Freeze Frame

by Anupama Chopra

Freeze Frame is a book of conversations with film people, actors, directors, writers, producers. These interviews, conducted between 2007 and 2011, by author and film critic, Anupama Chopra, capture a place and a time. They offer an insight into the magic and madness of making movies; the heartache and malice of the business; the craft, creativity and inevitable compromises of cinema.

"I never thought about why people love me so much. I won’t think about why people hate me now." Shah Rukh Khan

"Not every Bollywood film is perfect and some people say, ‘Oh, it is so ridiculous.’ I say, yes, like Shakespeare is ridiculous. Like human beings are ridiculous. Ridiculous not meaning idiotic. Ridiculous meaning, not necessarily a reflection of realism." Baz Luhrmann

Anupama Chopra is an award-winning author and film critic. She has hosted popular review shows on television and written extensively about cinema. Her articles have been published in India Today, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Variety, Sight & Sound and Vogue India. Her first book, Sholay: The Making of a Classic won the 2001 National Award for Best Book on Cinema. She has also authored Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (The Brave-hearted Will Take The Bride) (2002) published by the British Film Institute as part of their Modern Classics Series; King of Bollywood: Shah Rukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema, and First Day First Show: Writings from the Bollywood Trenches, a compilation of her articles on Hindi cinema over two decades. She lives and works in Mumbai.

Key Features:

Based on ‘Picture This’, an NDTV film-based programme Interviews by well-known film journalist and author, Anupama Chopra, Amitabh Bacchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Anurag Kashyap, Aamir Khan, Farhan Khan, amongst others, speak of their vision and experience of cinema. Interviews of internationally renowned cinema personalities like Tom Hanks, Werner Herzog, Luc Besson, Baz Luhrmann, as well Worldwide readership/market Cinema buffs, directors, actors, film historians, artists, teachers and students of film studies, special-edition collectors, libraries, museums, cultural and educational institutions, general-trade readers.

358 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 2013

Reviews

[Shahine Ardeshir · Rating 1 out of 5]

The trouble I have with this book is quite simply this: There is a difference between the interview taken for print and the one done for a camera and then scribed. The second one just isn’t as good.

The whole time I read this book, it felt like it wasn’t quite the right fit. Kind of like wearing a pair of socks in your boots that are a tad too thick – you never quite forget that your feet are a little too snug.

While I enjoy Anupama Chopra’s reviews and interviews, this book seemed a little like a cop-out, an easy short cut that didn’t quite work. Despite some very interesting personalities and often good questions, I never quite got a sense of the person’s real persona, much less their soul. Rather than it being a collection of stories, it ended up being a collection of facts. Rather than conversations, it just turned into questions and answers.

In sharp contrast, Chopra’s other book of interviews, First Day First Show, a collection of her print work, was deeper, more impactful and far more memorable. I would recommend that read over this one any day of the week.

[Vishal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anupama Chopra is a respected film critic who never fails to hit the bull's eye in her appreciation of films and analysis of cinema, the Hindi film industry, releases, and festivals. The best thing about Anupama is that she doesn't shoot in the dark like many critics do since she comes with a baggage and background of 'Lights! Camera! Action! I always believe that to be an honest critic of cinema, you must have a deep understanding of what goes behind the scene, be it cinematography, script, screenplay, and shots taken of actors.

The interviews conducted as part of Anupama Chopra's 'Picture This' show at NDTV where she spoke at length to Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan & Kiran Rao, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Farah Khan, Resul Pookutty and Shabana Azmi. Some of the interviews are insightful, candid and closely guarded at the same time but what flows is an insight in the business of film-making and acting. Mr. Bachchan spoke of his dream role Gabbar Singh which he always wanted to do and how we went along with RGV ki Aag. More power to him on following his heart, irrespective of the film being a washout and how his second inning gave him a certain amount of cinematic liberty to take risks as well as the fact how he follows the director's instruction like a keen student. I love Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao interview where they shared on the making of Dhobi Ghat and how the latter never wanted

I love Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao interview who shared on the making of Dhobi Ghat and how the latter never wanted Mr. Perfectionist in the movie. Kiran Rao is insightful and comes out lively during the interview while Aamir confesses how he didn't believe in the movie. I feel it's quite tough for a husband and wife to collaborate on the project and it's tricky to draw the lines at home, behaving like husband and wife.

The best part of the interviews is when someone like Baz Luhrmann speaks on critics of Hindi cinema which many describes as ludicrous. The Hollywood filmmaker is honest in his take, "Not every Bollywood film is perfect and some people say, 'Oh, it's so ridiculous. I say, yes, like Shakespeare is ridiculous. Like human beings are ridiculous. Ridiculous are not meaning idiotic. Ridiculous meaning, not necessary a reflection of idealism."

Full review on:

https://vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com/2...

[Gowtham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Insight into the Real World of Reel World