hari om press kit and articles

'Hari Om' is an English film that takes us on a romantic adventure through Rajasthan.

Following an unlikely trio, it is a story about discovery of self and others, about

getting in touch with the true spirit of India, and about finding beauty, love, and

courage under unusual circumstances.

It is a story of a happy-go-lucky rickshaw driver who is content with the status quo

until the rickshaw-don seeks him out and turns his life upside down. Into the mix

comes a young European couple who get separated during a luxury train ride through

India. This is simple romantic tale of their intertwined journeys across the desert of

Rajasthan. All three have their world turned upside down as they confront their fears

and go for what they really want in life.

'Hari Om' is a road journey that goes from luxury trains to desolate desert

back roads, from magical havelis to rickshaw chases to forts, as this

cross-cultural romantic voyage unfolds.

Synopsi

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hari om www.hariomfilm.com


Caught the attention of world cinema audience with his lead

performance as the wedding planner in “Monsoon Wedding” of Mira

Nair (International hit and winner of Golden Lion at Venice Film

Festival 2001). He has worked in a dozen high-profile films in India,

including “Company”, “Road”, “Bhoot”, and David Lynch Presentation hari

omVijay Raaz (Hari Om)

Lead female in the upcoming StudioCanal/TF1 produced $35 million film “Les

Rivières Pourpres 2” (Crimson Rivers) from the pen of Luc Besson and starring

opposite Jean Reno (from “Leon the Professional”, “La Femme Nikita”, etc).

Previously in several French and English films (including the recent “Ni Pour Ni

Contre” by Cedric Klapisch) and TV ( “Lucas Ferre” serial on TF1).

Drama education at Oxford University (UK) and Lycee International (France).

Represented by premier talent agency Artmedia in Paris. isa

Camille Natta (Isa)

The male lead of the current worldwide hit French film “Swimming Pool”by

Francois Ozon and starring opposite Charlotte Rampling and Ludivine Sagnier

(from “8 Women”) - the film by Canal+ and France 2 has already grossed $10mill

in USA from a 300 screen release by Focus Features . He has previously worked in

several French films (e.g., “Rire et Chatiment” by M6, Europa, and France 2) and

TV (“Paradis d’enfer” and “Passion Assassine” on M6 TV).

Jean Marie Lemour (Benoit)

benoit


Bharatbala, a filmmaker with a distinctive visual style, has directed

films with path -breaking images of India over the years. The ability

to create and translate a simple emotion into a big idea is his style.

Traversing the entire length and breadth of India and its rich cultural

heritage, his films are considered to have truly captured the essence

of the land, leading to a series of some of the most dynamic films

ever produced on India. Some of these films have received awards at

the Cannes and New York Film Festivals.

Bharatbala is the first Indian director to work on the Imax format.

The film titled “Taj Mahal - the heart of India” is currently under

production and due for a worldwide release in 2004.

Hari Om is a story conceived by Bharatbala for his debut feature film.

This is the first of a series of stories from India that Bharatbala has

envisioned to take to the world audiences through Cinema.

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“ ever since I first wanted to make a film, I’ve been putting my camera into an SUV and driving off across India and have covered 100,000

miles…in this country by road with a camera…

so a road-movie s my debut-feature came naturally..

one of my great favourites is David Lynch’s “Straight Story” and this was an inspiration. To me the journey always representing the journey

of life, and the lessons one learns from people we meet by chance has been fascinating…

at the time when I looking for a story for my first feature…

i was taking a journey on a funky retro looking rickshaw in Jaipur, on a recce for a short film - and the rickshaw-walla(driver) was tearing

through the narrow streets of Jaipur (probably more cut out for a bike) - exhilarating…

it was such a cool machine with leather seats, bolly-woodish decor, and loud music blaring...

and the driver who rode dangerously through the narrow lanes was so much at ease that I wondered if he lived his life as recklessly…

Talking to him, I knew I was travelling with the hero of my film….

Hari Om is a way of greeting in India - equivalent to namaste and the driver kept raising his arm and saying hari om ! to everyone…I

identified him with this word and decided to name my protagonist Hari Om…

I started out with a small story about the everyday life of a rickshaw-walla...and then life had a different idea...and an interesting

coincidence occurred, parked at at a railway crossing I saw the palace on wheels....a new entry into this developing story...of hari om…

That set up the idea of a european character in my mind, in india - many films have featured British connections.. but i wanted to do away

with the colonial links and the natural choice for a romantic road adventure was to think French…

instead of setting the film on the usual tourist destinations - I took a country route and the backroads of Rajasthan....

my screenplay writer is a first time writer who walked into my office at that time and it turned out he was half french and half Indian !

Voila !

I first put him into a round trip train ride across India to experience India… And then we started writing…

I wanted to feature emotions from real people - so I decided to get on the road with 2 cameras - and the 5 main artistes, casting on the way

and featured 100 first time actors in the film...giving my line producer ulcers….

started out as a romantic comedy in the fully structured

screenplay...the film evolved into a more intense,

self-discovery…because I wanted the artistes to feel this was their very own experience - and made the scenes quite interactive…I know

what Isa and Hari Om would or would not ever do as people…but that apart - their relationship developed asa natural chemistry….and I

captured this with an objective

camera…mostly leaving long wide shots and not going too close to the characters….i want the viewers to participate and work out the

emotions for themselves rather than defining things too much…

the french couple also happen to arrive for the first time in india - 2 days before the shoot, so natural play helped a great deal…

I wanted the music to be simple and reminiscent of music I listen to when I drive around India…but it is created with real folk musicians

brought from the desert into a recording studio in Mumbai…and Nitin Sawhney used them in a gentle way to create this musical journey

through Rajasthan..

most interesting to me is that even though we belong to different parts of the world - there is a human connection...beyond all

differences…and this to me is the crux of the film…


ProducersTips Films Pvt. Ltd. Bharatbala Productions

Tips Films Pvt. Ltd. with brothers Kumar S. Taurani and Ramesh S.

Taurani at the helm have notched a success story in a few short years.

They have to their credit hit films like Coolie No.1, Beqabu, Haqeeqat,

Raja Hindustani, Auzaar, Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai, Soldier, Kachche

Dhaage, Kya Kehna!, Kunwara, albela, Raaz the biggest hit of 2002, Kya

Yehi Pyaar Hai, Dil Hai Tumhaara, The biggest critically acclaimed film -

The Legend Of Bhagat Singh - has bagged the National Award - both in

the Best Film and Best Director categories,followed by the youthful

and energetic - Generation Next Ishq Vishq and Footpath.…

This dependable production house believes in concentrating on strong

stories and scripts, coupled with great music, technical finesse, superb

casting and innovative promotions.Be it suspense or action, drama or

romance, all Tips Films add up to a total entertainment experience for

entire family. Their diverse range proves that no Tips Film is like

another!

Apart from their successful foray into music and film production, Tips

has also set up an exhaustive distribution network. In short, Tips Films

is now actively involved in every aspect of the film business.

Today, Tips Films Pvt. Ltd. has become associated with films that have

something significant to say, exemplary music to hear and production

values that are a treat for the eyes.

Kumar S. Taurani and Ramesh S. Taurani is the force behind Tips Films.

They have produced over 15 films over a decade.

Their passion into film making has driven them into the International

genesis/audience. The first English crossover feature film along with

Bharat Bala Production “Hari Om” is a result of the blending of actors,

directors and technicians from both sides of the world to create

massive impact on celluloid.

Bharatbala Productions (BBP) is a film company driven by unique

concepts and ideas to create films that have been impactful for a

larger audience. BBP is known in the Indian Market for high-quality

films that stay true to an International standard.

Founded over a decade ago by Directors Bharatbala and Kanika Myer,

BBP is a house of “boutique” film-making, though constantly growing,

and has over the years, produced 500 TV commercials, several Music

Videos and campaigns of mega India Films and music with a massive

reach to almost a billion Indians through unique media planning.

The films created at BBP are high-quality fare that lies on the fringe of

what is "mainstream" and "commercial." Aritistic and poetic in style,

the company has a distinct feel to all films produced and is sought

after for this sensory and dramatic impact.

Over the years, BBP has produced several award winning Short films

(Vande Mataram, Jan Gan Man, Desk Ka Salaam) and docu-features on

India and some of these have won acclaim in Canne, New York film

festival and several Indian festivals.

BBP will soon release a docu-feature, working title “Elusive Peace”

featuring all the living noble peace prize winners of the World.

BBP is the first company in India to be producing an Imax film on the

Taj Mahal titled “The Heart of India” slated for a worldwide release

mid 2005.

The directors envision bringing subjects and stories of India closer to

people through stylized and innovative creative concepts. The

approach to BBP filming is dynamic, with a stress on great production

values. BBP engages the finest talent from India and worldwide for all

it’s films.

In 2004 BBP has produced it’s first feature film “hari om”, and

directorial debut by Bharatbala, slated for release this fall.

The film “hari om” is the official selection at the Toronto

International Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, Tokyo

International Film Festival and Festival do Rio 2004.


CREDITS

Director: Bharatbala

Producers: Kumar Taurani, Ramesh Taurani, Bharatbala

Executive Producers: Suhil Tyagi, Raju Hingorani

Cast: Hari Om Vijay Raaz, Isa Camille Natta, Benoit Jean Marie Lemour, Hookah Man A K Hangal, Bhagwan Dada Anupam Shyam

Story: Bharatbala Screenplay: Sanjay Lafont, Bharatbala

Director of Photography: Angus Hudson Editor: Kanika Myer Music Composer: Nitin Sawhney

French Casting Director: Sylvie Brochere Art Director: Naveen Shetty

Title: Hari Om Duration: 106 min Sound: Dolby SRD

Format: Super 35mm Aspect: 1:1.85

Languages spoken: English/French/Hindi Subtitles: English

Year of production: 2004

Tel: +91 22 3091 9952

Fax: +91 22 2388 6659

Website: www.hariomfilm.com

Email: [email protected]

Address: Bharatbala Productions

G-9 Satnam Sagar, 20 Peddar Road,

Mumbai 400 026, India

Hari Om By Kirk Honeycutt Bottom line: The film is really a voyage of self-discovery, which is universal. Screened at the Toronto International Film Festival TORONTO -- Like "Monsoon Wedding," "Hari Om" is an Indian film designed for Western audiences. Its view of a particular part of that subcontinent -- the magnificent Rajasthan desert -- is exotic, yet the film penetrates the culture enough so that by the end it feels a bit familiar. Shot in English, French and Hindi, the film makes two of its three main characters Westerners so we see this vastly different culture through their eyes. More importantly, the film is really a voyage of self-discovery, which is universal. Bharatbala, a photographer and commercial director, makes his feature debut with this jaunty and often amusing road movie. He smartly uses a French couple as his conduit into Punjab culture -- an English couple would be the cliche. The third character is Hari Om (Vijay Raaz, the wedding planner in "Monsoon Wedding"), a reckless rickshaw-walla (driver) who gets into trouble when he drinks and gambles. When a French couple banging through Rajasthan on a luxury train ride get separated in Jaipur, Isa (Camille Natta) hires Hari Om to help her catch up with her careless, somewhat arrogant boyfriend Benoit (Jean Marie Lamour). But a funny thing happens on her way to the next town: She gets caught up in the grandeur of ancient India and begins to ponder what is important in her life. And what is not. Her trip with Hari takes in wonders from wild monkeys and ancient forts to a haveli where an old man tells her a sad tale of star-crossed lovers. She gets caught in a rickshaw chase down narrow streets between Hari and a criminal gang after him and learns to appreciate the magic of a culture that totally eludes her lover. The film beautifully evokes the gap between Indian and Western culture even as it tells a touching and timeless tale of three people trying to understand each other a little better.

HARI OM

Release Date: N/A DVD Date: N/A HBS User Ratings

Directed By: Written By: Cast:

Bharat Bala Bharat Bala Jean-Marie Lamour

1 review, 2 ratings

Camille Natta Awesome 87.5%

Vijay Raaz Worth A Look 12.5%

Our Reviewer Says: Average 0%

Pretty Bad 0% "Indian filmmaking gets a sniff of global commercial potential, and uses it." - Chris Parry

Total Crap 0%

THE EFC REVIEW: SCREENED AT THE 2004 VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: I'm not one to generalize (actually, truth be told, I am) but the Indian film industry, as mammoth as it is, has never really understood the concept of cross-cultural appeal. The best films of Bollywood have seldom been accessable outside of India and its immediate surrounds, because of cultural differences that make 'their' films so much different to 'ours'. But the world be shrinking, and it be shrinking every dang day, so the time would inevitably come where these two giant filmmaking worlds would collide, merge and mutually benefit, and with the emergence of Hari Om, perhaps that time is now.

Hari Om (Vijay Raaz) drives a rickshaw. Not the kind that you pull, mind you, but the kind you see all over Asia that look like bizarrely decorated van cabs, without the actual van behind them. These odd vehicles zip around streets packed with cows and bicycles and stray people the way a New York Yellow Cab could never manage, but they also come with a downside - they're very conspicuous, for one. This isn't a good thing if, like Hari Om, you owe money to local gangsters.

Hari zips around town trying to make enough money to keep the knee-breakers at bay before they catch up with him and duly shorten his life, and while doing so he finds Isa (the gorgeous Camille Natta), a French woman looking for a ride. This is a great thing for Hari because tourists pay much better than locals, but it seems that she's on her own odd mission - she was late for her train, and her boyfriend (Jean Marie Lamour), rather than wait for her and miss a business appointment, decided against sticking around. Now she's all alone and desperate to catch up to the train, even though it means hiring Hari out for days on end. He's fine with that, however, as it will get him good money and see him out of town for a while.

And so the two set out on an Indian road trip in a dinky rickshaw - it's essentially The Straight Story set in India, with a little romance thrown in.

What really sets this film apart from any other road movie, however, is what isn't said on screen. Hari Om and Isa get on well, but not so well that you start to think they'll sneak off with each other. There's a definite love/hate thing going on here, and though Hari is a hopeless mess of a guy, Isa brings out something within him that makes him a better man. He wants to be good enough for her, but to have such thoughts would be to set yourself up for a bigt disappointment... she is, after all, pursuing her boyfriend. Her rich, successful, white boyfriend. What hope does a poor Indian rickshaw driver with a contract out on his health have against that?

And that's where this movie steps up into something better. Way up. The scenery is astonishing, the performances superb, the directing amazing (especially for a first time filmmaker), and the story is a combination of meandering Lost in Translation style combined with Bollywood slapstick and action, combined with the sort of slow moving romance that I can only relate to a film like Bridges of Madison County.

You want Hari and Isa to find a way to be together forever, and deep down so do they, and as they struggle with the meaning of it all, encountering characters and places that even locals might not usually see, the point becomes less and less about 'do they hook up' and much more a case of 'what happens next'?

What's interesting is that Hari Om was not created to burst through onto the US market. Indeed, it was made with Indian and French actors, and drifts along using Indian, French and English dialogue, seemingly with a view to showing the European market (moreso than the US market) that India is a place that not only makes a lot of films, but is capable of making a film every bit as poignant and romantic and beautiful and stylish as Lost in Translation.

I loved every second. I want to own it on DVD. This is the future of Indian filmmaking, and that it came from a first timer is probably appropriate. If Indian cinema is to really push into the mainstream across the rest of the world, then it needs a breath of fresh air to break through the old traditions. Director Bharatbala and screenwriter Sanjay Lafont are exactly that.

OFFICIAL SELECTION: 2004 Vancouver Film Festival. For more in the 2004 Vancouver Film Festival series, click here. OFFICIAL SELECTION: 2004 Toronto Film Festival. For more in the 2004 Toronto Film Festival series, click here.

(Awesome)

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