KALPVRIKSH
The Wishing
Tree
KalpVriksh – THE WISHING TREE
is a magical, inspirational and an extremely entertaining story of five children
in a hill-station who come together to save their ‘wishing tree’ (KALPVRIKSH)
from being cut by vested interests. The film is extremely lively, entertaining,
endearing
and engrossing so that the underlying message to protect trees and environment
is seamlessly driven home.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FILM
KALPVRIKSH has been selected by Kodak to be a part of their “International
Emerging Film-makers Programme”.
The film is going to be dubbed in all principal languages of the world as it
transcends all barriers of regions, dialects and cultures while addressing the
most basic requirement of our human race’s survival, a green earth, in the most
magical, captivating and entertaining manner whereby children, the real
custodians of our planet, the earth, would be naturally drawn to fall in love
with trees and mother earth and nature.
Choreographed by Ashley
Lobo, the songs of KALPVRIKSH are treated as those in a musical. They not only
take the story forward but are integral to the narrative.
The Earth song is a
colorful collage of images to tell the story of the Earth’s evolution. As we
travel over snow capped mountain peaks to gushing waterfalls and rivers, pupae
turn into butterfly and a giant dragonfly flaps its wings across the sky over a
dense tropical forest.
Dhanua’s dhaba song
is his fantasy on the other side of life, where his abusive and exploitative
owner, Shankar dada transforms into a sorrier version of Dhanua in rags and
Dhanua becomes the Don (the underworld King) of the dhaba, flashing a
white three piece suit and a red shining car. This song is in theatrical genre.
Nikita’s concert song
on stage as a rock-star is complete showbiz. It’s the opening song of the film
and resembles a Michael Jackson concert in which the fans are fainting with awe
and adrenalin is running high.
The celebration of the
tree song is vibrant and has the raw energy of nature. It throbs with life.
The tree sways from side to side and dances, shivers and gurgles like a baby
with the children. The Wishing tree is happy to come back to life after
thousands of years with the love and faith of the children.
KALPVRIKSH is a very
visual film. All the scenes in the film are color-coded, they fall within a
certain scheme of colors according to the mood and inner journey of the
characters. For instance Sean’s room is blue, reflecting his state of mind. He
misses his father constantly.
The fantasies (the songs)
of the children are shot glamorously and are visually starkly different from
their reality within the film. For instance Nikita’s concert song is to be shot
in an indoor auditorium like space, with the stage decorated with yellow lights
(‘Chicago’ feel) and neon sticks, which the children across the stage (the fans)
will hold up as the rock-star's performance progresses with great gusto.
KALPVRIKSH or the Wishing
Tree is a specially designed 25-foot tree created in fiberglass and rubber, for
this film. It is being created in real as well as on computer graphics to render
a fantasy feel for children. It will also be very real. The whole concept of an
old man like tree, twisted, which can hug and dance almost like a person is
endearing & exciting.
KALPVRIKSH is a visual
treat for children and adults of all cultures alike. It's a
film which passionately weaves Indian mysticism with the complex life of the
modern day Indian kids, in search of something magical.
KALPVRIKSH
is a
film about faith & hope, which transcends barriers of language, nationality and
cultures. It gently nudges people to think about and restore the organic and
utterly magical relationship between man and nature.
KALPVRIKSH
CAST:
Bollywood’s leading
Superstar Mr. Shah Rukh Khan is part of this film in a Special Appearance. Some other members of the cast
are:
1.
Shabana Azmi
2.
Saurabh Shukla
3.
Makrand Deshpande
4.
Rajit Kapoor (“Making of the Mahatma”)
5.
Vrajesh Hirjee
6.
Shernaz Patel (‘Black’)
7.
Mahabanoo Mody Kotwal
8.
Bobby Darling
9.
Navniit Nisshan
10.
Raj Zutshi
11. Jayaa
Bhattacharrya
The
Kids:
1.
Harshpreet Kaur
2.
Shivani Joshi
3.
Mark Shaw
4.
Abhas Yadav
5.
Aditya Manghani
Target Audience
5 to 80 years
Duration 130 minutes
Language
Hindi (along with dubbed versions)
Format Film : 35mm
Shooting Days
70 (approx.
120 shifts)
Animation/Graphics 15 minutes (excluding titles)
Songs 5 (Digital Dolby included)
Locations Panchgani, Ladakh, Mumbai
MAIN TECHNICIANS
Sandesh Shandilya,
the popular music composer had done the Theme Track of "Kabhi Khushi
Kabhi Gham" alongwith the mellifluous “Suraj Hua Maddham” from the
same film. He has also given music for films like “Agni Varsha” (2002), “Chameli”
(2003), “Road” (2002), “Rules” (2003), “Socha Na Tha”
(2004), “Uff Kya Jadoo Mohabbat Hai....!” (2004). He has also composed
for the film, “Beatification of Mother Teresa” starring Penelope Cruz.
He has also collaborated with Richard Clayderman on his recently released
worldwide music album.
RAJEEV JAIN ( ICS, WICA ),
Director of Photography, was highly appreciated for his camera work in Army,
Badhai Ho Badhai, Pyar Mein
Kabhi Kabhi, Kadachit and Mirabai Not Out. He was also the Additional DOP / 2nd
Unit DOP for such notable films as Rang De Basanti, Chalte Chalte,
Gupt and Trimurti. He has also shot several ad-films and short
films.
Director’s Profile
Manika Sharma
is a Graduate of the Vancouver Film School. After winning an award for
her student film, “Crimes of the Art”, she came back to Mumbai in 2000 to
start work on the feature film, “Asoka”. This was internationally
acclaimed Santosh Sivan’s magnum opus period film based on the life and times of
Emperor Asoka, one of the greatest legends in human history. As Chief
Assistant director on ‘ASOKA’, Manika did the visualization for the
film (the look and setting of 232 BC) along with conceptualization and art
direction of the songs. She has written the English subtitles for the film.
Manika has had an opportunity to travel worldwide with ‘ASOKA’ around the
festival circuit (Venice, Florence, London, Singapore).
She has
shot popular commercials for Pepsi (Men in Blue, World Cup) with the
Indian cricket team in Leeds, England. Also Lays Potato chips with
Saif Ali Khan (leading Bollywood star) and Mohd. Kaif
(Cricketer) in South Africa.
Apart from
writing and co-directing a short film for CFSI (Children's Film Society of
India) she has directed and produced music video’s for Sony BMG Music
and United Nations (UNAIDS).
Her music
video, ‘Tod do Deewaren’ became the first ever theme song on World
AIDS Day to feature elaborately on National news across the country. It
featured sixteen famous singers/ pop artists of the country including classical
maestro’s such as Pandit Jasraj. The song in essence celebrated hope and
togetherness, the spirit and triumph of people, specially children living with
HIV and AIDS. Manika’s most recent work is a music album for Sony BMG,
which has aired across UK. The music video, “Mitr pyare nu” was on chart
hits in North America.
She is now
busy giving finishing touches to this feature film, “KALPVRIKSH”
which has been produced by Raajaysh Chetwal / Rhombus Films.
“KALPVRIKSH” is a
film which passionately weaves Indian mysticism with the complex life of the
modern day Indian kids, in search of something magical.
It’s a
film about faith & hope, which transcends barriers of language, nationality and
cultures. It gently nudges people to think about and restore the organic and
utterly magical relationship between man and nature.
Manika Sharma :
mankia.taz@gmail.com,
ms@manikasharma.com
R E A D Y F O R S C R E E N - N
O V E M B E R 2 0 0 8
©
Rhombus Films, Mumbai -
raajaysh@rhombusfilms.com
