I'm Gauri Warudi

Born in Karnataka, brought up in Bombay, now in Pune! Am a freelance journalist/script writer/filmmaker...

 

Although I did my PG in Applied Biology, the mass media beckoned and I paid heed!!! ...:) :) 

  

I've been a freelance journalist (google search my name, you'll find some of my articles online...!) and script writer for over 2 decades now....and a filmmaker for the past 6 years....(updated Jan 2012!!)

                        

 I've written for almost all the leading National English magazines and local English dailies in Pune

Was a columnist with the film trade weekly 'SCREEN' when I  wrote exclusively about the Marathi entertainment industry(theatre, films and TV).  

 

 

I've been a Desicritic  too.....writing reviews and related stuff for their media section!! 

                      

 

 Am a relatively keen blogger...and here's some stuff  I've written over the last few years...: Life's Like that!

I've had the opportunity to meet and talk to some of the finest talent and stalwarts in the industry....seen herewith Savita Prabhune and THE Dilip Prabhawalkar!!

  

 

 I dabbled in voice over(English), did stage compering, was a casual announcer(English) with AIR, Mumbai from 1991-1993; that's when we decided to shift base to Pune.

 

Having written for over 75 corporate films, I've also had the opportunity to script some episodes(sub-topics) of the popular science serial “Turning Point” (on DD 1)

 

 I owned an ad-agency too (Pika Associates)in Mumbai, in partnership with a few school friends. It was fine until we got transferred out of Mumbai (hubby used to be in the defence then and I firmly believed in the maxim, "HOME IS WHERE THE NAVY SENDS YOU"!!

 Hosted a website, www.saptarangi.com, an e-magazine, about Marathi culture and entertainment, from April 2000-Nov2001.(It was very well received and visited by Maharashtrians all over the globe.) It went bust with the dotcom debacle!!

In 2000, I did a short course in video cinematography, from Vikshi Instt of Media Studies, Pune.... and this in the true sense set pace to my efforts in realising my dreams to become a filmmaker...

.....so then in 2005, when there was this course in digital filmmaking at Vikshi (again!), I jumped at it and lo....the ball was set rolling! 

 

May 2005---Made a short 11 min documentary film on the Women priests in Pune....titled, "Maitreyi-Through the years"; after which I sincerely hoped I'd be able to make more good docu films and NOT REMAIN A ONE-FILM WONDER!!

Here's a shot from that film--at the Dnyan Prabodhini, Pune

 

June 2006-The year I completed my second documentary film ....on Lavani and tamasha...titled "Silent Ghungroos". Duration 24 mins. Feels good...its Marathi version is "Abol Ghungroo" and the Hindi version is "Khamosh Ghungroo"...

 

(Here in the pic are my crew members...)

 

And here's a still from "Silent Ghungroos"  

 

 More about the film here:

 

Silent Ghungroos-The film

I'm proud to say that "Silent Ghungroos" was very well appreciated by everyone and won the IDPA-Nautanki.tv Online Award in 2007, for the best documentary film. The film was also screened at several National and International Film festivals.

 I must also mention another achievement...a docu film on Snakes in Sahyadris, titled "Just another death" scripted by me (for a friend n filmmaker) was selected for the Wild life film fest "Vatavaran 2005" held in N Delhi in Nov 2005...)....It was also screened at the Kolkatta Environment film fest and apparently at the Pulotsav Fest here in Pune...got to know of it later!! This film is now available commercially!!

 

 Compiled a couple books (study material) not so long back, for a well known B-School in Mumbai. Am still doing work for them....ahh well! I could go on and on....

I have also been a panelist for GDs and PIs in some renowned Media Schools. 

 

March 2007--- "Kab Tak" my first attempt at fiction was finally ready and being submitted to various festivals.

More about  the film here:  Kab Tak- The film 

If you wish to know more about how and why my films were made....here it is:  How my films were born 

 

2008- Was hoping to get cracking on my short fiction film, but uh-uh...budgets not permitting. Now await a messiah!! 

 

Oct 2008: A  chance info about films to be made on environment issues, turned my attention to 2 topics I quite liked and was keen on expressing my views about. Thus were created two films- "Forced Detour...of climate migrants" and "The Home coming-Gawadewadi, an example in reverse migration".

A comprehensive update and my films are available here:

ALL MY FILMS

I have a screenplay for a Marathi film ready. Had initially planned to make a short film, but now,as of now, am planning to make it into a full length film, cos that's where the interest lies...

Aug 2010--Here's what was recently written about me in the local papers-

Dec 2011- A road trip through Rajasthan inspired me to make a travel documentary, titled "Padharo Mhare Des- A road trip through Rajasthan" It is of 14 minutes durationa nd I'm in the process of sending it to various festivals yet again.

And yes....am still waiting, very very optimistic, that my short fiction film will soon see the light of day... a friend has offered to help me produce it...watch this space for more!!!

 

 

Having worked from home all these years, my sons 29 and 23 have had the best(???) of me..:) I hope. We've had some real wild and fun times together.

 

(This pic is like....2 decades ago....)

 

 

And this one's a relatively recent one....spot the difference???

I am now a ma-in-law.  Elder sonny boy got married last year....here's the couple!

  

A memorable trip to Konkan was the highllight of 2006 in my life, besides my film ofcourse,.......a dekko at the details of the trip here:

KONKAN-A ROLLER-COASTAL RIDE!!
 

Another memorable trip to the Far East recently (Nov 2007)....here're my tuppence worth thoughts...:)

 Our Thai-Malay Holiday!

May 2008---a fantastic fortnight in the hills of NE India:

Our North East Indian tryst

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  THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS!!!

In Indian classical music, no one can beat Pt Bhimsen Joshi. He's the ultimate.(I grew up listening to him and Pt Omkarnath Thakur, whom too, I like.) Pt Shivkumar Sharma and Ustad Zakir Husain are next on my fave list.(I've studied Indian classical music for a couple years, enough to appreciate it..:)

Indian (light)music.. my fave singers are Kishoreda, Ashabai and Rafi saab!!!..among the Johnny-come-latelys...its gotta be Sonu Nigam and sigh!!!! Abhijeet Sawant...:)

Western pop...well, my all time fave group is undoubtedly DIRE STRAITS. Besides them I like John Lennon(not Beatles), Rod Stewart, Cat Stevens, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd....among the mush singers, it's Elton John( he makes my heart melt!), Engelburt Humperdinck, and ofcourse Lobo!...err, how could I forget Simon n Garfunkel?

I enjoy Mozart and Beethoven sometimes. Simply adore Claydermann's piano, deeply in love with Kenny G and yes, Zamfir's flute...:)

My fave authors??? No one can touch my heart and soul quite like Pu.La Deshpande, in Marathi!!! Otherwise, its Robin Cook and Henry Denker.

 

 I am a huge fan of Shobhaa De. Admire her guts and attitude.

Fave film maker?? Satyajit Ray , but ofcourse!

Fave actor(one and only) sigh!!! double sigh!!! Amitabh Bachchan.....am waiting for a chance to interview him...:D

Fave food.....just simply my own home cooked 'varan bhat' or then 'rasam-rice'...:))

Dont walk in front of me, I may not follow. Dont walk behind me, I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend!