Ismail Merchant: Translating Naipaul’s novel to celluloid
01st Aug 2000
By ApunKaChoice Bureau
Renowned filmmaker Ismail Merchant is all donned up to give shape to his next obsession – a screen adaptation of V.S. Naipaul’s novel ‘The Mystic Masseur’.
To play the lead role of Leela, Ismail has chosen Ayesha Dharker (of The Terrorist fame), and playing the male lead of the masseur opposite Ayesha is Asif Mandwi, a young Indian actor based in New York. Accompanying the duo, in the movie, will be the likes of Om Puri, Prayag Raj and Sakina Jaffrey. The story of the movie takes place in the Indian community of Trinidad and Tobago in the 1950s.
Ismail deems it as a challenge to ‘do a proper justice to Naipaul’s novel’ and ‘to preserve in its cinematic version the elements of pathos and subtle humor’ that underlie in its story. The shoots for the movie, to be directed by him, are scheduled to begin in October in Trinidad.
Meanwhile Ismail is also producing another movie The Golden Bowl, which will be directed by his pal and teammate James Ivory.
Merchant Ivory productions – a collaboration of Ismail Merchant, James Ivory – is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as one of the most long lasting and most enduring filmmaking partnerships.
In their 40-year career of filmmaking the trio has won some of the most prestigious awards including 31 academy nominations, six academy awards and six BAFTA awards. Moreover, Ismail Merchant himself was presented with ‘Pride of India’ award by Zee Gold Bollywood, a few days back.
Although his last film Cotton Mary failed to impress the audience, his admirers are waiting with bated breath to see how he translates the literary masterpiece (The Mystic Masseur) on to the celluloid.
Renowned filmmaker Ismail Merchant is all donned up to give shape to his next obsession – a screen adaptation of V.S. Naipaul’s novel ‘The Mystic Masseur’.