Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur is set to revisit the themes of family and identity in his upcoming film ‘Masoom: The Next Generation,’ with Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman joining as co-producer.
Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur is preparing to return to one of his most acclaimed narratives with the upcoming film ‘Masoom: The Next Generation.’ This project, however, is not a mere nostalgia-driven sequel but rather an exploration of contemporary issues related to migration, fractured families, identity, and the quest for belonging in an ever-evolving world. The film is set to feature renowned actors Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Manoj Bajpayee, and Nithya Menen.
A.R. Rahman’s Involvement
In a significant development, A.R. Rahman, the Oscar-winning composer known for his work on films such as ‘Roja,’ ‘Lagaan,’ and ‘Slumdog Millionaire,’ has come on board not only to compose the film’s music but also to co-produce it. According to a report by Variety India, Kapur shared that Rahman’s involvement was serendipitous. After hearing the script, Rahman expressed a desire to co-produce, to which Kapur agreed. “I am going to shoot it this year. I have cast it, I have written it,” Kapur stated. “We have already recorded one song, and we are on to the second.”
The Role of Music in Kapur’s Storytelling
Kapur emphasized the essential role that music plays in his storytelling. He noted that his passion for filmmaking is deeply tied to his love for music, stating, “I love music. I think one of the reasons I love making films is because I love not just songs but also the background score.” This affinity for music has been a hallmark of his previous works and is expected to be a central theme in ‘Masoom: The Next Generation.’
A Continuation of Themes
The original ‘Masoom,’ released in the 1980s, is celebrated as one of Indian cinema’s most cherished family dramas. Adapted from Erich Segal’s novel ‘Man, Woman and Child,’ the initial film depicted how a family’s dynamics shift when a man introduces his illegitimate son into their lives. With its poignant storytelling and memorable songs, such as “Tujhse Naraz Nahi Zindagi,” the film has left an indelible mark on Indian cinema. For the sequel, Kapur aims to reunite Shah and Azmi while introducing new characters played by Bajpayee and Menen.
Importantly, Kapur clarified that ‘Masoom: The Next Generation’ is not a conventional sequel; instead, it extends the emotional themes from the original, which remain relevant today. “My next film is the sequel to, more or less, what I call a sequel to ‘Masoom.’ But for every film, I have to find my source,” he noted.
Migration and Family Dynamics
Kapur’s inspiration for the new film draws heavily from the realities of migration and its impact on Indian families. He reflected on the vast demographic shifts in India, stating, “Ninety percent of India has moved; we are largely immigrants in one way or another. My parents are migrants. They were uprooted during the Partition.” He likened this emotional displacement to the experience of turtles carrying their homes, saying, “Some went from a rural landscape to an urban setup. Some from urban cities went overseas. Then we crawl into our shell and make it a home.”
This exploration of ‘home’ is a central theme in the film, as Kapur examines the emotional conflicts that arise when families become disconnected over issues of property, inheritance, and identity. “When does your home become home? And when does your house become a property and when does that property turn into real estate? It is a story of home and what it means,” he articulated. He also drew parallels with classic films like ‘Deewar,’ suggesting that themes of uprooted lives often yield the most compelling emotional narratives.
Rediscovering Innocence
While the revival of a beloved classic comes with its own set of pressures, Kapur acknowledged the challenge of reconnecting with the innocence he possessed while making the original film. He expressed that his primary struggle is to approach the story with a sense of naivety, stating, “It is the same cast and it is the same me, but my struggle in writing is how do I become naive again?”
Kapur concluded by highlighting the importance of his relationships with actors in shaping his storytelling. “I think the ability I have is to be able to love actors. I think it is my love for my actors that creates my films,” he expressed, emphasizing the emotional connections that drive his narratives. With ‘Masoom: The Next Generation,’ Shekhar Kapur seeks not to recreate a classic but to revisit enduring questions about family, roots, and emotional belonging.
