdu poet Mr Kaifi Azmi and is based in his hometown Mijwan.
Sharing a few words on this ode, Shabana Ma’am says: “Kaifi Saheb’s values and principles quietly pervade the film. Salim is redefining the toxic masculinity that we find in society. Why can’t men be seen as nurturers?”
She further adds: “It has been shot in Mijwan, a village in eastern UP where Abba was born. So Baba decided to make Mee Raqsam in Mijwan in the year of his father’s birth centenary. There cannot be a better tribute a son can pay his father.”
Mijwan has played a major role in Kaifi Azmi’s life.
Azamgarh gave Kaifi his last name and he returned to the village, worked single-handedly and transformed it into a model village that is both scale-able and replicable. Thus, Mijwan Welfare Society (MWS) was founded. More details on Mijwan here.
Known for his work as director of photography on several Bollywood blockbusters from 1980-90s like Tezaab, Beta, Mr India and Dil, Baba Azmi said he initially wanted to make something ‘more commercial’ for his debut.
Baba Sir explains: “I’ve been wanting to make this film for quite a long time.
I had many commitments as cinematographer so I could not take up this film earlier. I would often think that I'll come back to this film after finishing yet another project.
I also thought that ‘let me work on some thriller or something more commercial, action- oriented.’
But there would be no satisfaction in those scripts. They felt like the reflection of all those films that I had photographed over the years.”
The film also stars Naseeruddin Shah, Danish Hussain and newcomer Aditi Subedi in significant roles.
Book your attendance on the webinar here.
Watch the Mee Raqsam trailer here.
Join the conversation:
#MeeRaqsam