The village where I shot much of Bandit Queen was physically divided into the Lower and the Higher castes. You could tell. The low caste dwellings were not only on the lower part of the gentle hill, but built of mud and bits of trees, shrubs and any other material you could lay your hands [...]
Category: Bandit Queen
Nirmal Pandey and Bandit Queen
When I was casting for an actor in the role of Vikram Mallah in Bandit Queen, I was looking for a man that on the surface was as rugged and handsome as any. But inside was a gentle and soft. A man completely in touch with his feminine self. After all, we all are a [...]
A film of less doubt and more courage : Bandit Queen
From Deepak :"You know Shekhar, today I watched Bandit Queen. I was in early school when it was released and it was out of bounds then. I can't understand how something made so way back seems to grab me NOW from the first moment. You know this is your most honest attempt. You - simply [...]
Is Bandit Queen my best film ?
Certainly more people have seen the two Elizabeth's, Massom and Mr India. However the following were the director's notes attached to the DVD that were written in a tearing hurry. The Independent newspaper, in the UK, however, decided to publish my notes as a full page review of the film ! And so I read [...]
Bandit Queen – director’s commentary
As they are re releasing the DVD of Bandit Queen in the UK. I decided to do an extensive director's commentary on it. And I sat there and cried as I watched the film after almost 10 years. What happened to the director Shekhar Kapur ? Where did he get lost ? Bandit Queen has [...]
The Gang Rape Scene in Bandit Queen
Udayan asked : When I watched Bandit queen and perticularly the scene where She was being gang raped. I almost throwed up during that scene and took me about a week to get over it. How did you managed to film that scene? I mean the intensity that you put into that scene simply can't [...]
The Editor of Bandit Queen
Renu Saluja, who edited Bandit Queen died a few years after, still very young. She was one of the best editors in India. The Film and Television Institute of India is paying a tribute to her. Here is mine ... For me it is difficult to separate the person from the work. I have fought [...]