Synopsis
Journalist, poet, and dramatist, Anil Saari (19452005) was one of the earliest and most distinguished film critics in India. As a critic, Saari possessed the special ability to unravel the real personality of the stars behind the shadow of stardom. This collection of interviews and articles by Anil Saari (written in the 1980s and 1990s) bears the mark of his genius as an inteviewer and columnist. Chatty in style and frank in approach, this volume provides a window to the life and work of some of the legendary figures in Indian cinema. It includes conversations with and articles on not only the leading ladies and men of Indian cinema but also lyricists, script writers, directors, film distributors, and censor board officials. From golden era greats like Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar to leading ladies like Waheeda Rehman, Nargis, Rekha, and Shabana Azmi to megastars like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Mammootty, to present-day movie moguls like Gulzar, Yash Chopra, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Nana Patekar, and Subhash Ghaithe range of this compilation is breathtaking. The detailed Introduction by well-known film critic Saibal Chatterjee sets the stage for Saaris writings which captures a crucial twenty-year period of change in Indian cinema, from the 1970s to the mid-1990s.