Is Shaitan a revamped version of Kashyap's Paanch?

Is Shaitan a revamped version of Kashyap's Paanch?
Wednesday, June 01, 2011 12:03 IST
By Santa Banta News Network
There seems to be a strong resemblance between Anurag Kashyap's unreleased directorial debut "Paanch" and his forthcoming production venture "Shaitan". And Bejoy Nambiar, who has helmed the latter, says both the films are inspired by real life cases.

While "Paanch" was based on Joshi-Abhyankar case from 1976-1977, "Shaitan", which is releasing June 10, is inspired by Adnan Patrawala.

"The starting point for 'Shaitan' was the Adnan Patrawala case where a 16-year-old was killed in 2007 by his friends for ransom. My co-writer Megha Ramaswamy (who is also writing Shekhar Kapur's 'Paani') wrote the film with me, " said Nambiar.

However, Nambiar admits that "Shaitan", like "Paanch", is about five youngsters who seek and get more adventure in their lives than they had bargained for.

"Paanch" was about five young people's quest for adventure, excitement, money and greed and how they get embroiled in a botched kidnap incident, while "Shaitan" tells the story of five youngsters who are out to have a recklessly adventurous time but get involved in a botched crime.

Interestingly, Nambiar has cast actors who are associated with real-life cinema. For instance, veejay-tuned-actor Neil Bhoopalam, who plays one of the protagonists in "Shaitan", had played the role based on Shayan Munshi in Rajkumar Gupta's "No One Killed Jessica".

"The idea was to bring in actors and a crew that understood the realistic space in cinema, " said Nambiar who also roped in Rajat Barmecha, Rajit Kapoor, Rajeev Khandelwal and Kalki Koechlin for the film.

Kashyap had the same idea when he directed "Paanch", which starred Sharat Saxena, Kay Kay Menon, Aditya Srivastava, Joy Fernandes, and Tejaswani Kolhapure, eight years ago. No wonder in private, Kashyap refers to "Shaitan" as "Aaj ka Paanch".

"It is Anurag Kashyap's revenge on the cruel commercial formula-cinema that prevailed when he made 'Paanch' in 2003. Anurag couldn't release the film because of its strong content and language. It hurts him to this day, " said a source.

"When Bejoy Nambiar came to Anurag to make a film, Anurag immediately remembered his own travails as first-time filmmaker and decided then and there that Nambiar's 'Shaitan' would be the new-age 'Paanch', but with the difference that this time people will get to see the story of five restless edgy people who stray into crime, " added the source.

According to the source, the resemblances between "Paanch" and "Shaitan" are uncanny and certainly not coincidental.

"Every character in 'Shaitan' has a reference-point in 'Paanch'. Kalki plays the part that Tejaswini Kolhapure did in 'Paanch', and so on, " the source added.
Varun Dhawan Unveils First Poster of 'Nain Matakka' Featuring Keerthy Suresh!

Varun Dhawan's upcoming film Baby John is already creating waves in the entertainment world. The latest buzz surrounds the highly anticipated track "Nain Matakka," and the excitement reached new heights when Varun shared the

Friday, November 22, 2024
'Agni' Trailer Unveiled: A Tribute to Firefighters' Bravery and Sacrifice!

The much-anticipated trailer for Agni, directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Rahul Dholakia, was released on Thursday, offering a gripping look into the world of firefighters, their bravery, and the sacrifices they make to protect

Friday, November 22, 2024
Sara Ali Khan Shares Fun BTS Moments from Ad Shoot, Invites Fans to Let Their Spirits Soar!

Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan recently took to Instagram to share a delightful behind-the-scenes (BTS) glimpse from her latest advertisement shoot, revealing her cheerful mood and creative spirit. In a playful and heartwarming post, Sara shared a video

Friday, November 22, 2024
Kartik Aaryan Enjoys Quality Time with 'Sea, Sand, and Sun' at IFFI Goa!

Bollywood heartthrob Kartik Aaryan, who is currently in Goa for the prestigious International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and Filmazaar, took a moment to unwind and connect with nature. The actor shared a series of serene pictures on his Instagram, showcasing

Friday, November 22, 2024
Shehnaaz Gill Starts Shooting for Punjabi Film: A New Journey Begins!

Actress and social media sensation Shehnaaz Gill is all set to embark on a new chapter in her career, as she commences shooting for her upcoming Punjabi film. The actress shared her excitement with her fans on Instagram, marking this milestone

Friday, November 22, 2024
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT