Mahesh Bhatt presents Rajesh Kumar's play"THE LAST SALUTE" in Mumbai on 20th January 2012 directed by Arvind Gaur, Based on Muntadhr Alzaydi's Book"The last salute to President Bush"starring Imran Zahid at Tejpal Hall,Tejpal Rd, Cumballa Hill, GovaliaTank, Mumbai. For tickets pls call-Viren Basoya-09769694807 or log on
www.bookmyshow.comAbout The Play-"The Last Salute" -One of the defining political acts of time is coming to Mumbai in a Mahesh Bhatt, Promodome Films & Asmita Theatre Group Production Directed by Arvind Gaur,written by Rajesh Kumar starring Imran Zahid.Music By Dr. Sangeeta Gaur.
Actors-Viren Basoya,Malay Garg,Shilpi Marwaha,Rahul Khanna,Shiv Chauhan,Gaurav Mishra,Ishwak Singh,Suraj Singh,Himanshu Maggo,Saurabh Pal,Punkaj Datta,Palak Bhutani,Mannu Chaudhary,Abhisek Pandey,Sachin Sexena,Smita Lal,Rohit Vaid,Tarun Kr,Vartika Tiwari,Amit Dahiya,Anamika Singh,Manoj Yadav,Kakoli Gaur,Mayank Pandey,Saveree Gaur,Pradip Awasthi, Priyanshu,Praveen kr,Asish Sejwal,Rahul Srivastava,Kunal Sharma,Vivek Sharma,Rahul Malohtra,Naman,Tushar vij,Bijya Jha,Devesh kumar,Prabhakar Pandey,Puja tyagi,Nisha Jindal,Hargun, Sarthak,Rinki Negi,Geet Gera,Neetu Narayan,Vimal Shah,Raje
The play explores facts of the gulf crisis and the US intervention which has been questioned by the civilized world time and again. The play is expected to attract the elite audience which is interested in global issues like this one. It explores emotions, talks about world peace and political orders of the day effect the common man. presented by Mahesh Bhatt and promodome films. For More Information Visit
http://thelastsalute.com/Reviews:
Director Arvind Gaur relies on simplicity to deliver his message…music by sangeeta Gaur beautifully woven in the script.this is a play that wakes you up to the reality…the narrative explores the rising anger,,,the play brought forward the importance of role of media in the society…relevant videos of Shoe Throwing Incident transitions between scenes..one of the poignant scenes where 8 reporters recollect the atrocities they witnessed.
-Rohini Kejriwal,Coverage of The Last Salute (Delhi and Kolkata)
The farewell kiss from the Iraqi people -The play has truthfully captured the important part of US atrocities on Iraqi people. The scene of eight-year-old Zahra who was brutally killed by US forces made me cry. Even the scene of the hospital after bombardment where hundreds were shown screaming for help moved my heart. While watching the play i felt that everything was happening again, all the incidents that led up to my doing what i did… performance throughout the play was very sincere…the voice of dissent,oppressed people can stand up, can fight against atrocities… My protest was made because the media, especially the free media of the free world, i mean the western media in particular, reported that the people of Iraq welcomed US forces with flowers… "throwing shoes is better than throwing bombs"...“I am not a Hero; I am a Man in Search of freedom.”
Muntadhar Al Zaidi’s Intv by TOI
The last salute -A play inspired by one of the most jarring moments in world politics.
-NDTV India
IRAQI SHOE THROWER IN DELHI
-Piyali Dasgupta
SHOE-THROWER’S A FOLLOWER OF GANDHI!
About the moment that made him famous, al-Zaidi smiled and said haltingly, “I have been a staunch follower of Gandhiji. Main India ka shukriya karna chahta hun ki mujhe aap logon ne yahaan bulaya aur itna respect diya. I’m happy that my message will now reach more people (through this play). It was a wonderful experience.”
-Delhi Times
Such shoe sha!- A SALUTE FOR LUCKNOW!!
If anything, the play proved to be a testimony that theatre has arrived in Lucknow. And if there’s a good theatre production, audiences will turn up in large numbers. Not surprisingly, the auditorium was filled to capacity…. rousing songs by Faiz interspersed the proceedings…continuous audio-visuals- interesting…
Anjali Chandra
All you need is himmat… Scenes of former US president George W. Bush’s war on terror in Iraq and the suffering of the common man thereof, came alive onstage on Sunday with Mahesh Bhatt’s play, “The Last Salute”…. The song sequences of the play touched a chord with the audience and so did certain scenes which had them break out in applause…. The scenes of US drones bombing Iraqi cities causing widespread death and destruction hit the audience hard and one was heard saying, “I can hardly stop myself from crying. What untold sufferings people have faced for this war.”
Dibyajyoti Chaudhuri
The Times Of India Kolkata
Muntadhar-Al-Zaidi is a hero
Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi, who pioneered a new way of protest by hurling a shoe at US President George Bush, was in the city to watch a play which depicted his life, before and after the incident that changed his life completely.
-Swati Trivedi,NewsX
Al-Zaidi with Pooja Bhatt and Dino Morea gave a standing ovation to the play and hugged Imran Zahid after the completion of the play, saying "Thank You" … moved by people's response to the play.
Parmita Uniyal, Hindustan Times
New Delhi, May 16, 2011
The red Lettered Salute..The play was well received by Chandigarh Audience,…the city will be treated to more such intellectual Delights…
-Jaspreet,TOI Chandigarh
अस्मिता का सैल्यूट है मुन्तजिर को article by विकाश प्रयास बडथ्वाल -
फैज़ अहमद फैज़ की नज़म " हम देखेंगे लाजिम है की हम भी देखेंगे..." इस नज़्म का नाटक में होना ही इस नाटक की गंभीरता को दर्शाता है ! हमेशा की तरह और अरविन्...द जी के हर नाटक की तरह इसमें भी गीतों का अपना ही महत्त्व रहा... डॉ. संगीता का सराहनीय प्रयास! एक इराकी क्रातिकारी की कहानी को हिंदी नाटक में दर्शाना इतना आसान भी नहीं हो सकता जिता... की अरविन्द जी ने बनाया है... राजेश जी के कायल तो हम आंबेडकर और गाँधी से ही हो गए थे !अरविन्द जी ने मुन्तजिर अल जैदी को आज का भगत सिंह कहा तो कोई अतिश्योक्ति नहीं लगी... मैंने भगत सिंह को देखा नहीं सिर्फ सुना है... कल का नाटक देख कर मुझे भी ये अहसास हुआ की क्यूँ भगत सिंह और उनके साथियों ने असेम्बली में बम्ब फेंका और वो भी किसी को नुकसान पहुंचाए बिना ...मुन्तजिर का सलाम भी कुछ इसी तरह का था ....इराक का भगत सिंह .... सही कहा जाये तो ये नाटक अस्मिता का सैल्यूट है मुन्तजिर को जिन्होंने की दुनिया की सबसे बड़ी ताकत कहलाये जाने वाले अमेरिका को जूता मारकर हिला दिया....
सूत्रधार विरेन बसोया हमेशा की तरह असरदार और अपनी आवाज़ से सब को बांधे हुए रहे..इमरान ने "रामकली" के शब्बीर मियां के किरदार से निकलकर शांत मुन्तजिर को क्रन्तिकारी मुन्तजिर तक बखूबी निभाया !महेश भट्ट साहब का नाटक की शुरुआत करना शानदार अनुभव रहा.. उनकी उपस्थिति ने ये भी दर्शाया की ये विषय कोई साधारण नहीं है....!विडियो क्लिपिंग को प्रयोग कर नाटक को और असरदार बनाया गया ताकि हर कोई विषय परिस्थिति को समझ सके....पहली बार ऐसा प्रयोग देखने को मिला.....दर्शको से सवाल जवाब ने तो और भी उत्सुकता भर दी ...और सबसे अहम् मुन्तजिर की उपस्थिति...उनको देखके कोई नहीं कह सकता की ये वही महानायक है जिसने महाशक्ति कहे जाने वाले देश को जूता दे मारा था...शांत और हंसमुख !
About Mahesh Bhatt :
Mahesh Bhatt (born on 20 September 1948), is a prominent Indian film director, producer and screenwriter.
Bhatt's early directional career consisted of acclaimed films, such as Arth, Saaransh, Janam, Naam and Zakhm. He was later the writer of numerous commercial films in a range of film genres, from dramas like Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke and comedies like Duplicate, though he was mostly recognised for thrillers like Inteha, Jism, Murder and Woh Lamhe. Bhatt began his career as an assistant to Hindi director Raj Khosla. At age 21 he made his debut as a director, with the film Sakat (1970),
[2] this was followed by Manzilein Aur Bhi Hainin 1974. His 1979 film, Lahu Ke Do Rang, starring Shabana Azmi and Vinod Khanna, bagged two Filmfare Awards in 1980.
[3] Though his first major hit came with Arth (1982), when he turned to his personal life for inspiration. Later, he made many more films taking insights from his personal life, where he highlighted personal narratives, ranging from illegitimate birth to extramarital affair and created critically acclaimed films such as Janam (1985) and Naam (1986).
A stand-out film from his earlier period is Saaransh (1984), an exploration of an old couple's anxieties in a universe governed by arbitrary violence, and dramatic films like Kaash (1987), which dealt with real-life family situations with a tragic end.
In 1987 he turned producer, when he set up his own banner Vishesh Films, with his brother Mukesh Bhatt. He went on to become one of the most recognised film directors of the Indian film industry in the coming decade, giving both serious films like Daddy (1989), launching his daughter Pooja Bhatt as a film actress, and Swayam (1991); as well as commercial romantic hits like Awaargi (1990), Aashiqui (1990) and Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin (1991), in which he cast his daughter Pooja with actor Aamir Khan. He next directed Sadak (1991) and won critical acclaim for the films Sir (1993), which saw Pooja Bhatt acting along with Naseeruddin Shah and Criminal (1994). In 1994 he won the National Film Award - Special Jury Award for his film,Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993)
In 1995 he moved to television, then a newly opening up medium in India. He made two TV series, the English language "A Mouthful of Sky" written by Ashok Banker and the popular Hindi language serial "Swabhimaan" scripted by writer Shobha De. Following this, he directed drama films like Dastak (1996), the debut film of actress Sushmita Sen, and Tamanna (1997), and tried his hand at comedy with Duplicate in 1998.
His film, Zakhm (1998), was returned to the censor board because of right-wing pressure critical of its references to the Mumbai riots of 1993.
His last film as director was Kartoos (1999). Thereafter, Bhatt retired a director, and took to screenwriting full-time, churning out stories and screenplays for over twenty films, many of which were box-office successes, like Dushman, Raaz, Murder (2004), Gangster (2006) and lastly Woh Lamhe (2006), based on the life of actress Parveen Babi, and on whom he has also scripted the 1982 film Arth
PRODUCER NOTE
We live in a propaganda culture where factual information is routinely censored. This is the basis of our current Truth Emergency- a lack of purity in news. What threatens us most is our ignorance about what is going on in the world around us. The corporate media especially in the news departments,misinform, disinform, and propagandize the public into misguided rages against the wrong enemies.
The Last Salute will bring you face to face with the 'real enemy' of humanity who has been masquerading as an angel of peace . It will hurl you into life an extraordinary brave person who had the audacity to dare the worst tyrant of recent times George W Bush.
About Arvind Gaur
Arvind Gaur is known for his work in innovative, socially and politically relevant theatre. Gaur's plays are contemporary and thought-provoking, connecting intimate personal spheres of existence to larger social political issues. His work deals with communalism , caste issues, feudalism, domestic violence ,crimes of state, Politics of power, violence, injustice, social discrimination social, marginalization, and racism. Arvind is the leader of Asmita, Delhi s "most prolific theatre group", and is also an actor trainer, social activist , street theatre worker and story teller. Gaur was the recipient of a research fellowship awarded by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (India) (1997–98). He was on the guest faculty of Delhi University for Theatre in education program for three years. He has conducted many theatre workshops and performed in various colleges, institutions, universities and schools in India and abroad.
About Promodome Films
Envisioning success is one thing, realizing it is another. Over the last ten years, Promodome Communications has been scaling new heights and setting new bench marks in creative excellence. Promodome films is yet another big leap in to the future, with a dream of making meaningful, entertaining and touching films. Our first production – ‘Jugaad’ starring Manoj Bajpai & Hrishita Bhatt, Vijay Raaz, Sanjay Mishra, Govind Namdeo and others, was released worldwide to critical acclaim. There’s another film titled Naughty@Forty, starring Govinda, Aysha Takia, Anupam Kher and other being directed by Jag Mohan Mundra. 60 percent of this film has already been shot in London, and the next schedule is set to start soon in Haridwar in 2010. Apart from these, there are four other big budget films in the scripting phase. Promodome films are all set ti initiate a journey of prowess and cinematic brilliance.
ABOUT ASMITA THEATRE GROUP
ASMITA, one of the leading Hindi theatre groups in the country stands committed to aesthetically innovative and socially relevant theatre. Since its inception in 1993, ASMITA has carved a niche for itself in the Indian theatre scene by staging plays of varied socio-political interest while not losing out mass appeal. The group takes up contemporary issues to underline the contours of our time while providing the best of entertainment.
SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES:
The group has 62 productions to its credit and on an average has been performing for about 60 nights a year. All these plays have been directed by ASMITA's Resident Director Arvind Gaur. For ASMITA, theatre has a purpose of awakening the audience to contemporary issues and creating a dialogue on prevailing social problems. Asmita Theatre group is also involved in street Theatre Movement. Group has performed dozens of street plays on different Socio-political issues.
THEATRE FESTIVALS & COLLABORATIONS:
ASMITA has performed in all major theatre festivals of India and abroad including International Solo Theatre Festival- Armenia, International Theatre Festival, Nizhnevartovsk-Russia, International Theatre festival- France, National School of Drama Festival (Bharat Rang Mahotsava), Sangeet Natak Akademi, Sahitya Kala Parishad, Darpana Academy of Performing Art’s festival (Ahmedabad), Delhi International Arts Festival 2007, Nandikar National festival, Vivachana Theatre Festival, Old World Theatre Festival, Times Festival, Muktibodh Natya Samaroh, World Social Forum and Nehru Centre Festival- Mumbai.ASMITA has also staged various plays in collaboration with organizations like Abhinay Theatre-Sydney, Theatre World, UNODC, British Council -Chennai, IHC, Katha, Association of British Scholars-Delhi, Paridhi, 2nd Foundation, Lakshya(KNC), Bahroop, Banjara Theatre-IIT Kharagpur, India International Centre, Rainbow Cavaliers, M.Dot Band -Jaipur, Vivechana -Jabalpur, Zenith, Prithvi Theatre Festival (platform theatre IHC, 2004) and NGO's like Mobile Creches, Action-Aid, Haq, PCVC, Deepalaya, Heinrich Boll Foundation, Times Foundation, Aalo-a ray of hope, Asian Social Forum, Centre of Civil Society (Jeevika festival)Youth reach and World Social Forum.
THEATRE WORKSHOPS:
In the past 15 years, Asmita has conducted many theatre workshops and performed in various Universities, Colleges,Schools and Institutions in India such as Jawaharlal Nehru University,IIT-Delhi, AIIMS,School of Planning and Architecture, Gargi , Hindu, Lady Sri Ram, Kamla Nehru, Aditi, Kirori Mal, SSN, Deshbundu and IP colleges, Mother International, DPS, Sahyadri School, J.Krishnamurti Foundation and India Habitat Centre, IILM, Lok Kala Manch etc.
MAJOR PRODUCTIONS:
Group’s major production’s are Bhisma Sahani’s-Hanoosh, Girish Karnad's-Tuglaq and Rakt Kalyan, Dharamveer Bharti's- Andha Yug, Swadesh Deepak's-Court Martial(450 shows), G P Deshpande's-Antim Divas, Albert Camu's-Caligula, Mahesh Dattani's- Final Solutions,Tara & 30 Days in September, Eugene O’Neill 's- Desire Under the Elms, Dario Fo's-An Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Dr.Narenda Mohan's- Kalandar, Bertolt Brecht's-Good Woman of Setzuan and Caucasian Chalk Circle, Samuel Beckett's-Waiting For Godot, John Octanasek's- Romeo Juliet and the Darkness, Neil Simon's-The good Doctor, Vijay Tendulkar's-Ghasiram Kotwal, Mote Ram ka Satyagrah based on Munshi Premchand's story and adaptation by Habib Tanveer and Safdar Hashmi , Ashok Lal's- Ek Mamooli Aadmi, Rajesh Kumar's- Me Gandhi Bolto, Vijay Mishra's-Tatt Niranjana, Doodnath Singh's- Yama Gatha, Uday Prakash's-Warren Hastings ka Saand, Shourya Nidhi 's- Kunti-Putra Karan (Sydney) & Harsh Mandar’s Unsuni that has been scripted by Mallika Sarabhai.
SOLO PERFORMANCES:
Director Arvind Gaur has collaborated with various Theatre artists and Groups specially in exploring a new language for Solo performances which includes Dario fo's Story of the Tiger by Jaimini Kumar Srivastava, Women in Black by Bubbles Sabharwal, Madhavi & Hidden Fires by Rashi Bunny, Untitled & Bitter Chocolate by Lushin Dubey, Gandhari by Aishveryaa Nidhi, 4.84 Psychosis & A woman alone by Ruth Sheard.
Imran Zahid
Imran Zahid is a theatre person and upcoming Bollywood actor, owns a media school in Delhi and has been extremely close to Mahesh Bhatt’s circle for many years. Zahid plays slain JNU student leader Chandrashekhar Prasad in the in Mahesh Bhatt next much talked about movie "CHANDU"
Muntazer Al Zaidi
Muntadhar al-Zaidi is an Iraqi broadcast journalist who served as a correspondent for Iraqi-owned, Egyptian-based Al-Bagh. As of February 2011, al-Zaidi works with a Lebanese TV channel. On November 16, 2007, al-Zaidi was kidnapped by unknown assailants in Baghdad. He was also previously twice arrested by the United States armed forces. On December 14, 2008, al-Zaidi shouted "This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog" and threw his shoes at then-U.S. president George W. Bush during a Baghdad press conference. Al-Zaidi suffered injuries as he was taken into custody and some sources said he was tortured during his initial detention. There were calls throughout the Middle East to place the shoes in an Iraqi museum,[4] but the shoes were later destroyed by American and Iraqi security forces. Al-Zaidi's shoeing inspired many similar incidents of political protest around the world.
Following the incident, Al-Zaidi was "embraced around the Arab world and was represented by the head of the Iraqi Bar Association at trial.On February 20, 2009, al-Zaidi received a 90-minute trial by the Central Criminal Court of Iraq.[On March 12, 2009, he was sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting a foreign head of state during an official visit. On April 7 the sentence was reduced to one year from three years. He was released on 15 September 2009 for good behavior, after serving nine months of the sentence. After his release, Al-Zaidi was treated for injuries and later said he planned to "build orphanages, a children's hospital, and medical and orthopedic centers offering free treatment and manned by Iraqi doctors and medical staff.
