Tag: Shoojit Sircar

  • ‘My West Side Story is a reimagined version’: Steven Spielberg

    By Express News Service

    20th Century Fox India has released an 11-minute conversation between Shoojit Sircar and Steven Spielberg ahead of the global release of West Side Story, Spielberg’s adaptation of the renowned 1957 broadway musical. 

    In the chat, Shoojit quizzes Spielberg about summoning the courage to make a musical (the director, in fifty years, has never attempted the genre). Spielberg says he grew up with the original broadway album, and it’s the only musical he would ever have made.

    Shoojit also praises the filmmaker on his decision to cast Latinx actors in an age of ‘xenophobia and racism’.  “It was important to me that this film represents the Latinx community,” Spielberg says. “There is not a single Puerto Rican character that is not played by a Latinx performing artist.” 

    Spielberg explains he viewed the film not as a remake but as a contemporary ‘reimagining’ of the original classic. West Side Story, originally a stage musical by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, was adapted into a 1961 film by Robert Wise. The story follows two rival gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, on the Upper West Side in 50s New York. 

    “This musical has been performed thousands of times in community theatre, high schools, colleges, and revivals all over the world,” Spielberg says. “And because it is so liberally reproduced, again and again, every new cast brings a different interpretation. (So) I didn’t feel like I was violating the great classic that the original West Side Story film was by telling this 2021 version.”

  • Sardar Udham to premiere on Prime Video in October

    By Express News Service

    Shoojit Sircar’s film, Sardar Udham, starring Vicky Kaushal, will premiere on Amazon Prime Video in October. Sardar Udham tells the story of the titular revolutionary, who assassinated Michael O’ Dwyer in London in 1940. The assassination was done in revenge for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar in 1919. Besides Vicky as Sardar Udham Singh, the film also stars Banita Sandhu and Amol Parashar (as Bhagat Singh). Shoojit’s last feature, Gulabo Sitabo (2020), was also released on Amazon Prime Video. 

    “With every story that we present on Amazon Prime Video, we ensure that the narrative is replete with emotions and depth that finds a place in the heart of every viewer,” said Vijay Subramaniam, Director and Head, Content, Amazon Prime Video, India. “Continuing a great partnership with Rising Sun Films, we are proud to present Sardar Udham, a stirring story of courage, fortitude and fearlessness, from the buried treasures of our history and culture.”

    “It has been exhilarating to create this film that showcases and acknowledges Udham Singh’s patriotism and deep-rooted, selfless love for his motherland,” said Producer Ronnie Lahiri. “Two decades’ worth of research and understanding has been put by the team to present this untold story. Vicky has worked tirelessly to bring out the real essence of Udham Singh’s myriad emotions throughout his life’s journey. We are glad to continue our prolific collaboration with Amazon Prime Video and are thrilled to share this historical epic story with a global audience.”