Zinemaya Blog

Of Franco-Indian origin, Manu Rewal was born in Delhi in 1966 where he grew up. He studied cinema in Paris (Sorbonne) between 1985 and 1990 and in New York (NYU) in 1992. He also studied acting in Actor studio member, Blanche Salant’s atelier, in Paris (1985 to 1990).
He returned to Delhi, created a film production company, Duniya Vision and made thirteen films on architecture between 1992 and 2002. Seven were selected in international film festivals and three: Mandu, Lutyens’ New Delhi and Le Corbusier in India received international awards.

In 2002, he made Hollywood ki Pukar, a 12 minute satire in “Hinglish” (English + Hindi) which was premiered in the Director’s fortnight section, in Cannes. It was one of the first films in India which used low budget digital technology.
In 2005, he made his first feature, Chai Pani etc. another satire in “Hinglish” but had to struggle for 7 months with Indian censors before it was given a “U” (Universal) certificate. Chai Pani etc was selected in various festivals, including the Montreal World film festival and won the Special Jury Award at the Independent International film festival in Brussels in November 2007.

Set in bureaucratic Lutyens’ Delhi and ancient exotic Jaisalmer, Chai Pani etc. is a bittersweet coming of age story, of earnest US returned filmmaker, Satya. While subtle intense newbie, Zafar Karachiwala, as the idealistic Satya, struggles against official sloth, hypocrisy, corruption, and censorship, Konkona Sen ( National Award – Best Actress) brilliantly plays (double role) the two modern women who battle for his heart: the fun loving, ambitious fashion designer Radha and the elegant, sensitive Shanti, who works in a charity. Adding to the chaos, is hilarious Sinia Duggal as Satya’s pushy aunt, who tries to trap him into a traditional marriage and hysterically funny Gaurav Kapur, as Satya’s cynical friend, who lives by the perverted rules of networks of power and patronage.

The director says that he wanted to tell this story about the loss of innocence, about the conflict between integrity and corruption, in a light and entertaining tone. So he used humor and irony in particular, to reveal the dilemmas and contradictions of characters struggling in a complex world.

REVIEWS FOR CHAI PANI ETC

“An entertaining comedy, it pulls its punches at
contemporary Indian life with truth and Irony”
Subhash K. Jha – Financial World

Don’t just watch it, feel it and understand it.
Hari Govind Nair – The Statesman

“A Light hearted comment on the system”
Meenakshi Kumar – Hindustan Times

“Chai Pani etc does not offer any easy solutions”
Priyanka Gill – Tehelka

A French regular viewer reviews Chai Pani etc as follows:
“A film full of humour, which reminded us a lot of the India we discovered more than ten years ago. Loved the restaurant scene – this happened to us practically every place we went to during our visit of Rajasthan. Great performances by Zafar Karachiwala and Konkona Sen Sharma. You are left to ponder whether standing up for what you think is right will actually prevent you from moving forwards in life. The film has a very autobiographical feel to it. Apparently there are three methods of attaining your means : 1) Wading through the bureaucratic labyrinth 2) Bribing your way to the top of the list 3) Relying on the influence from someone who lies above your correspondent’s pay-grade.”

Watch the movie HERE.