The blind item below is about a recent Netflix release. So far, all the personal reviews about this show are negative. People are hating how Hindus were depicted in this series. It is not a show about the past or now, it is a show about the future. After seeing the trailer some weeks back, we decided against seeing it. It didn’t look that interesting.
Anyways, as per this blind item, it seems that the creator had major issues with the writer of this film.
These international companies deal with crisis on a whole different level. The executives take the time out from the busy schedules to fly to another country just to deal with a crisis affecting their team. To be fair, there’s a lot of money involved here, which is why they care so much.
It’s nothing surprising how these things happen between creative people. It’s not surprising either the crew decided that this international director was the best person to lead this project forward.
Well, since we have not seen it, can’t really comment on whether that was a good decision. Have any of you seen it yet?
By the way, it’s nice that this actress has found something this substantial. Who would have thought she would have managed to get a lead role after trying to find something good for so long?
Check out the blind item from Rajeev Masand. By the way, it’s nice that the people involved in this situation kept the drama away from the media for the sake of their film. If you don’t have a rat on-board, you don’t get leaks.
Bollywood Blind Item
Smile for the Camera
A prestige show has just dropped on a major streaming service, and from the united front they’re putting up it would seem like everything’s in order. The satisfied smiles, the spiel in the media that it was a happy but hardworking set, the exchange of flattering messages on social media—who would think anything was amiss? But those who’ve worked on the show and those that have knowledge of what’s gone on behind the scenes talk about a troubled production, frequent clashes between the showrunner and creator, and a set in disarray.
The project was reportedly birthed by a prominent writer of acclaimed films, skilfully adapting a difficult book. No wonder this heavyweight international filmmaker signed up as creator for the show, committing to direct a clutch of episodes and putting a personal stamp on the series’ look and feel. The writer was roped in as showrunner, and everyone believed the project was off to a flying start.
Trouble, however, started brewing when the creator’s vision reportedly clashed with the showrunner’s—both strong personalities, both opinionated professionals. Their relationship is believed to have become so strained they were not on talking terms by the third week into the shoot, and the crew and cast were expected to take sides.
Eventually a senior executive from the service flew in and held a meeting between the two, hoping to seek a truce. But things had escalated too fast, too soon, and there was no question of either willing to accommodate the other’s vision.
The executive then spoke to key crew members and actors, and armed with the feedback decided the show needed to stick with the creator’s vision, easing the showrunner out of the project. It was also decided these developments would stay out of the press. Everyone got paid as promised, but the showrunner has stayed away from premieres, promotions and all manner of ownership on the project.
OSOP Guesses
Netflix’s Series: Leila
Actress: Huma Qureshi
Creator: Deepa Mehta
Showrunner: Urmi Juvekar
At the risk of being labelled a “Bhakt” or “Hindutva radical”, let me say that this show reeks of Hinduphobia. Symbols being used, colors used all are blatant targeting of Hinduism. Before woke people jump on me, I know the diff between extremism and religion. But in this shoe, they have portrayed symbols of a religion in negative light which millions follow. My mind goes back to all those movies we watched growing up where more often than not a saffron wearing priest would be portrayed as a cheat or conmen. Such subtle messaging has been on since long. Now it is more in your face with movies like PK and NF series. How easy it is to portray one of the most tolerant religion as extremist just because you don’t like a certain political leader.
P.S – I checked the writer of the book on which this is based on. No surprises he writes for a leftist portal.
Thank you for this. /\ Just a quick FYI though, the writer Prayaag Akbar is the son of MJ Akbar, the BJP minister and accused in the #MeToo scandal. In their case, it looks like they are neither conservative, nor liberal nor leftists. They are just pathetic opportunists. But for as long as they proclaimed themselves liberals, they were heroes of the left.
Hinduism is tolerant? Please read history. Please read current affairs. The entire world is talking about the growing intolerance in the country. Indian as well as international historians have written about Hinduism’s ill treatment of women, lower castes and non hindu tribals. Please don’t make assumptions and do some actual research. There may be many good things about Hinduism but one should not deny the skeletons in the closet. Unfortunately the number is just increasing.
FYI I’m a Hindu. I don’t need to compare my religion to others to see the wrongs in it. If one is willing to open their eyes , one would notice the systemic oppression faced by minorities and people from lower castes and backward classes in the country. Just because it does not affect you, doesn’t mean that it’s not present. Recognising our privilege and being an ally to the oppressed is the only way we Hindus can claim to be a peaceful lot.
Stop reading “history” being written by known leftists. Also, the world is talking about ISIS and Iran right now. Nobody has the time for baseless ranting of a few champagne sipping elites of India who know nothing about ground realities.
Your answer in itself shows your bias. So all the reports of caste based violence happening in India is written by leftists? So the tons of material on the history of hinduism has been writen by leftists? Stop watching zee news and reading history on whatsapp groups. You have near to zero clue about what you’re talking about. Educate yourself in this field and then speak. And ya, get out of the bubble and look beyond your privilege. The ground realities are far from peaceful. I could’ve actually referred some useful literature on the history of hinduism or some links on the statistics of caste based violence in India but you sound like the type who has no comprehension of data and information outside of your religious beliefs. So stay blind, sip on some champagne or haldi milk and enjoy the peace that millions of non hindus & hindu women in india never get to!
Yawnnn.
Ah, same old this-that we have been reading since 2014. Gosh India was so peaceful before that. Wonder what you guys blame partition on. There was no BJP or “Bhakts” and still religion based partition happened. I wonder why.
Million of those “Hindu women” voter for the party you hate. Maybe you know their condition better than themselves. Kudos.
Also, Haldi milk is healthy. Only that now Starbucks is selling it as turmeric latte that many hinduphobics will accept it. If that was a sly, didnt work. Try harder.
Umm..who here talked about BJP? Just countered your statement on ‘Hinduism’ being a tolerant religion. You are a ‘bhakt’ who has shown absolutely zero comprehension skills and misreads arguments. You are so blinded by your loyalty to a political party that you think or assume that all hindus are doing the same. Grow up. I’ll pray for you to get well soon.
And thanks for the gyaan on haldi milk. Didn’t know why I was drinking it all these years. Thought it was for shuddhi..lol (Hint: this was sarcasm. Since you’re super smart & may misinterpret it)
hahahahha saffron wearing priest as conmen. maybe the writers are anti-brahmin? how will you bjp goons wrap your head around that — want dalit votes but also want brahmin love.
Hahaha, your hate is overflowing. Read some snowflake liberal article to feel good. This hatred and generalization for everyone with differing views is the reason for drubbing your ilk faced in recent election.
‘your ilk’? What do you mean by that? Such polite tolerant words from your peaceful mouth? Generalization? Do you even know the meaning of that? Aren’t you generalizing by calling anyone who disagrees with you leftist, liberal and champagne drinking elite. First check your own intolerance and ignorance. People like you actually make it worse for hindus and your ignorance is the reason why they are being generalized as hate mongering bhakts. Have some respect and practice what you preach.
Maybe you have some comprehension problem but generalization is finding a common theme to brush everyone with who don’t agree with you. Like calling them “Brahmin”, “Anti-dalit” etc etc. Because these same words are thrown by all so called “woke” people of India today, it more or less represents an ilk which thinks they are smarter and superior to others.
For caste and religion incidents, many were given beef angle without any investigation. When victims are Hindus, it is just a crime. But when victims are minority, every Hindu is culprit in India.
People have answer to this “ilk” in this election. Stop this BS.
Calling people ‘Brahmins’ is generalization? Oh God! You are so stupid, naive and misinformed. Thanks for the comedy. So you are saying that when crimes happen against hindus, they are treated as just crimes and when they happen against minorities, hindus become the culprits because they are hindus? You think all hindus are being victimized & treated unfairly in a hindu majority country? someone’s living in their la la land for sure. You do understand the concept of ‘hate crimes’? When a hate crime is committed against someone, it will be shown as a hate crime. The reason the criminal did the crime was their hate and prejudice. There is a difference. You really don’t need to be from any wing, left or right to understand simple logic. Anyways your stupidity is on full display. Spare this comment section of your hate and go rant on some whatsapp group. Your comments are full of generalization and you accuse others of the same.
With such rich Bharatia past and to come out with this dooms futuristic scenario. It’s insanely stupid and unrealistic and total fakery of a story line. Cant even digest as fiction. Didn’t see it Dont need to. For same reason I would not promote movies like hunger games. If one has to manifest future why not glorious and rich. Afterall we are suppose to be heading towards the golden age. Not to mention Aamir Khan seemed existed to watch it. What can you say?
all the signs are that we’re heading towards climate catatrophe but rich-bharatia-past folk can’t get their heads out of their glorious asses
Yeah, should implement strict population control laws, stop illegal slaughter houses and deport illegal immigrants. Let’s see how it is labelled as “fascism”
Hope you have people in your life to tell you that you’re not as smart as you think you are just because the BJP won the election.
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