Does anyone remember the scene in India in Mr India where Sri jumped on the bed in alarm when she saw the cockroach ? And then realizes that unknown to her, the house was crawling with kids ? Well, I needed the cockroach to be very still for the camera as he/she eyed Sri Devi threateningly. Focussing takes a long time and the cockroach needed to be patient. So we got the cockroach drunk !! No kidding, we surrounded the cockroach in a pool of my favorite Old Monk Rum, and the cockroach was soon lolling around like a drunken sailor, giving in to the DP, Baba Azmi’s every demand.
Unbelievable, but hey – talk to anyone on the sets. It was true !
Funny , Its just 09:00 am Shekhar.
Give me an excellent chianti or a pinot and I could be a thespian cockroach too! More life in my death scene and all that.
Thats a funny and creative solution.
I do remember the scene… and but what sticks in my memory is the squeaky yet surprisingly shrill shrieking by Sridevi through out the movie. That said, she was magic in Mr. India.
Yeah it happens sometimes:My dog lost his sense of humour once I gave it a good shot of my favourite Blue Label and lo he was back to his senses.
And hey believe me ’cause it was not a set.
Weapons of intelligence eh!
This looked absolutely lovely post from you Shekhar!
What if the all-important cockcrach had then begun to sing the following song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00tIy5LAAmA
Harb
Well… those were the times…
Hey remember Anil Kapoors daughter the other day in Saawarya.Grown up into a babe.But still we can’t call Anil old, can we?He still comes in the ‘elder brother’ category… Well some change from
Parinda/Mr.India days.
…Anil wouldn’t have been frightened that much afterall he was the Hero of the Film!!!
Well… those were the times…
Hey remember Anil Kapoors daughter the other day in Saawarya.Grown up into a babe.But still we can’t call Anil old, can we?He has maintained himself so well he still comes in the ‘elder brother’ category… But that is some change from Parinda/Mr.India days.
…and on a lighter vein… I am sure Anil’s character wouldn’t have been frightened that much afterall he was the Hero of the Film(He might just have become invisible)!!!
But seriously, the problem with all good Indian films of the yore is as somebody put it aptly”Mogambo enjoys like an emperor laughing till the end while the Hero might have the last laugh but after weeping throughout the film”
Everybody is a hero in his own land and to his own family.We’ve got to learn to realise the divinity in the other and rather in each one of us.
I think we should all pledge this 3rd Millenium not to make any more “good vs evil” films thus stopping to propagate fallacies of the last Millenium…and probably keep our eyes on the “MILLENIUM GOALS” unitedly delineated at the UN.
LOL!
Thank god no PETA that time na…
No signing amount to cockroach…:)) but old monk=))
and only U can think of this kinda solution but hell it works
Hey Shekharji…wishing you a good year ahead…thanks for your blogs…read all year long…take care old monk =)) (do you know many call you ‘Baba’ a monk too? with love and respect of course because you bring spirituality to all the things…
Keep up the traveling, movies and updating ur blogs…my love, regards, respects and warm wishes for 2009
LOL That is an amazing story. I hated the scene (threatening Sridevi is not just not done) 🙂 Mr.India, on a whole, was a lovely movie. I bought a ticket in black for the first show.
Any more trivia about this movie would be appreciated.
🙂
Thats funny 🙂
Now that you have divulged this secret hope you don’t become Maneka Gandhi’s next target for misusing animal err..insect rights in your film.
LOL! I can’t stand cockroaches……just abhor them. Have to kill it the moment I see one. Yuck!
Cheers!
More that cockroach being drunk , I was surprised by the fact that our eminenet film maker has a liking for Old Monk… best rum ever conceived. Now that I live in Canada i have to rely for my supply of old monk on my India travelling friends. I guess anyone who has studied in a hostel understand the place it has in a life of hosteler & has been rescued by Old Monk in his/her mood swings 🙂
Amazing story , the movie is one of my childhood favorites . Indians can surely make sci fictions .
Great !
Now thats new !!
I have to compliment the background music in the moment when camera focus on still cockroack for about 5 seconds. BG music s like some Military base is charged up and about to attack and visually a silly little cockroach moving its antenna… absolutely hilarious … and to Sridevi – absolute magic in the entire movie.
This s m all time fav n watched it countless times.. I have to compliment the background music in the moment when camera focus on still cockroack for about 5 seconds. BG music s like some Military base is charged up and about to attack visually when a silly little cockroach moving its antenna… absolutely hilarious … and to Sridevi – absolute magic in the entire movie.
hey! that calls for a lawsuit against abuse on animals right there!!
Mr. India was a different movie, giving hindi cinema the classic “Mogambo ghush hua”!
Ahh, Mr. Indiaaaaa. A glorious film. My favorite shots were during the Laxmikant Pyarelal parody medley – that one with Anil and the children with their faces in the staircase railing was lovely! And the fun of “ooh, toopivaaaaali!”
When are you coming back to Hindi cinema, ji? We need more Masooms and Mr. Indias!
Thats animal cruelty my friend!.
Heard SRk is being consider for the Mogambo Role. Great Choice!!!
Was wondering if the script could accomadate a twist where Sri could be a Vamp along side SRK to create more interest, as a Sri’s Fan hate to see her in a older, goodie goodie supporting role.
Hope you could do your magic!!! Can n’t wait to see Sri in action
Hello. And Bye.
HaH HHa Ha HHa HH Hh hh h h h h ….
i was not there but hey ….
no one asked me – i would have got your cockroach
do still & also move or dance !! …
Arun could have had the Rum to drink after packup
Hail Mogambo !!!
Cheers
I would have loved to hear your thoughts about your film Masoom, a milestone of a movie.
You make great movies….
hello sir,
i heard there is gonna be a sequelae of MR.INDIA
but without Mogambo the movie is jus unimagineable.
i was thinking the other day how wud the immortal dialoge ‘Mogambo khush hua’ wud be replaced. i then came up this…the villian is the Great Grandson of MOGAMBO and say “MOGAMBO KHUSH HONGE”.
how about it?
give it a thought Mr.Kapur
regards.
Dear Shekharji,
I saw this MAGICAL MOVIE… (No other words to define) in my childhood and he was my first hero…superhero… Thanks ton for that…! 🙂
Do you like to make the Magic again like Mr. India’s or more than this…….
I hv a superb script… MAGICAL surly..
(no other way to reach you so saying here… hope you understand… )
Regards,
Atul Sir
The Devil Writer…
Mo. 9850377732
Shekharji, please give Sridevi a fitting role that would do justice to her charisma and unbelievable talent. Do not for God’s sake, give her a supporting role or a 15 minute role. Please………………… I beg of you.
Dear Sir,
I’m a filmstudent from the Netherlands and at the moment I’m working on a documentary about the fantastic superhero movie Mr. India and the Bollywood movie industry at that time.
Therefore I would really like to get in contact with anyone (in India) who can give me information about this film.I hope you can help me with this and I’m looking forward to your response,
Kind regards
Laetitia
+31644704193
hi shekhar — the awsome director ..(hehe…sounds very butering)
okay now commenting on this real truth behind that super funny scene of superhit movie MR.INDIA
its amazing to know al this …wonderwhile why that cockroach always seemed to be drunk to me ….hehe
anyways….keep doing the gr8 work …. hav few of such directors inour film industry who took indian cinema global…
take care
Ms. honey ….gr8 fan of this movie…n ya forhet to say that Anil kapoor has done a marvelous job n the film..realy good
okay bye now…:)
hi shekhar — the awsome director ..(hehe…sounds very butering)
okay now commenting on this real truth behind that super funny scene of superhit movie MR.INDIA
its amazing to know al this …wonderwhile why that cockroach always seemed to be drunk to me ….hehe
anyways….keep doing the gr8 work …. hav few of such directors inour film industry who took indian cinema global…
take care
Ms. honey ….gr8 fan of this movie…n ya forhet to say that Anil kapoor has done a marvelous job n the film..realy good
okay bye now…:)
hi shekher ji
i want to com india only for you
Its fabulous movie. Its a legend movie of Indian cinema. People will never forget great “Magambo”. Anil Kapoor the greatest actor i have seen in my life. He has given lot of super hit movie one after one.
I loved Mr. India and have watched it umpteen times. Well, I remember the cockroach scene very well. Can’t believe shooting the scene became easy after the cockroach was drunk. It’s like that joke:
How does a snake crawl after getting drunk?
It doesn’t zig zag but goes straight!
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Thats right! Don’t be afraid to speak your mind. This is the 21st century, right?
Dear Shekhar Sir,
I have grown up watching Mr India.My Uncle even brought me a blue dress with Mr India printed on it.Little did I know then that I can convey my best wishes to the man behind such a wonderful movie.
I absolutely love your site.Keep us enlightened with your words.
God bless you!Love and Luck!
I’m fresh at this board and I’ve loved to say hello to you all 🙂
I’ve been visiting this site for quite some time and it looked as a really nice place to be a part of.
Good one…loved each and every scene of the movie, except the one when Tina dies….
shri devi……no.1 actress of indian film industry……..i like her dance in song kisi ke hath na aayegi je ladki………..i am vikas singla from patiala……..Namaste Shekher ji
hiii….was watching Mr India again on tv the other day and was wondering what is the real name of tina…she was a very cute kid and makes me sad always to see that scene where she dies…