One for the Anaarkalis of India
Actor Swara Bhaskar is known to research for her characters thoroughly. And when she began the preparation for the role of a ‘naach party girl’ in the film, Anaarkali of Aarah, she travelled the length of the country to get a glimpse of the lives of women who sing erotic songs to earn a living.
“When I went to watch a show in a small village in UP, that’s the first time I realised that they aren’t just erotic singers. They also are fantastic dancers. I remember calling up Sandiip ji (Kapur, producer) from there and told him we must get a choreographer on board. This was just a month before we went into shoot,” shares Swara. And it’s not just the steps she picked from there, she even shopped for the clothes for her character from small markets in Aarah.
The efforts of the team seem to be paying off, with Bollywood celebs, who have seen special screenings of the film raving about it. “(Actor) Sonam (Kapoor) watched the film and was so overwhelmed that she was in tears. It’s nice that she and (filmmaker) Karan Johar have been sharing about the film on social media,” says Sandiip.
The film’s trailer has gathered momentum on the internet. “The urban audience is intrigued as it’s a subject that hasn’t been explored before. There is an Anaarkali in every small town in India, , whose story we are telling,” g,” shares Sandiip. The strong g storyline and songs are adding to buzz around thee film.
Produced by Priya and Sandiip Kapur and written and directed by Avinash Das under the banner Promodome Motion Pictures, Anaarkali of Aarah — starring Swara Bhaskar, Sanjai Mishra and Pankaj Tripathy — releases on March 24.
There is an Anaarkali (erotic singer/dancer) in every small town in India, whose story we are telling SANDIIP KUMAR, PRODUCER