“Masoom,” a Bollywood gem that has left an everlasting imprint on our hearts. Starring the brilliant duo of Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, this cult favorite took the cinema world by storm. Little did we know that it would become a turning point in Indian cinema, forever changing the landscape of storytelling.
Adapted from Erich Segal’s novel, “Man, Woman and Child,” published way back in 1940, “Masoom” whisked the audience away on an emotional roller coaster. The film weaved a tale around a contented married couple, blessed with two beautiful daughters. However, their lives took an unexpected turn when a son from the husband’s previous affair arrived unannounced at their doorstep.
The film skilfully explored the intricate nuances of relationships, unraveling the resilience of family bonds and the power of forgiveness. Its impact on Indian cinema was profound, setting a new standard for storytelling and pushing the boundaries of emotional depth.
Renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who is basking in the glory of his latest hit, “What’s Love Got To Do With It?“, has delighted fans with exciting updates about the much-awaited sequel to his 1983 directorial debut, “Masoom.” In a recent revelation, he unveiled the title of the film as “Masoom… The New Generation.” And now, in an exclusive interview with Variety, Shekhar has provided a glimpse into the theme and essence of this upcoming sequel.
Shekhar Kapur has managed to keep the details tightly under wraps. However, he did share a tidbit about the sequel’s premise.
According to Kapur, the story will revolve around an elderly couple living in a crumbling house, embodying the passage of time and the inevitable changes that come with different generations.
“When you talk to people about home, the first thing they say is that it is property, it is real estate and the second thing they say is ‘What’s it worth?’ The real estate value of your house becomes much more important than what the essential idea for home is. And home is, what is it? It is memories – people growing up, the walls have memories, the sofa where you sit down is a memory. Everything is a memory. So I’m taking that fundamental idea of what is home”
Shekhar Kapur
While the specifics remain a mystery, this glimpse into the film’s theme hints at a profound exploration of family dynamics, the challenges of aging, and the impact of generational shifts.
Shekhar Kapur expressed his desire to create a film that combines a simple story with underlying complexity. The acclaimed director yearns to revisit the innocence and naivety he had while making his directorial debut with “Masoom.”
“I was looking to do a film that I could go back to being naive, almost, because ‘Masoom’ was from somebody who’d never made a film before, didn’t know how to make a film, went in and made a film, had nothing, no technical competence or experience or skill to fall back on – so just fell back on telling a real human story”
Shekhar Kapur
Here’s A Throwback To Masoom Memories As Posted By Director Shekhar Kapoor In A Recent Instagram Post
Tell you a little story about how Masoom the movie almost died ?
We finished the movie before we showed it to anyone. Before we sold a single part of it. That was the pleasure of making films those days ..
Distributors loved the movie when they saw it. But on release the halls were completely empty .. I remember going to the first day first show , and the Cinema hall was completely empty .. except for me and a young couple in a dark corner, that showed no interest in the film at all.
That was the Friday of the release, and the same story Saturday .. on Sunday, Monday and again on Tuesday .. no one went to see film. The distributors called to say they are taking the film off the theatres on Saturday … iso
‘We know you’ve made a great movie .. but sorry.. the theatre owners are going take the movie off .. there are no audiences.. .
‘Oh well’ I thought ‘There go my dreams of being a film maker’ I remember eating a lot chaat that day at Hill Road. That was my passion other than film making ..
The next day, my uncle Vijay Anand, the famous film Director called me and said ‘Hey Shekhar , can you arrange some tickets for us .. the house is full ..
What ?
This was Thursday. I rushed to the theatre and saw lines out side waiting for tickets .. what happened ? I asked .. what changed in a day ?
The distributors by then had to beg borrow and steal to retain some of the theatres .. and of course thereafter the film never stopped and went on to create history..
I’ll still never know .. what happened between the Wednesday and the Thursday ? Did the stars align differently .. a very sudden word of mouth ?
Phew .. imagine if that Thursday had never happened there may have been no Masoom and I may have had go back to be a Chartered Accountant ????
Anticipation brims in the air as we eagerly await the unveiling of “Masoom… The New Generation.” The suspense is palpable, and we simply cannot contain our excitement to see what unfolds on the silver screen. Will the sequel be as powerful as the first Masoom? How “Masoom … The New Generation” connects to the original is also undercovers for now. But we’re about to find out!
