On the auspicious day of Durga Puja, noted author turned filmmaker Ram Kamal Mukherjee bagged the prestigious Midday Showbiz Icon Award as Best Director for his short film Cakewalk, which also marks the comeback of Hema Malini and Dharmendra’s daughter Esha Deol. Incidentally, Ram Kamal’s son Rian Mukherjee received the award from Lalit (of Jatin Lalit fame) and Mr Sandeep Khosla, CEO Midday at a grand ceremony last night in Mumbai. Rian was accompanied by his mother Sarbani Mukherjee, who is the associate producer of the film.
“I am busy shooting for my next Hindi film (yet to be announced) in Mumbai and unfortunately I couldn’t make it personally to recieve the award. But I think this will always remain extra special for me because Rian received it on my behalf. That’s definitely a moment of pride for a father,” says Ram Kamal Mukherjee, who is gearing up for the release of his second Hindi film Season’s Greetings in November. “Rian was very excited to receive the award on behalf of his Baba. He refused to take his glares off, and happily posed with dignitaries on stage. After the award show, he was holding the trophy and didn’t leave it for a second. He wanted to give it to his Baba personally, but he was so tried that he went off to sleep,” says his mother Sarbani Mukherjee.
Ram Kamal made his debut as filmmaker with Cakewalk, which has been produced by Aritra Das, Shailendra Kumar and Dinesh Gupta. The film revolves around bakery chef Shilpa Sen and her turbulent relationship with her husband. Its a story of triumph. The film was acquired by Viacom18 and became India’s first short film to have a satellite television premiere globally. Cakewalk was co directed by Abhra Chakraborty, who has apparently joined hands with Ram Kamal once again for his Bengali magnum opus Binodini Dasi. Abhra will be penning the screenplay for this biopic.
Cakewalk won accolades at 17 international and national film festivals, and won many coveted awards for it’s narrative. “I am thankful to Lalit Pandit ji, jury members from Midday, Mr Khosla for this honour. I guess it’s a full circle now, as I worked with Midday Hitlist editorial team in the past as a journalist and now getting this Best Director Award from the same organisation is truly encouraging,” says Ram Kamal.
Ram Kamal completed his Bengali digital film Rickshawala with Avinash Dwivedi, he also directed Rohit Bose Roy and Ritabhari Chakraborty in his Hindi short Broken Frame. He is currently working on Shubho Bijoya which brings off screen couple Gurmeet and Debina back after 11 years since their epic serial Ramayan.
Winner of many coveted awards in India and abroad, Ram Kamal feels that it is a team effort and gives entire credit to Assorted Motion Pictures and SS1 Entertainment for making it possible. “I think this award belongs to Esha, Abhra, Aritra, Shailendra and Sarbani. I am nothing without my team,” he signs off.
Mid-day is a 40 year old English publication established in 1979, and now a part of Jagran Publication. It’s considered as India’s leading tabloid with more than 2 lacs circulation.
