KALPVRIKSH - A FILM BY MANIKA SHARMA
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.
“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.
