Emily Hamilton and (in the background) Shwetta Keswani and Pravin Dabbas in The Memsahib

The Memsahib is NRI filmmaker Kruti Majmudar’s labour of love. She has not only directed the film, but also written and produced it. It took her not less than five years to put the film together. The film tells the story of a strong-willed woman’s search for her roots in two cultures and through many lifetimes. That gives it a very interesting cross-cultural spectrum. British actress Emily Hamilton plays the lead alongside the Indian cast members Pravin Dabbas, Murli Sharma, Shwetta Keswani and the American actor Glenn Fitzgerald. The crew list is just as fascinating with the likes of art director Nitin Desai, DOP Rajen Kothari, American co-producer Dana Offenbach and executive producer Larry Meistrich.

“The film came about through a lot of hard work over a period of 12 years, actually. Ten years ago, I was working as a fulltime architect in Pittsburgh, PA and also assisting local filmmakers during the production of the award-winning feature The Journey as well as Brady Lewis’ Daddy Cool. From Pittsburgh, I left for New York and enjoyed a growing career in set-cum-production design and also produced several short films. The Memsahib was originally an idea conceived while researching my architecture thesis and during one of my tours to Gujarat. I have devoted myself completely to fulfilling that dream of bringing my vision to the screen since 2001,” informs Kruti Majmudar.

The film is about a British teacher (Emily) and an Indian Raja (Pravin) married in Pre-Colonial India, but torn apart by tragedy until a divorcee (Emily in double role) in 2005 uncovers the truth. It has already got rave reviews in three film festivals in the US — Pittsburgh Three River Festival, Stonybrook Festival in New York and Dances with Films, Los Angeles and recently also well received at the IFFI, Goa.

“It has been very well received which is really exciting for all of us. It’s lovely. However, IFFI is the only festival that I have been able to attend along with the cast. It’s really great because it’s in India rather than a festival somewhere else. Now we are very excited about distribution which is the next step,” says Emily Hamilton who brings to The Memsahib the experience of a veteran television and film actress. She has previously combined work in Indian films with high-profile roles in British television, notably the hit series Nancherrow, the acclaimed independent film He Died with a Felafel in his Hand and period dramas David Copperfield and Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairy Tale.

The Rajkot-born first generation Indian-American director Kruti particularly savoured the opportunity to return to her roots to launch her directorial career. She shot the film entirely in Gujarat. “Yes, in Gondal. The Raja and the Rani there still have their palace. It has beautiful architecture. Kruti was lucky enough to have those palaces as our sets,” informs the bubbly English actress.

Interestingly, Emily also has a unique understanding of India and its myriad cultures, having previously spent time in eastern India. “Just when I finished school I came over to Calcutta and to Delhi to spend time with Indian families. I loved it, had a wonderful time and always wanted to come back. I loved it so much. So when I got The Memsahib, I got really excited because I could finally comeback to India,” she says. In The Memsahib, Emily brings her in-depth understanding to the roles of Grace and Asha, the lead female parts, a fascinating double act which makes the storyline unique. “The crew was just so professional and it works the same way as it functions in England. So it was easy adjusting to everything. As for Kruti, she was an inspirational woman to work with, so strong, focused and just so talented,” she says, showering praises on the entire unit.

Leading man Pravin Dabbas, who has not been seen in any substantial role after Monsoon Wedding, is all set to prove that he is not really a bad actor with this film. TV actress Swetta Keswani, who plays the role of Emily’s sister-in-law, is seen in a totally diverse avataar without the characteristic Hindi cinema bling. She hopes that audiences will appreciate this entirely different performance from her.

(Sampurn)