Writer Wry

Having made a name worth reckoning in the Mumbai film industry with films like Gulaal,in which he even played a part on screen besides writing lyrics and even singing a couple of the movie’s songs,he lauds the attempts of Kashyap,Bhardwaj and Imtiaz Ali as the “ray of hope” amidst lack of quality and originality. “But it is a passing phase…cinema can get back its lost glory.”

As happy as he is to be back in Lucknow after over a decade—”I came here in 1992 with my play Court Martial”—the Gwalior native was impressed to see the new-look Gomti Nagar and the old world charm of Hazratganj.

“Those who flogged me for writing the Aajaa Nach Le song,and terming it casteist ensured that it got sanitised,saw only my Mishra surname. They didn’t know about my Communist leanings and how much I wrote and worked towards the uplift of the lower castes in Chambal ravines. But I nurse no grudge,because I genuinely feel for them,” said the writer one of whose plays Woh Aaj Bhi Bulaata Hai was based on atrocities on members of the lower social strata.

Mishra champions the newage cinema.

“Nobody wants larger than life cinema…losers like Dev D are a hit because people can identify themselves with him.”

About institutions like National School of Drama,his alma mater and BNA,he says: “They are turning into ghettos. Fresh air needs to get into them to help them remain names to reckon.”

The play directed by Sanjay Upadhyay will be staged at the Rai Umanath Bali auditorium on Thursday evening.

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