Directors to watch out for : Vishal Bharadwaj

The filmi Gods are smiling down on me. Last week, “Love Aaj Kal” by Imtiaz ali, and next week, “Kaminey” by Vishal Bhardwaj! I am in Bollywood-ian heaven. Because really, I ask for so little; one fantastic desi film by a fantastic desi director, per week (or two).

Vishal Bharadwaj is that rare breed of Indian director, who can be firmly put into the “Bonafide Genius” category. If you’ve watched any of his past films (Omkara, Maqbool, The Blue Umbrella, Makdee) you already know this. His films are world-class; they certainly make it to my Top 10. The man not only directs, he also writes, and composes music. Wow ! And it isn’t ordinary direction, and it certainly isn’t ordinary music. I am so in awe of this director’s talent. When I retire because this blog has made me pots of money (yeah, right !) and I relax in the backyard, martini in hand, I WILL spend all my time composing odes to his work.

Here’s a short scene from Maqbool :

He started directing with “Makdee” which was a kid’s film, and starred Shabana Azmi as a “witch”. “The Blue Umbrella” is based upon Ruskin Bond’s book of the same name, whereas Omkaara and Maqbool are adaptations of Shakespeare’s work (Othello and Macbeth respectively).

Bharadwaj is also a music director and composer of some repute. He started off small, playing the harmonium for little known ghazal singers in the Delhi area, but has now given the music to most of Gulzar’s projects, including and after Maachis (remember “Chappa chappa charka chale” ?), and has also served as music director for films like Satya and “Dil pe mat le yaar“, besides his self-directed productions.

He is married to singer Rekha Bharadwaj – she of the nasal voice which sits so well on Bipasha Basu.