Shekhar Kapur's ‘Masoom’: A Journey into Human Emotions
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur's debut film, ‘Masoom’, is a poignant exploration of human emotions and relationships, stemming from the adaptation of Erich Segal's novel. Through this film, Kapur reflects on the uncomfortable truths that can be liberating.
Key Takeaways
- Masoom is Shekhar Kapur's directorial debut.
- It explores the fragility of human emotions.
- Based on Erich Segal's novel ‘Man, Woman and Child’.
- Features memorable music by R.D. Burman.
- Introduced child actors Jugal Hansraj and Urmila Matondkar.
Mumbai, Jan 21 (NationPress) Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, renowned for his works such as ‘Masoom’, ‘Mr. India’, and ‘Bandit Queen’, once expressed that his film ‘Masoom’ was his endeavor to delve into the fragility of human emotions.
‘Masoom’, which marked Shekhar's directorial debut, is inspired by the 1980 Erich Segal novel ‘Man, Woman and Child’, which was also adapted into the Malayalam film ‘Olangal’.
Reflecting on the film, Shekhar Kapur articulated, “‘Masoom’ was my attempt to explore the fragility of human emotions. It taught me that the greatest stories are the ones that come from truth, truth that can be uncomfortable, but also liberating”.
The film poignantly examines human relationships, love, and forgiveness. ‘Masoom’ beautifully navigates the life of a seemingly flawless family whose existence is disrupted by the discovery of an illegitimate child.
The core of the film is its raw emotions and stellar performances. It features R.D. Burman’s enchanting music and Gulzar's moving lyrics, including the iconic track ‘Tujhse Naraz Nahi Zindagi’. The film also launched the careers of child actors Jugal Hansraj and Urmila Matondkar.
Previously, Shekhar shared a profound insight on storytelling. He posted a mesmerizing photo from his retreat in the Himalayas on Instagram, sharing his thoughts on the art of storytelling.
He wrote, “Love teaching storytelling and where better than in the Himalayas. Teaching is the art of exploring ourselves together. All of us are born storytellers. We just need not to be shy of expressing ourselves. Revealing ourselves”. #storytelling @himalayanwriting @kaverikapur.
In his three-day retreat nestled in the tranquil Himalayas, Kapur guided his students on a journey of self-discovery through storytelling.
In a follow-up post, the director remarked, “You don’t teach storytelling. Together with your students, you explore the stories that lie inside them. After all, all art starts with ‘who am I’. Who is that that’s telling the story? What are the stories lying dormant inside you? Where are you in the stories you want to tell?” Great 3 days teaching in the Himalayas #storytelling @HimalayanWrite.
