Paani is a film about a city of 20 million inhabitants which runs dry of water. The water wars have begun between those that still have water and those that do not. Water has now become a weapon of political, social and economic exploitation.
The picture posted here is part of a series that I took last year which are going to be show-cased at the Talwar gallery in NY. It represents the great divide in water availability between the rich and the poor in Mumbai. The girl you see has walked 3 miles to bring water to her home.
I never knew that there was such a water shortage in India. Thank you for sharing your photograph. I am sorry to say, as I do not leave near NY, I will not see the others. However, Best of luck on the showing. I hope it will help others see the problems in other parts of the world.
why dont u post the photographs on the net?
water- wars!
isn’t it like moving backwards in time,when untouchables and other low caste people were not allowed access to water by the high caste people. In fact, i myself have been witness to such biases in my naani’s village, when i was a child. The village is divided into two parts- high caste and low caste area. The better source of water is for the upper caste . I have myself seen children from low caste stealing water from upper caste well at night and then getting severly punished for it the next day. So, 20 yrs from now, even our cities will go the same way. And we are preparing ourselves to become a super power.
today i learned about a place called cochabamba in bolivia. in 1999 the bolivian government sold cochabamba’s water rights to the bechtel corporation in san fransisco, ca (usa). there was a massive uprising, and after much violence, including the loss of human life, the people succeded in stopping the privatization of their water rights.
have you heard of this rebellion? when i saw images of it and read up on it, i immediately thought of your film and the poignancy of the topic.
sincerely,
1girl
It would be interesting to see you deal with this subject.. one film which I still can remember scenes from, even though I had watched the film when I was probably in 6th grade was K.Balachander’s Thaneer Thaneer in tamil. It truly did justice to the topic. I am curious about whether you would be tackling similar issues but your setting would be the city as a backdrop instead of a village..
water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink.water wars are not fiction but reality. it happend india, it is happening now, it will happen.
every year 5,00,000 children r dyining due to shortage of water.
water is the life of the life.water flows through plants, animals, vegetation and binds togther with mothrt earth.
food can be produces through water only.
what e avatars : cola,pool,poor,rain,drain,water theme parks, water dances.
applying common sense, being fair and leadind a just life with empathy makes all the difference.
interesting theme. With our immense coastline and given the fact that more than 90% of water on Earth is saline, desalination is a valid and much ignored topic in India. One glance at the Middle-East shows crops growing in the desert. In most cases, IIT engineers design such systems and indian labor work in the construction. Funny that we help other states with water shortage while ignoring our own problems. water should not be an issue in India. it is because healthy and well-fed people will vote for parties that promote more development, while hungry, thirsty people will vote for the chaps who promise water for the next ten days and nothing in next 5 years. Touché Shekhar.
shekar,
have been reading a lot about your future projects but none took off. when are you going to start this movie?
Hi… I was going through your website and I have heard a lot about you infact seen almost all of your movies…I have heard that you are planning to make a movie on the problems and the woes that
people living in villages and suburbs face to grab a drop of water…I want to know whether this movie has been completed or yet to be …I want to be a part of this venture so please let me know if there is anything that I can do …I would like to work as an actor…I am really interested in working in these kind of projects…I will wait for your response closely… so please let me know about it …I will be happy to give you more info. about myself
Hello Shekhar
I’ve been reading alot about the film Paani which I’ve read you’re shooting in Mumbai.
I have graduated in film from Denison University USA. I am currently in Mumbai assisting on Madhur Bhandarkar’s film ‘Corporate’ which is in it’s final stages of completion. I would be extremely interested in working on your film and would like to meet with you. Please email me if this application is of any interest to you and I will send you my resume for furthur and better particulars.
Thank you
Bharati Thakore.
I am so EXCITED about Panni and I can’t wait to see it!!!
THIS is THE movie for our time. I am very much looking forward to it. This is the movie the whole world needs to see. I promise to go to the theater and pay to see this movie. I am going to e-mail all of my friends, and tell them to do the same.
For the poster alone, I want to nominate Panni for Best Picture of 2006.
Or 2007…hey, when’s the release date?
Please, everyone working on this movie, work as hard as you can to make it the best movie it can be, because it can be GREAT!
On a movie like this I would gladly work for free. But I’m sure you’ve got it all under control. I just want to show my support. I’ll do that at the box office, you have my solemn promise!
Thank you for making this movie!
Hi
Great idea for a sci-fi(?) movie related to a major upcomming global issue. I am very eager to know, will you be directing a Sci-Fi trilogy based on Asimov’s “Foundation” series or is it just a rumour?
read the page on url revelation’s rapture, pani is a little part of end of this world.
HELLO SIR
I REALLY RESPECT YOUR WORK BUT I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION.YOU RAISE A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE BUT IS
IT ENOUGH JUST TO RAISE THE ISSUE?DON’T YOU THINK
THAT WE SHOULD DONE SOMETHING FOR THIS.I AM WITH
YOU IN ANY KIND OF HELP.I AM A BOY FROM MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY AND WANT TO DO SOMETHING FOR MY COUNTRY.SO MY LIFE HAS SOME MEANING
jab tum naraj hoti ho
mai pareshan hota hoo
tum khul kar roti ho
mai jhup kar rota hoo
tum hasati rahati ho
mai khwabo me khota hoo
tum pareshan karti ho
mai aahe bharta hoo
tum vada karti ho
mai intjaar karta hoo
tum hampe marti ho
mai tujhpar marta hoo
Hey Shekhar, Someone on a forum just posted the official website (http://www.waterthemovie.com/) and the poster of the film Water.
Is this movie really a go, if it is then this really is great news and all the best.
I have been involved in some rural development programs the last few years in Karnataka and south asia and I came across this unique energy-water nexus. You know the very need for water increases electricity consumption. As there is severe shortage of electricity, there is shortage of water as well both in urban and rural areas. In urban areas, every one wants to drill a borewell to make himself water secure without realising that he is depleting water levels for himself and others as well. More over, untreated deep borewell water is not safe for human consumption. But our governments are not banning digging borewells because they cannot assure water supply nor can they meet ever increasing electricity demands. So the situation gets worser day by day.
We started with energy problem in 70s. Then, we inherited air problem (pollution) in the 80s and water problem in the 90s. We will soon have soil problem (agriculture) in the 21st century. It is only a question of time before we face problems in space as well. How can we ever forget the five basic elements of sustainable life??
water- what is we call essential of life!! water is what we call element of life!!! or water is need of and for life!!!i had seen life is like water if it stops like dead water is contenminated and effects near one most and if flowing it cultivates!its thrist of life at every segment of life and at every stage behaviour is same of what u say water.Paani in realy sense is element of thirst _thrist of love ,life status money …and so on. it has to b satisfied today or never. thankes for letting me inspire to think at this vision
9
Hukumat chalati hai mumbai ki chouri sarako par
Musibat tut parati hai bhole bhale larko par
Galatiya larkiya kare bhugatanaa larko ko partaa hai
Badanaami maar sahe jail me sarnaa parataa hai
Apani galtiyo ko sudhaar lo chalane waali
Larko ki tarakki ko dekh kar jalane waali
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
too jins pahanaa chhor de, to jism dikhaanaa chhor de
ek sadharan kanya ban jaao hamase na pangaa mol le
too jins pahanaa chhor de, to jism dikhaanaa chhor de
pet khol too chalati hai larko ki batti jalati hai
jab too jaangh dikhaati hai aandhi see aa jaati hai
bando kee laar tapakati hai, man me aag dhadhakati hai
pichhe tere aate fir tumase takaraate hai
sanskaar kaa pakkaa dhaagaa dar lagataa hai tor na de
too jins pahanaa chhor de, to jism dikhaanaa chhor de
jab too nain milati hai logo ko aafat aati hai
tere gadaraaye youwan ko dekh unaki samat aati hai
rok sake na dil ko apane tirchhi nain chalate hai
kabhi kabhi tere chakkar me apani jaan gawaate hai
abto tumase dar lagataa hai jaadu ki puriya khol na de,
too jins pahanaa chhor de, to jism dikhaanaa chhor de
jab tu kamar lachakati hai tufan mail takaraati hai
chakkar pe takkar hotaa hai, mera dil bhee rotaa hai
tor for bhee hoti hai , too kone me roti hai
tomato baat samajhati ho, kyo fande me fasati ho
abto anai maryadaa ko kisi ouro ko pol na do,
too jins pahanaa chhor de, to jism dikhaanaa chhor de
Respected Sir,
i am a great admirer of yours. presently i am a student of computer science and engineering in Techno India – a privately funded engineering college in Salt lake City , Kolkata, India. I fell for your style of movie making after watching “Mr. India” and “Masoom”. to me you are the spielberg of indian movie industry (i hate refering to it as Bollywood), and as a director i place you just after Academy Award Winner (1992 Oscars for lifetime achievement) Mr. Satyajit Ray. i am really looking forward to your next BIG venture “Paani” and am delighted that i incorporates a serious issue as wastage of water. i see on a daily basis how people around me waste water. hope your movie shakes them out of their stupour and makes them realise the true value of not only water but all the different wonderful boons that mother Nature has so bountifully bequethed us.
when is your movie going to be reliesed? i now must confess something to you. though i am a student of Computer Sc. & Engineering,i secretly fantacise about two things 1.astrophysics(Block holes are an enigma i go simply crazy about them and dedicate free time to learning more about them) and
2. becoming a cinematographer( after watching The lord of The Rings Triology i started harbouring a secret passion for it).
i am also excited about the prospect of great producers like Mr Osborn(i would like to congratulate him and Mr.Peter Jackson for making such an epic movie… LOTR Triology) producing a
movie which is essentially indian, though the subject is universal. i have also read somewhere that this is going to be the most expensive movie in indian mivie making history($20m?????). i must stop typing now as i have studies to attend to. A HUGE THANKS for being what you are and gifting us such wonderful movies. Hope you would notice my post and reply.
…..DEBAPRIYO
Please dont forget the multicolored plastic pitchers of Chennai – a patent imagery of the city.
Its ground water brakish and its two rivers super polluted.
Hi! Mr Kapur,
It is perhaps a cheesy line and something that has been said repeatedly over many years – You are truly one of the very very few talented film makers in India – Well, you are hardly making Indian films – I guess you are rather an international director.
I have been trying to search for information of Paani and have been excited about this film since the day I read about it. The production status etc has been very ambiguous off late – I havnt been able to find any news related to it – This is my first visit to your site.
I am a film composer myself. I am doing my masters in Film and Television music in the UK and plan to return to India next year after the completion of my course.
All I want to say is that I hope Paani is released and I hope that it will show something new – something the Indian audience will relate to and not turn it down like they do with all those beautiful ‘Art Films’ as they call it.
And of course – my little dream will be to be able to work with you. If I make it out there – I would love to score a film of yours.
Good luck and I am eagerly waiting for your new releases.
Best,
Tanuj.
ARE YOU EVER GOING TO MAKE IT?!
Well yes you’ve made some of the greatest movies, but you also announce movies that you’re (probably) never going to make.
Announce when you’re 150% sure!!
Respected Sir,
I am sandip Patil, Mechanical Engineer (Design Engineer) working in Tata Elxsi Ltd., bangalore.
Recently I saw u talking to one Journalist on one of the news channel. Then, i heard about ur movie called “Pani”.
After hearing that concept or concern, I deeply got involved in this Idea. I am also thinking of our future world.What I dream of is dream city which will be running without Petrol.
If u could add this idea in ur movie I will be the happiest person on the planet.
I hope u reply possitively to this mail.
Best of luck for “pani”.
Hi Mr. Kapoor,
Its a nice site you’ve put up.
I understand that you are going to make a movie on the so-called future water wars (which incidentally President Kalam even feels is a reality in future). However it would be real nice if you just don’t go on making a 2-3 hour replica of Water World movie of the 90s. I hope in your movie you will try to show some way to combat the fury of nature when it comes and if it comes and if at all humans are there to face it because I seriously doubt that the humans (at least most of us) with their superior brains will allow themselves to be destroyed to this calamity and not find a way to bypass it, as we the humans have always found a way to keep our existence since the Ice Ages.
If you are going to make a movie on water please contact me. I have been working on ways to clean up water and have lots to tell you.
Please contact me…
thanks
RESPECTED SHEKHAR SAHAB,
DANDWAT PRANAM.
I KNOW WE “MUMBAIKARS” DONT CARE ABOUT WATER BECAUSE WE R GETTING IT 24 HOURS.THERE R MANY PLACES IN MAHARASHTRA ALSO WHERE WATER COMES FOR 2 HOURS AFTER EVERY 4 DAYS. JUST IMAGINE THERE CONDITION.I THINK YOUR MOVIE WILL MAKE MUMBAIKARS & REST OF THE INDIANS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WATER USAGE.THANKS FOR CHOOSING THE DAILY SUBJECT LIKE THIS.
WISHING U ALL YHE BEST FOR YOUR MOVIE.
Hi Shekkar,
Can we use this pic for an article on Water.
Thanks
B
I really don’t get it.
We take movies s seriously.
I myself make $250,000 a year, I’m a CPA.
Movies are not important.
O.k. maybe I’m wrong — PULP FICTION and the GODFATHER MOVIES were great.
But overall, most guys don’t know how to write or direct a screenplays.
Cheers.
Sanjay
and what do you hink about energo prbolem in Ukraine?
what a wonderful hink to read this post!
Where I can to find posts on this topic?
Nics story =)