Ahmedabad boy plays the male lead in 'Patang', wows audiences at Berlin film fest

While Patang, a film by Jaideep Punjabi and Prashant Bhargava, two New Yorkers of Indian origin, has been flown to Berlin with the hope of bagging the prestigious 50,000 Euro prize for the Best First Feature at Berlinale 2011, DNA takes note of the Ahmedabad boys involved in the project.

When Patang premiered on February 12, it was the only Indian film to make it to the festival's best first feature category, considered to be the most experimental section of Berlinale.

Seven Ahmedabad boys, namely, Sheikh Hamid Shafi, Pathan Hanif Mohammad Rafiq (Gabbar), Nitin Panchal (Chhara), Imtiyaz, Azhurridin Sheikh, Bharat and Hiren Jadhav, were chosen by Punjabi and Bhargava for the film.

The lead protagonist is played by Hamid. Speaking in broken Hindi and Gujarati, Hamid told DNA: "I was elated after being selected from the many boys to play the lead, wherein I carry the bundle of kites during the kite festival here. It was fun working in front of the camera and knowing how an actual film works and what goes into the making of a movie. We were also taught how to act and give appropriate expressions by the director and producer."

While Punjabi is the producer of the film, Bhargava is the writer and director. During his visits to Ahmedabad, Bhargava befriended several kids, played with them, joined them in kite flying and also got to know their families.

Every year he thought he had found his lead actor but when he returned the following year, he would find that the children have grown up and changed.

"A few months prior to the shoot, our casting department selected 60 children. Eventually we conducted a workshop with 12 children. We played theatre games to build trust, discipline and freedom in front of the camera. Many of the children had seen adversity in their past, yet their smiles and laughter were pure. We chose Hamid as our lead actor because he was so effortless in front of the camera. He also has an uncanny wisdom and persistence in his expression," Bhargava said.

However, during the shoot, the film's crew never shared the script with the kids. They would be given physical tasks, such as catching ten cut kites as they fell from the skies above.

Hamid, who was given this task, would run through traffic, rejoice as he caught one and even fight with rickshaw drivers as he darted in front of them.

According to Bhargava, the kids were just being themselves and not really performing.

Instead of focusing on riots or on the beautiful architecture of Ahmedabad, Bhargava preferred to choose Ahmedabad's living heritage -- its people. Six years in the making, Bhargava's most memorable experiences were of organising workshops for children who had been victims of the riots and large-scale communal violence in 2002.

Gabbar, believed to be the naughtiest and youngest of the lot, was completely overjoyed after being chosen. He said, "Watching a film and acting in a film are completely different. I want to complete my education and also work in more films."

While Panchal's scenes have not been included in the film, when DNA spoke to him he said excitedly, "It was an eye-opener and definitely a great learning experience for me. Since I have been associated with Budhan Theatre at Chharanagar, it is not easy in front of the camera -- but it's not tough either. I took nearly a month's leave from school for the film."

Currently, all the seven children are being funded by the film crew for their schooling. While Hamid has shifted from Anjuman-e-Islam High School to Nav Jeevan School, Gabbar has shifted from A-One High School to FD Prathamik Shala. Panchal, on the other hand, has been shifted from Buniyaad, a government school at Chharanagar to Uma Shikshan Tirth.

About Patang

A poetic journey to the old city of Ahmedabad, Patang weaves the stories of six people transformed by the energy of India’s largest kite festival. Every year a million kites dot Ahmedabad’s skies.

When a successful Delhi businessman takes his daughter on a surprise trip back to his childhood home for the festival, an entire family has to confront its own fractured past and fragile dreams. Music and fireworks, food and laughter, a kaleidoscope of colour and light, the magic of the kite flying high — a traditional recipe of healing and renewal.

With 'natural' performances from actors and non-actors alike, bold, lyrical editing, vibrant cinematography and
a kinetic score, Patang delights the senses and nourishes the spirit.