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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox_Film |
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
| name = The Last Lear
{{Infobox film
| image = TheLastLear.jpg
| caption = Movie poster |name = The Last Lear
| imdb_id = 1039969 |image = TheLastLear.jpg
| writer = ], ] |caption = Movie poster
|writer = ]<br>]
| starring = ],<br>]<br>], <br>], <br>] & <br>] |starring = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]
| director = ] |director = ]
| producer = ] |producer = ]
|music = Raja Narayan Deb<br>Sanjoy Das
| cinematography = Abhik Mukhopadhyay |cinematography = ]
| editing = Arghya Kamal Mitra |editing = ]
| distributor = Planman Motion Pictures |studio = Planman Motion Pictures
⚫ | released = {{start date|2007|9|9}} (]) <br>{{start date|2008|9|12}} (Worldwide)
|distributor = ]<ref>{{cite web|title=The Last Lear: Distributors prefer to wait and watch|website=]|date=11 September 2008|access-date=21 July 2022|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/the-last-lear-distributors-prefer-to-wait-and-watch/articleshow/3469310.cms}}</ref>
⚫ | country = ]
⚫ |released = {{Film date|df=yes|2007|09|09|]|2008|09|12|Worldwide}}
| runtime = 130 minutes
⚫ |country = India
| language = English
| music = |runtime = 130 minutes
| awards = |language = English
| budget =
}} }}


'''''The Last Lear''''' is an ], ] film directed by ]. The film stars ], ], ], ], ] and ]. It was produced by Planman Motion Pictures. '''''The Last Lear''''' is a 2007 Indian English-language ] directed by ]. The film won the National Award of India for Best Feature Film in English in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Rituparno-wins-national-award-for-Last-Lear/articleshow/4984188.cms|author=Ratnottama Sengupta|title='Rituparno wins national award for Last Lear'|work=]|agency=TNN|date=8 September 2009|accessdate=28 July 2018}}</ref> The film stars ], ], ], ], ] and ]. Shefali Shah won the Best Supporting Actress National Award for her role in the movie. It was produced by Arindam Chaudhuri of Planman Motion Pictures.


== Production == ==Production==
Basing the script on ]'s play ''Aajker Shahjahan'', ] penned it in 2006, and turned to the actors in February 2007, all of whom accepted the offer.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hindustan Times|work=The Last Lear based on play|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1935541,001100030009.htm|accessdate=2 March|accessyear=2007}}</ref> The film began shooting from February 28, 2007 to April 10, 2007; principal shooting took place in ] and some shooting took place in ], ].<ref>{{cite web|title=hindustantimes.com|work=Production schedule announced|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1935541,001100030009.htm|accessdate=2 March|accessyear=2007}}</ref> Dubbing for the film ended on August 31, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=timesofindia.indiatimes.com| work=Dubbing ends on Ghosh's birthday|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/India_Buzz/_Unique_gift_for_Rituparno/articleshow/2329202.cms|accessdate=6 September|accessyear=2007}}</ref> Basing the script on ]'s semiautobiographical play ''Aajker Shahjahan'', ] penned it in 2006, and turned to the actors in February 2007, all of whom accepted the offer.<ref name=hindustantimes>{{cite news|author=Diganta Guha|work=]|title=The Last Lear based on play|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1935541,001100030009.htm|accessdate=2 March 2007|archivedate=6 March 2007|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070306052319/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1935541,001100030009.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The film began shooting from 28 February 2007 to 10 April 2007; principal shooting took place in ] and some shooting took place in ], ].<ref name=hindustantimes/> Dubbing for the film ended on 31 August 2007.<ref>{{cite news|author=Subhash K Jha|agency=IANS|work=Times of India|title=Unique gift for Rituparno|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/India_Buzz/_Unique_gift_for_Rituparno/articleshow/2329202.cms|accessdate=6 September 2007|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018084013/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/India_Buzz/_Unique_gift_for_Rituparno/articleshow/2329202.cms|archivedate=18 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>


''The Last Lear'' premiered at the ] on September 9,<ref>{{cite web|title=hindu.com|work=The Last Lear to premiere at film festival|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200708162240.htm|accessdate=16 August|accessyear=2007}}</ref> and received a significant reception, earning many accolades after being showcased at a Gala Presentation.<ref>{{cite web|author=Adarsh, Taran|publisher=indiaFM|title='The Last Lear' well received at Toronto film fest|date=September 11, 2007|url=http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/09/11/10090/index.html|accessdate=2007-08-16}}</ref> ''The Last Lear'' premiered at the ] on 9 September<ref>{{cite news|work=Hindustan Times|title=Bachchan starrer selected for Toronto Film Festival|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bachchan-starrer-selected-for-toronto-film-festival/story-qe6Ani0x0OfUibuCa7rcyJ.html|accessdate=28 July 2018|location=Chennai, India|date=17 August 2007}}</ref> and received a significant reception, earning many accolades after being showcased at a Gala Presentation.<ref>{{cite web|author=Taran Adarsh|author-link=Taran Adarsh|publisher=]|title=''The Last Lear'' well received at Toronto film fest|date=11 September 2007|url=http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/09/11/10090/index.html|accessdate=28 July 2018}}</ref>


The film was later showcased at the ], and the ] in ].<ref>{{cite web|title=cities.expressindia.com|work=Surily Goel designs for The Last Lear|url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=254235|accessdate=6 September|accessyear=2007}}</ref> The film was received positively by critics with many saying that Bachchan has given a career best performance.<ref>{{cite web|title=indiafm.com| work=Critics positive towards The Last Lear|url=http://www.indiafm.com/features/2007/09/11/3020/index.html|accessdate=11 September|accessyear=2007}}</ref> The film was later showcased at the ], and the ] in ].<ref>{{cite news|work=]|title=Surily Goel designs for The Last Lear|url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=254235|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018002433/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=254235|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2007|accessdate=6 September 2007}}</ref> The film was received positively by critics with many saying that Bachchan has given a career best performance.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=]|title=Critics positive towards The Last Lear|url=http://www.indiafm.com/features/2007/09/11/3020/index.html|accessdate=28 July 2018}}</ref>


== Story == ==Plot==
] (left) and ] in the film.]]Veteran thespian Harish Mishra (]) is gravely ill. The punishments of a film shoot have left the old man in a coma. His co-star, Shabnam (]), is wracked with worry, but their director, Siddharth (]), keeps strangely distant and refuses to visit his ailing star. In flashbacks, their story emerges. <!-- Deleted image removed: ] (left) and ] in the film.]] -->The story revolves around Harish Mishra (]), a retired Shakespearean theatre actor who spent precisely thirty years and nine months on stage and then suddenly quit, and his first and last act as a cinema artist. He is immensely passionate about Shakespeare, believes that nothing even comparable can ever be written, knows all his plays by heart, lives in those stories, condemns modern cinema, and considers theatre as a much higher artform for directors and actors to convey their message to an audience.


It is Diwali, a time when box offices are flooded with new releases, and Shabnam (]) has to attend the premiere of her latest movie, ''The Mask''. However, she decides to visit her co-star Harish and heads to a cubbyhole in old Kolkata, where Harish is bedridden in a coma. He is being taken care of by Vandana (]) and a nurse, Ivy (]). Vandana treats Shabnam with spite as she blames her and the entire cast and crew for Harish's condition. But soon they are seen bonding over tea and are involved in a conversation about Harish. In flashbacks, their story and equation with Harish emerge.
Siddharth first had to woo Harish from the comforts of his retirement, and the interaction between the two yields some of the film’s most delightful scenes. The impatient young auteur attempts to win the trust and collaboration of the aged performer, who sits raging against the modern world from the sanctuary of his study. Sporting a silver mane, Bachchan is irresistible here – vain, forceful and impetuous. He trumpets the superiority of Shakespeare over anything cinema can create. And yet, the movies hold out a new challenge.


The movie sees parallel narration from Goutam (]), a journalist who recalls his encounters with the veteran actor. He had suggested Harish for the lead role to his elder brother Siddharth (]), who happens to be an ambitious perfectionist director. After a casual meeting with Harish, Siddharth realizes that to convince Harish to act in his film, he has to win his trust and establish a relationship with him. And, hence, the impatient young auteur attempts to win the trust and collaboration of the aged performer, who sits raging against the modern world from the sanctuary of his study.
Once he agrees to act in the film, The Last Lear becomes a captivating reflection on the comparative artifices of stagecraft and cinema. As the outsider in the cast, Harish is hilarious in dismissing movie fakery. His theatre skills are grander. Standing on a hillside, he teaches Shabnam how to project her voice clear across a valley to the next hill.


Harish finally agrees to act in the film. Shooting happens in the stunning Himalayan foothills of ]. On the sets, he befriends Shabnam and teaches her lessons on acting, life, and Shakespeare. As the story unfolds, one gets to know his relationship with Vandana, the reason behind his quitting theatre, and last but not least, the reason for his illness. ''The Last Lear'' becomes a captivating reflection on the comparative artifices of stagecraft and cinema.
== Cast ==
⚫ * ] ... Harish Mishra
⚫ * ] ... Shabnam
⚫ * ] ... Siddharth
⚫ * ] ... Ivy
⚫ * ] ... Vandana
* ] ...


== Awards == ==Cast==
⚫ *] as Harish Mishra
⚫ *2009: ], Best Film in English
⚫ *] as Shabnam
⚫ *] as Siddharth Kumar
⚫ *] as Ivy
⚫ *] as Vandana
*] as Goutam Kumar
*]

==Reception==
] of '']'' called it "The most god-awful film I have ever seen", criticizing its use of rather hammy English language than Hindi and mentioning that the main actor, ], is a combination of ], ] and ] all rolled into one but in this film he is closer to ] and ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/sep/22/bollywood|author=Nirpal Dhaliwal|author-link=Nirpal Dhaliwal|title=The most god-awful film I have ever seen|work=]|date=22 September 2008|accessdate=28 July 2018}}</ref>

Janet Gruttsman of ] mentioned that the film does not have any song and dance routines which are usual highlights in Bollywood cinema.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-toronto-bachchan/bachchan-experiments-with-english-in-new-movie-idUSN1037008720070911|author=Janet Gruttsman|title=Bachchan experiments with English in new movie|work=]|date=11 September 2007|accessdate=28 July 2018}}</ref> IndiaGlitz praised the film's cinematography and acting but criticized its ], especially the ending.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/the-last-lear-hindi-movie-review-10480.html|title=The Last Lear Review|website=IndiaGlitz|date=13 September 2008|accessdate=28 July 2018}}</ref> Sukanya Verma of '']'' gave it 3 out of 5 stars saying that " is that while Ghosh builds Harry's aura to perfection, everyone around him fails to reach out."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/sep/12lear.htm|author=Sukanya Verma|title=Effectively intriguing|website=]|date=12 September 2008|accessdate=28 July 2018}}</ref>

==Awards==
⚫ *2009: ] for Best Film in English
*2009: ] *2009: ]
*2009: ] - Shefali Shah *2009: ] - ]


==References== ==References==
{{reflist|2}} {{Reflist|2}}


==External links== ==External links==
*{{imdb title|id=1039969}} *{{IMDb title|id=1039969}}
* *
*


{{National Film Award Best Feature Film English}}
{{Rituparno Ghosh Films}} {{Rituparno Ghosh}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Last Lear, The}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Last Lear, The}}
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Latest revision as of 19:10, 16 November 2024

2007 Indian film
The Last Lear
Movie poster
Directed byRituparno Ghosh
Written byRituparno Ghosh
Utpal Dutt
Produced byArindam Chaudhuri
StarringAmitabh Bachchan
Preity Zinta
Arjun Rampal
Divya Dutta
Shefali Shah
Jisshu Sengupta
Prosenjit Chatterjee
CinematographyAbhik Mukhopadhyay
Edited byArghyakamal Mitra
Music byRaja Narayan Deb
Sanjoy Das
Production
company		Planman Motion Pictures
Distributed byPVR Pictures
Release dates
  • 9 September 2007 (2007-09-09) (TIFF)
  • 12 September 2008 (2008-09-12) (Worldwide)
Running time130 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageEnglish

The Last Lear is a 2007 Indian English-language drama film directed by Rituparno Ghosh. The film won the National Award of India for Best Feature Film in English in 2007. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Preity Zinta, Arjun Rampal, Divya Dutta, Shefali Shah and Jisshu Sengupta. Shefali Shah won the Best Supporting Actress National Award for her role in the movie. It was produced by Arindam Chaudhuri of Planman Motion Pictures.

Production

Basing the script on Utpal Dutt's semiautobiographical play Aajker Shahjahan, Rituparno Ghosh penned it in 2006, and turned to the actors in February 2007, all of whom accepted the offer. The film began shooting from 28 February 2007 to 10 April 2007; principal shooting took place in Kolkata and some shooting took place in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. Dubbing for the film ended on 31 August 2007.

The Last Lear premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September and received a significant reception, earning many accolades after being showcased at a Gala Presentation.

The film was later showcased at the London Film Festival, and the International Film Festival of India in Goa. The film was received positively by critics with many saying that Bachchan has given a career best performance.

Plot

The story revolves around Harish Mishra (Amitabh Bachchan), a retired Shakespearean theatre actor who spent precisely thirty years and nine months on stage and then suddenly quit, and his first and last act as a cinema artist. He is immensely passionate about Shakespeare, believes that nothing even comparable can ever be written, knows all his plays by heart, lives in those stories, condemns modern cinema, and considers theatre as a much higher artform for directors and actors to convey their message to an audience.

It is Diwali, a time when box offices are flooded with new releases, and Shabnam (Preity Zinta) has to attend the premiere of her latest movie, The Mask. However, she decides to visit her co-star Harish and heads to a cubbyhole in old Kolkata, where Harish is bedridden in a coma. He is being taken care of by Vandana (Shefali Shah) and a nurse, Ivy (Divya Dutta). Vandana treats Shabnam with spite as she blames her and the entire cast and crew for Harish's condition. But soon they are seen bonding over tea and are involved in a conversation about Harish. In flashbacks, their story and equation with Harish emerge.

The movie sees parallel narration from Goutam (Jisshu Sengupta), a journalist who recalls his encounters with the veteran actor. He had suggested Harish for the lead role to his elder brother Siddharth (Arjun Rampal), who happens to be an ambitious perfectionist director. After a casual meeting with Harish, Siddharth realizes that to convince Harish to act in his film, he has to win his trust and establish a relationship with him. And, hence, the impatient young auteur attempts to win the trust and collaboration of the aged performer, who sits raging against the modern world from the sanctuary of his study.

Harish finally agrees to act in the film. Shooting happens in the stunning Himalayan foothills of Mussoorie. On the sets, he befriends Shabnam and teaches her lessons on acting, life, and Shakespeare. As the story unfolds, one gets to know his relationship with Vandana, the reason behind his quitting theatre, and last but not least, the reason for his illness. The Last Lear becomes a captivating reflection on the comparative artifices of stagecraft and cinema.

Cast

Reception

Nirpal Dhaliwal of The Guardian called it "The most god-awful film I have ever seen", criticizing its use of rather hammy English language than Hindi and mentioning that the main actor, Amitabh Bachchan, is a combination of Steve McQueen, James Stewart and Sean Connery all rolled into one but in this film he is closer to Bruce Forsyth and Derek Jacobi.

Janet Gruttsman of Reuters mentioned that the film does not have any song and dance routines which are usual highlights in Bollywood cinema. IndiaGlitz praised the film's cinematography and acting but criticized its screenplay, especially the ending. Sukanya Verma of Rediff.com gave it 3 out of 5 stars saying that " is that while Ghosh builds Harry's aura to perfection, everyone around him fails to reach out."

Awards

References

  1. "The Last Lear: Distributors prefer to wait and watch". The Times of India. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  2. Ratnottama Sengupta (8 September 2009). "'Rituparno wins national award for Last Lear'". The Times of India. TNN. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  3. ^ Diganta Guha. "The Last Lear based on play". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 6 March 2007. Retrieved 2 March 2007.
  4. Subhash K Jha. "Unique gift for Rituparno". Times of India. IANS. Archived from the original on 18 October 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
  5. "Bachchan starrer selected for Toronto Film Festival". Hindustan Times. Chennai, India. 17 August 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  6. Taran Adarsh (11 September 2007). "The Last Lear well received at Toronto film fest". IndiaFM. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  7. "Surily Goel designs for The Last Lear". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 18 October 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
  8. "Critics positive towards The Last Lear". IndiaFM. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  9. Nirpal Dhaliwal (22 September 2008). "The most god-awful film I have ever seen". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  10. Janet Gruttsman (11 September 2007). "Bachchan experiments with English in new movie". Reuters. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  11. "The Last Lear Review". IndiaGlitz. 13 September 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  12. Sukanya Verma (12 September 2008). "Effectively intriguing". Rediff.com. Retrieved 28 July 2018.

External links

National Film Award for Best English Feature Film
1964
1981–2000
2001–present
Films directed by Rituparno Ghosh
Categories: