| Gandu | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Qaushik "Q" Mukherjee |
| Written by | Surajit Sen Q. |
| Starring | Anubrata Joyraj Kamalika Shilajit Rii[1] |
| Music by | Five Little Indians (music) Q. (lyrics) |
| Editing by | Manas Mittal Q. |
| Release date(s) | October 29, 2010 (New York City) |
| Country | India |
| Language | Bengali |
Gandu is a 2010 black-and-white Bengali film directed by Q. (Qaushik Mukherjee) who has described the film as a "rap musical".[2] It features Anubrata, Joyraj, Kamalika, Silajit, and Rii in the lead roles. The film's music is by the alternative rock band Five Little Indians.[3] Gandu previewed at Yale University before making its international premiere on October 29, 2010 at the 2010 South Asian International Film Festival in New York City.[2] Gandu was an official selection at the 2011 Berlin International Film Festival and was also screened at the Slamdance Film Festival.[4]
Gandu has received mainly positive reviews from critics. John Reis called it "a stunning visual and narrative feast"[5] while Variety said it is "a happily transgressive rhyme-fueled romp".[1] The film has caused some controversy because of language and scenes of full frontal sex. Media outlets have reported audience walkouts during sex scenes[6] and it has not been publicly released in India.
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Frustrated with his life in a poor Kolkata neighborhood, aspiring rapper Gandu steals money from his mother to finance a trip with his friend Ricksha. The two go off in a heroin-induced haze, finding it increasingly difficult to separate reality from hallucination.
The film is shot mostly in black and white stressing on the bleak existence of the protagonist. At the end of the movie, the film shifts to the color mode showing that the character is enjoying the colorful existence induced by the drug he has consumed with his friend.
The film also ponders on the meaning of life and what we must do with it.
Gandu was shot in Kolkata on a limited budget with only eight crew members. It was filmed in black and white with one scene in color and had no official script. Q. used a high-definition Canon EOS 7D Single-lens reflex camera to shoot the film. In order to prepare the cast for their nude scenes, (nudity is unusual in Indian cinema) Q. required them to undergo several workshops in which they used Boal techniques. Rituparna, who plays several different roles in the film, is Q.'s real life girlfriend.[7]
http://snd.sc/pTi6MV [Link Not working as on 28th November 2011]
The film's soundtrack has garnered rave reviews as well, composed by the erstwhile Calcuta-based alternative rock band Five Little Indians and mixed by London-based producer extraordinaire Miti Adhikari.