dunkdaft: Travel

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At Masti Ki Paathshala : Nahargarh, Jaipur

Ahh... another stop of my Filmi Journeys. Masti ki Paathshala from Rang De Basanti. There I was. At Nahargarh [the fort] at Jaipur. Sigh....what mind bending structure.

In the film -

....and thats me - 'to jump, or not to jump' thats the question. [Fat gai thi yaar, height dekh ke.. :P]

Fabulous structure - from different angles. [click on images to get larger view]

And... the grand panoramic view of the city of Jaipur. [click to see larger view]

Tags : Rang de basanti, Masti ki Paathshala, Shooting Location, Nahargarh, Jaipur, Graffiti

Clicked !!

Well, as a part of Travel photograph contest by Blogadda and Pringoo.com ; here are five entries from my pile of photographs. I am no a professional at photography, nor do I posses a nice sleek DSLR.. [wish I can :) ] but still, I feel sometimes my clicks do wonders. So here are my entries. Oh, and Thank You Blogadda for suggesting a topic to blog. Nice change for me :)

A Place near rapidly growing Ahmedabad. Most of the fields are occupied by builders, making difficult to for mother Earth to breath. Trees are getting vanished. Here is one alone tree, who stood since long, witnessing cruel changes of time.

I just love deserts. The salt deserts, the sand deserts or ice deserts. The view they have, you can see through horizons, the wide canvas. Love that feeling. Here is a pic from India's favorite desert - Jaisalmer. The camel ride at 4pm. Must be scorching hot, but worth for its scenery.

Another favorite place of mine. That is Jodhpur fort, and the 'Chhatri' you are seeing here is tomb of King or some member of royal family. What makes it more beautiful is the flying pigeon captured in the click ! Again, a barren tree standing by the tomb makes it interesting.

Jaisalmer fort is like a Desi-mall. Having fantastic little little shops of handicrafts. This frame consists many frames in it. With the background of old hand painted yellow wall, one surely gets instantly inspired to buy all of them, isn't it? And hey, that Bisleri hording is captured which I had no idea about. Showing both, modern and old worlds, maybe? :)

I couldn't resist to put up this wonderful pic taken at Mount Abu, Rajasthan. The 'tomato girls'. Yes, they were selling Tomato Salad. I denied buy their stuff when I was on my way to Turtle Rock. But the way they made me buy it, cute ! Then I came to know that they were doing it to fund their study. See the school bag near them. :) and smiles on their faces !

So, there, are my five entries for the contest. Tough to choose only five because our country has so many gorgeous things to love. The colors, the people and the places, indeed - Incredible India !

The contest is sponsored by

Lagaan : Legend Revisited

"Lagaan : Sau Saal Pehle Ki ek aisi kahaani, Jo Itihaas ke pannon mein kahi kho gayi thi.." The baritone was echoing in my mind, as I was walking through the soil, the dust and the sands of Champaner. Yes, the village Kunariya where the movie, the legend was shot in the year 2000. My yet Another uncertain journey as always..this time stopped at 'the' place where 'the' Legend was written.

[As I watched Lagaan on next day of its release, i.e.16th June, 2001; Here is its Anniversary Special on same day, 2009]

It was a Friday, when I just completed reading The Spirit of Lagaan - the book written by Satyajit Bhatkal on making of Lagaan. An extraordinary tale of how this larger than life world was captured in the movie. So, after reading it, naturally I put up my disc and started watching the movie. And then suddenly, got idea, why not go to the place and celebrate the anniversary a little earlier? Its about 400kms away from my city. So instantly I called up my friend who lives in Bhuj, instantly got my tickets of Bus service which I boarded late night and voila!! I was in Bhuj very next morning. Took my friend's Bike, and went away, to discover the village. [I even couldn't find it on Wikimapia, nobody had marked it, but I did it later. See it here]

But the task was so easy. So easily I found the village because of very good road connectivity. Which was absent 10 years back, when Ashutosh took a great chance of setting up whole world in the desert. So there I was in village Kunariya, 20 kms away from the city Bhuj. There I was, in my Mecca, in my Amarnath, in my Chardham, whatever you say, it was the moment to cherish. And what did I find??

There was no hills and mountains visible as in the movie. I panicked. [and my i-pod was playing...Tu Aaja Re.....Mitwa..] And thank God, someone was walking on the deserted way, I stopped him and asked about where was the shooting place? I knew he must had the answer. As so many villagers were included too. And he instantly show me the way. And so accurately he guided me, in flat 10 minutes, I was there....at Champaner.

Still I had doubts. Cause there was so much of sand on the soil, and I knew this was not it. And there, came my saviour, in form of a tractor driver [heck, i should have clicked him]. And he gently asked me, how on earth I am here in this desert? [gora chitta ladka, in this hot desert - though it was only 9.30am] I asked him about the shoot..and heck...'He did participated in it !!!!' Yes, he said, I had worked to raise the village, the homes of characters!! And there, he pointed out at this - a huge rubble of cement floor structure. And that too, was behind a small hill. And how on earth I could not identify it?? It was the 'Toilet Block'!! Yes, it was. Cause they wanted to hide it, it was created behind this rock hill. And how thankful I was to that man who later shown me the way to go to the main farms where the village was standing?!! He vanished away saying 'you should have come 10 years earlier...' Yes, yes, point taken :-D

So, what a great (!) start, I thought. Though my bike was shouting high, due to absolutely sandy soil. I cut it off. And climbed up the hill. Soon I found this on a rock -

Mind it ! This is not a tourist place where people do come and write crap like this. This WAS from the crew members itself. It is for sure. [and btw, my mom+dad has same initials :P ]

And after reaching at the top of the rocks, I was ready to die. Yes, Yes, It was the moment. I can see the Champaner in front of my eyes. There-was temple, There-was Bhuvan's house, There-was the pitch. Yes, There- Was LAGAAN : Once Upon a Time In India. The same track was playing in my ears.

See the first pic above, that's the Lovers' Hill. Where Bhuvan-Gauri romanced [my saviour told me that]. And the third one [I suppose] is the hill where the Temple stood.What a feeling?
And instantly, I remind of following frame from the movie. Yes ! I was standing on the rock where Chale Chalo was filmed !! What eyes Ashutosh has? The view is just wonderful. And just so much perfect for the shoot.

I could only think - what an effort? What level of passion, How desparate was everyone for making this happen. In just 2 hours, I was getting burnt over my [delicate :P] skin, the heat was on at only 10:30am !! The dust, the sand was getting over me-everywhere from hair to toe. And I thought, what life the crew had lived in 6 months of year 2000?

I was there in month of June. How cruel the nature would be in April and May?? How hot atmosphere eveyone handled 'Playing Cricket on these fields'?????

And then, God sent me another saviour. "Hey Baadal, arrey Baadal Aai Gya Re....." Yes, the clouds were there. Making me little confortable, and vanished in few minutes :) just like the movie. Leaving me alone..in burning rays of Sun.

I searched, searched if I could find just 'anything' related to shoot. But that was insane, Yes I know, but my level of insanity is that only :P But nothing was there left for me. Cause the land is used for farming. And owned by villagers. So no traces were left besides the Toilets :). And that was the reason, I could not go further and further far away near to the hills shown in below. Cause the area is cordened by the farmers, And I too was not willing to disturb them.

Impossible to go near hills..the planes are endless

I just sat on rocks, cherished each song in burning sun rays. That, was the moment, I would cherish whole my life. I could tell everyone, when they will watch the movie, Yes, I had been there. At the legendary place. Where history was created. Where, determination resulted in a rock solid result. Where each member of the crew, had lived their lifetime. The heat and dust, which made the task un believable, ended up in being an unforgettable part of the movie.

Goodbye Champaner, I'll be back !!

And there was someone to bid me farewell. Well, have a look.

Later, I returned to Bhuj. And visited majestic palace of Maharo Pragmalji. Which lies in ruins because of 2001 Earthquake.

And, the place Where Salman and Aishwarya took saat phere [yes, seven rounds of marriage]. Well, not in real, but in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. The Cenotaphs-below. The structure got major damages in earthquake. One temple is totally vanished.

And then [as I tweeted] why I did watch Kal Kisne Dekha? Well, How could I let go my temptation of watchin a movie where LAGAAN was premiered?? Here,,,is SurMandir talkies, where Aamir had arranged first show for villagers / local crew.

There, my day ended with a crap movie, but great feeling of watching movie where Aamir, where the Lagaanites were sitting. Yes, that guy was right I should have come 10 years earlier...

Related Posts : Lagaan : History Revisited

Unofficial Filmcities of India: Jodhpur / Jaisalmer [and some pics of Sarfarosh]

UPDATE : I just have uploaded Some pics [of Jodhpur only] at my Picasa web album. See it Here.

Phew...at last, I am back to my beloved Blogging-world. I was again at sudden travelling. Sudden in the sense, un-planned. I always enjoy such trips which gets suddenly its place. This time I got a chance to go to magnificent state of India - the state of Rajasthan. Mainly two cities - Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. And how on earth i could refuse this? Cause they are Unofficial Film cities of India. Numerous, just numerous movies has been shot over the two cities. I enjoyed every moment out there.

I have taken 1492, yes a whopping 1492 photographs. Love to share some of them. [ofcourse, the filmy ones ;-)]

The picture above this post is of Golden Fort of Jaisalmer.[its a stitched image of 3 pics taken, open it in new window] Reshma aur Shera was shot there.

The following is Mehrangarh fort of Jodhpur. Any guesses?? Yes, recently Awarapan was shot here. Also fabulous Dor, and controversial [deer hunting..] Hum Saath Saath Hain, too got a piece of the larger than life fort. This place reminds me of Minas Tirith of LOTR. What say??

Then, here is Patwon ki Haweli, which will soon be seen in Alladin -starring Riteish and Mr Bachchan.

Below, is a haunting place called Bada Bagh. These are the cenotaphs of the rulers of Jaisalmer. Remember this place in Kachche Dhaage? or in Awarapan?

And finally, the ONLY sand desert of India. Jaisalmer's majestic dunes. And now don't ask me which movies are shot here? Endless list. Sarfarosh,Meenaxi [thanks thebollywoodfan, for reminding these two] Border, Awarapan, Dor, Lamhe, Hum Dil de chuke Sanam,Hum saath saath hain, Rudali.....and many more. Whenever you see sand dunes, its confirm that it has been shot here. See below.....

And below is the reason, why it took some days for me to recover....[painful but so much enjoyable safari]

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Update: 08.03.2009

By special request of theBollywoodFan; here are Sarfarosh pics.

Sarfarosh had been extensively filmed in Jaisalmer. From dunes to palaces. Everything is weaved in the movie, so seamlessly, that even a person who belongs to the place, sometimes can not identify it. That's magic of director. I still couldn't find out which place was shot as Naseer's home. Following are some pics I could identify after watching the scenes again.

Below is Gadisar Lake. Where this small scene about Mirchi Seth, was filmed.

Next is Mandir Palace. It has been shot as Mirchi Seth's house, or say, den. Little portion of the palace is a museum. Rest of it is beautiful hotel and a temple. Its a gorgeous place which offers majestic view of Golden Fort and has some extraordinary art on stones.

See below the front view of one portion of the palace. In the movie, see in screencap, beyond the entrance, you can identify the window design.