GOA: The In Conversation session titled “Unscripted – The Art and Emotion of Filmmaking” at IFFI transformed the Kala Academy into a vibrant cinematic universe today.
A celebration of storytelling unfolded as legendary filmmaker and producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra engaged in a candid and spirited conversation with acclaimed screenwriter Abhijat Joshi. The audience remained hooked throughout — with the same anticipation reserved for a Friday blockbuster.
A Filmmaker Who Creates From the Self
The session opened with a warm felicitation. Dr. Ajay Nagabhushan MN, Joint Secretary (Films), honoured Chopra and Joshi, followed by noted producer Shri Ravi Kottarakkara, who presented both with shawls. Dr. Ajay expressed hope that Chopra would continue guiding young filmmakers with his trademark honesty and conviction. Ravi hailed Parinda as a “game-changing film” that rewrote the language of Indian cinema.
A Cinema of Conviction
Joshi praised Chopra’s fierce artistic integrity.
“He never cares about a film’s commercial fate — only its artistic fate.”
Chopra went on to discuss the creative process behind Parinda and 12th Fail, stressing preparation, vision, and the pursuit of visual truth. He reminisced about an iconic shot from 1942: A Love Story, even singing the song to a cheering audience. He laughingly recounted how the crew scattered breadcrumbs to coax birds into flying across a mountain ridge — a detail he saw restored beautifully in the new 8K version.
“That,” he said, “was pure joy.”
Anecdotes that Filled the Hall with Laughter
The auditorium erupted throughout as Chopra shared delightful behind-the-scenes adventures. He spoke of writing Khamosh in a tiny Mumbai flat, shouting dialogues and calling “Cut! Cut!” so loudly that neighbours feared a real crime was underway.
Joshi quipped, “Vidhu can be as excited as a child when conceiving a film.”
One unforgettable story featured a rehearsal gone wrong: Jackie Shroff accidentally walked into the wrong apartment, waking up a terrified woman — then calmly handed her the flowers meant for the scene.
“She later said she dreamt Jackie Shroff came home,” Chopra laughed.
The Music, The Madness, The Magic
Chopra recalled battling to bring R.D. Burman on board 1942: A Love Story at a time when many doubted him. When early tunes didn’t capture the essence he wanted, Chopra bluntly called them “bullshit.”
“I wanted the soul of S.D. Burman,” he insisted.
Then, weeks later — “Kuch Na Kaho.” Chopra hummed the melody to roaring applause.
“This song exists because I said that one word,” he joked, soaking in the cheers.
He also shared his famous National Award moment — expecting ₹4,000 in cash but instead receiving an eight-year postal bond. His comical reenactment of debating the matter with L.K. Advani left the hall in stitches. Yet he warmly acknowledged Advani’s later support, including helping him attend the Oscars.
Voices Behind the Classics Join In
The afternoon took an emotional turn when Kamna Chandra, 92-year-old writer of 1942: A Love Story and Chopra’s mother-in-law, joined the conversation alongside producer Yogesh Ishwar. Kamna spoke about writing every line with heart and the pride she felt watching the restored version:
“I felt like I’ve done something in life.”
Yogesh described the painstaking 8K restoration in Italy — frame-by-frame visual repair and a full sound remaster. Chopra beamed, saying:
“It finally looks exactly like what I had imagined.”
Where Memories Become Cinema
A lively Q&A wrapped up the session, but the magic had long been delivered. The audience journeyed through decades of cinematic artistry — the passion, chaos, laughter, heartbreak, and relentless pursuit of truth that defines Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s cinema.
As the lights dimmed, what lingered was not just nostalgia — but inspiration. A reminder that great films are born from conviction, crafted through madness, and remembered because they come straight from the heart.
