"I don't specialise in making realistic films''

After Chandni Bar, his critically acclaimed and commercially successful film on a dancer's odyssey in Mumbai's beer bars, director Madhur Bhandarkar returns with Satta, a story of a middle-class woman's entry into another cesspool-politics.

Q. Anuradha Sahgal's machinations in Satta are similar to Mayawati's. Is there a link?
A. It's a coincidence. Anuradha is a fictional character based on a one-line concept-what if an educated middle-class girl marries into a political family and contests elections? I chose not to base it on real political personalities because it limits your vision.

Q. Is it a coincidence that actress-politician Jayaprada has bought the rights to your film?
A. Jayapradaji wanted to remake it in Telugu.

Q. Do you specialise in making realistic films?
A. That's a myth. I only try not to go far beyond the common man's vision. But my next film Aan, earlier titled Police Force, does move away from reality and is more mainstream. It completes a trilogy of bars, politics and the police force.

-Sandeep Unnithan

Q 1. Congress President Sonia Gandhi has written to Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee to cleanse the Ganga because ...

a. she developed rashes after dipping her feet at Prayag last year.
b. pilgrims are developing skin diseases after bathing in the Ganga.
c. she sympathises with the sadhus who refused to take a dip this year.

Q 2. After Chief Minister Digvijay Singh sought a ban on cow slaughter, the Congress...

a. has banned it in all states under its rule.
b. may replace Digvijay.
c. declined to comment.

Q 3. Minister of State for Food Subhash Maharia stood for an hour before taking charge since ...

a. the priest who was to perform the puja was caught in a traffic jam.
b. he was unhappy with the portfolio.
c. he sprained his back while bending to touch Sharad Yadav's feet.

Answers:1(b), 2(c), 3(a)

Capturing Real in Reel

A POIGNANT TALE: Jha (left); a Bhagalpur victim

It's a film close to Prakash Jha's heart, traversing contemporary history, from the Bhagalpur blindings to Godhra. Starring Ajay Devgan as an IPS officer and Gracy Singh as his wife, Jha is on a 60-day shoot of Ganga Jal, a script he has been working on since 1988.

After Mrityudand in 1998, Jha returns to familiar territory-the brief foray into commercial cinema with Dil Kya Karen was "fun but not fulfilling". The filmmaker says he wants to tackle the issue of society making the police sit in judgement on itself.

Financed by Manmohan Shetty's Entertainment One, the Rs 7-crore Ganga Jal is being shot in Satara, Maharashtra, in a very organised fashion. There are no extras; only Devgan is allowed to travel in his car, the rest travel together; and everyone has to abide by call sheets. The film will be released in July and will have only a song-and-a-half. Why? Jha says Gracy asked him the same question. His answer: "We forgot to create a tree."

-Kaveree Bamzai

More of the Same

KABIR BY ABIDA (Times Music; Rs 75)

Overexposure always depreciates value. The same is true for Abida Parveen's sufi music and her latest album, Kabir by Abida. Abida's exuberant voice brings the ageless dohas of sufi mystic Kabir to life, but unfortunately her style is becoming rather monotonous.

The singer is falling into a trap where all her renditions and arrangements sound the same. Her voice in Mann lago yaar is drowned by the accompanying music. Bhala hua meri matki is uplifting, but the magic of her bhav is missing. The soul of the fiery Abida, so palpable in live concerts, just isn't there.

After numerous albums and compilations of her songs, even Gulzar's commentary can do little to alleviate the sameness. Maybe Abida needs a break.

-S. Sahaya Ranjit