The violent Karni Sena arranged headless protest across the country and damaged national property by destabilising public life. When finally movie got released they, now they made another stupid announcement that they will make movie on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s mother, which will be named as “Leela Ki Leela”. Govind Singh Khangarot, the district president of Karni Sena, said that Arvind Vyas would direct the film and its script writing process had already started. I wonder how much they really know about Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his mother. I would be also glad if they give that pride and velour that Bhansali has given to Rajputs and Rani Padmini in his movie.
Bhansali never shared his mom with the industry or anyone else. Because he knew the ugliness will start. He was very upset when during the clash of Om Shanti Om and Saawariya, his mom’s name was brought up in interviews. People can say whatever they want about it. But it still bothers him that her name was dragged into it. He always kept his mother out of his workspace. As a child Sanjay had to undergo struggle by staying in a single room with his mother Leela and sister Bela. For many years, Leela used to sew clothes to support her family. She was also a dancer, but her passion and hobby could not become profession in the life struggle. She gave dignified upbringing to her children. As a single mother her struggle to raise her children is worth appreciable. Today whatever Bhansali is, one cannot simply ignore her efforts in nurturing him.
His father, who was film producer, suffered financial blows after which the Bhansalis ended up in a chawl in Bhuleshwar, a once Gujarati-dominated neighbourhood in old Bombay. In those days, he used to pass through Kamathipura, Mumbai’s infamous red light area, on his way to school. May be that is where he was exposed to colours and shades. His sister Bela Segal is also a producer and director. Sanjay’s professional career was started through Parinda movie as an assistant director. After this project, Sanjay Leela Bhansali started his directorial debut through Khamoshi movie. His first movie was a big flop project according to commercial box office business report. With second movie Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Sanjay Leela Bhansali broke all love romantic movies’ record.
Coming from a family where films were both a passion and pariah, Bhansali was raised on a steady diet of Hindi cinema. His parents, however, were apprehensive about his professional leap towards cinema, lest he is punished for the sins of his movie-crazy father. By his own admission, growing up Bhansali was a social misfit who found solace in cinema and music.
Bhansali’s extravaganzas and blockbusters have won him plenty of loyal following over the years. Still, his films provoke extreme reactions. If it’s a hit, it’s straight out of the park. He is one such film director who’s known to be extra-possessive of his work in a childlike manner. Critics were never been too impressed with the showman, dismissing his cinema as an example of indulgence, megalomania and extravaganza. But even those who don’t think too highly of him admire his sheer craftsmanship in pulling off the money-spinning epics. Contrast this with the man himself.
All his magnificence is only for the silver screen. In real life, Bhansali is a man of limited needs. On the sets, he brings simple Gujarati food cooked by his mother, whose name he has taken on as a tribute in several movies.
The best glimpse of Bhansali often lies in his music. That’s why he made Khamoshi, a beautiful melodious film but that didn’t do well at box office. Given his passion for music, that Bhansali, who started his career shooting songs for Vidhu Vinod Chopra, would turn composer was a forgone finale. He finally made his debut as a musician in Guzaarish after which he produced soundtracks for both Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela and Bajirao Mastani. Music aside, there’s a strong argument to be made in the favour of Bhansali as an auteur. Despite the trademark SLB grandeur, much of his cinema is guided by personal stories – whether it is the grandmother’s character in Khamoshi, the music gharana of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, the courtesan of Devdas, the subconscious influence always inspired him.
His recent movie, in spite of making it larger than life by giving high pride to Rajputs, landed in controversy. Like Anarkali, historians believe Padmavati to be a creation of fiction and fantasy. People of particulate sect not only attacked him or abused, but they gone on every extent of damaging his personal life too. Anyways, his journey as filmmaker was never so easy but still he buried a lot of demons that bothered, traumatised and pressured him. He reached to a proudest moment as a filmmaker. His journey ahead is much more different and calm…. Let’s see how he handles the situation ahead, but I, as a female, definitely lost all my respect for Karni Sena, kind of so called Rajputs!
