synopsis

THE WISHING TREE

THE WISHING TREE : A BRIEF SYNOPSIS

THE WISHING TREE (Kalpvriksh) is a magical, inspirational and an extremely entertaining story of five children in a hill-station who come together to save their ‘wishing tree’ (KALPVRIKSH) from being cut by vested interests. The film is extremely lively, entertaining, endearing and engrossing so that the underlying message to protect trees and environment is seamlessly driven home …

Sean, a ‘dyslexic’, is an eleven year old boy. Sean’s constant struggle with reading and speech makes him the ‘butt’ of all jokes and relentless public humiliation at the hands of his superior classmates, within the unforgiving walls of his classroom. And to make matters worse, while at home, Sean must also live through the trauma of separating parents, who are on the verge of an official break-up. Through Sean’s eyes the world lends itself to a strangely stunning visual possibility … and when he picks up the brush, the canvas leaves people amazed at his genius.

Twelve year old Nikita is overweight and headstrong. When her overeating becomes an obsession, not only does her life at school and at home become seriously out of control but her dream of becoming a ‘rock star’ one day, seems next to impossible. Nikita’s life is mysteriously enjoined with four others –

Guriqbal Singh, Nikita and Sean’s classmate and sole heir to the presently crumbling business of “Nanak Paneer (cottage cheese) House”, has a stealing problem, which is about to take dangerous dimensions. In the face of financial insecurities which are more anticipated than real and an even more insecure father, who is gradually turning alcoholic, Guriqbal must ‘collect’ and ‘store away’ what he can to protect the well-being and future of his family. His treasure box lies buried deep in the forest behind the railway tracks.

Ten-year old Fatima Khanam is obsessed with Bollywood, specially, Superstar ‘Shah Rukh Khan’. A ‘star’ in her own right, Fatima is preparing herself for her ‘star-destiny’, which will come to her someday soon. She goes through her day as though an imagined camera is filming her at all times, even while she is brushing her teeth! Fatima manages to skip school smoothly to watch films in the cinema hall, until the season of ‘parent-teacher meetings’ spoils it all and Fatima’s father, Khwaja Sheikh, is alarmed at her shocking performance in school tests and also her disappearing acts from school.

This season also spells doom for Nikita, Sean and Guriqbal, who are getting into deeper trouble and misfortune. In a world swinging between angry parents, punishments, disapproving neighbors, and a stressful school life, their world is fast crumbling and their dreams drifting away in conflict with their reality.

Last but not the least is Dhanua, a witty, street smart, eleven year old who works at the dhaba (local eatery), opposite the school. With his unshaken faith in muscular ‘Hanumaan ji’ (the Indian Monkey God and mythological superhero), he must fight the tests of time against his abusive and tough dhaba owner ‘Shankar dada’. Dhanua would love to go to school and make friends with other children, who seem to have a perfect life, but right now he must earn his meals from day to day and protect himself from being bullied and exploited by other older, stronger boys working at the dhaba, Jaikishen and Kaalia.

Life’s tough. Even so, a miracle awaits Dhanua and the messy lives of Nikita, Sean, Guriqbal and Fatima ...

On the Annual Sports day at school, Nikita wins first prize in the back-to-back race. But when some of the children scoff at her and announce that she has only won by cheating, this is the breaking point for Nikita. The most hurtful day of her life is about to transform into the most magical day of Nikita’s life.

Nikita’s mysterious old friend (who lives in a green house in the forest) tells her the magical tale of ‘Kalpvriksh’ or ‘The Wishing Trees’ that have existed through thousands of years. “They are still around and the only unfortunate reason they have not been discovered in recent times is because no one believes in them anymore, the Wishing Trees are dying”, she tells Nikita.

In the moments that follow, Nikita instinctively runs to her secret place where she always sits when she is sad. She stands before an old twisted tree and speaks to it as if it’s listening. In the days that follow Nikita’s life begins to change drastically. She does not steal food from the kitchen in the nights and through a series of incidents, the children in school not only stop teasing her but look at her with newfound respect and admiration. The humiliation begins to give way to a feeling of self worth and pride.

Nikita has discovered her Wishing Tree and she must share its magic with Sean, Guriqbal, Fatima and Dhanua. According to Nikita’s mystical old friend in the forest, the powers of the Wishing tree grow when more and more people believe in it. But the secret must be shared only with those that genuinely believe in it.

Sean’s speech is clearing up miraculously since his angry meeting with the Wishing Tree. At some point he must gather the confidence to express his love for Nikita.

Fatima is grounded by her father. One day when a newsflash on TV reports that Superstar Shah Rukh Khan is being flown to London for surgery, her fantasy about him begins to crumble. He is real, he can fall ill. At such a moment of crisis, she can only reach out to the Wishing Tree. On the other hand, with sheer faith of the children, the Wishing tree is coming back to life after a thousand years of sleep. It is celebrating life. It is spurting into new leaves and also growing pretty white flowers.

The special thing about the tree is that it is making their wishes come true. It’s magic is working it’s way through the lives of these children, and their lives are changing, fast.

But even as the children spend more and more time with their newfound friend, some rumors of the tree being evil are brewing in the town. ‘Pannalal’, the sly contractor / wood-cutter is responsible for this. The children love their Wishing Tree but the true test of friendship is yet to come.

The Wishing tree is going to be felled and the whole town has gathered to witness this. Five axe-men sharpen their axes and walk towards the tree. The people of the township stand staring dumbfounded, curious to see what is to come. And then something happens … something that no one has ever witnessed before. This will perhaps not be seen for another thousand years…

This is a triumphant story of five kids, with their complex problems, who despite being written off by the world around them, make an extraordinary difference by courageously following their instincts, fiercely guarding and actually saving their Wishing tree against all odds. Disability and difficulty become the stepping stone to become extraordinary.

They make National news and the world must now see them with a difference. The Wishing tree has regained all its powers and come back to life with a bang. Strangely, all the Wishing trees in the world are celebrating…. and as the voice of the tree, underlines “I am just a wishing tree which grants what is asked for. Whereas all the trees of the world give their everything to life on earth without even being asked”. The voice thanks everyone for saving it from being cut, and implores them to ensure that not a tree is cut anywhere, in any part of the world. It also appeals to all kids to make sure that they all plant their own ‘wishing trees’ and see their wishes come true.

Somewhere in another corner of the world, a little African American girl is curiously running her hands through the bark of a very old twisted tree….could this be her Wishing Tree?

After all, science has its limitations ... faith has none !!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FILM

Shri Amitabh Bachchan has lent his voice to the tree.

The film transcends all barriers of regions, dialects and cultures while addressing the most basic requirement of our human race’s survival, a green earth, in the most magical, captivating and entertaining manner whereby children, the real custodians of our planet, the earth, would be naturally drawn to fall in love with trees and mother earth and nature.

Choreographed by Ashley Lobo, the songs of ‘THE WISHING TREE are treated as those in a musical. They not only take the story forward but are integral to the narrative.

The Earth song is a colorful collage of images to tell the story of the Earth’s evolution. As we travel over snow capped mountain peaks to gushing waterfalls and rivers, pupae turn into butterfly and a giant dragonfly flaps its wings across the sky over a dense tropical forest.

Dhanua’s dhaba song is his fantasy on the other side of life, where his abusive and exploitative owner, Shankar dada transforms into a sorrier version of Dhanua in rags and Dhanua becomes the Don (the underworld King) of the dhaba, flashing a white three piece suit and a red shining car. This song is in theatrical genre.

Nikita’s concert song on stage as a rock-star is complete showbiz. It’s the opening song of the film and resembles a Michael Jackson concert in which the fans are fainting with awe and adrenalin is running high.

The celebration of the tree song is vibrant and has the raw energy of nature. It throbs with life. The tree sways from side to side and dances, shivers and gurgles like a baby with the children. The Wishing tree is happy to come back to life after thousands of years with the love and faith of the children.

THE WISHING TREE is a very visual film. All the scenes in the film are color-coded, they fall within a certain scheme of colors according to the mood and inner journey of the characters. For instance Sean’s room is blue, reflecting his state of mind. He misses his father constantly.

The fantasies (the songs) of the children are shot glamorously and are visually starkly different from their reality within the film. For instance Nikita’s concert song is to be shot in an indoor auditorium like space, with the stage decorated with yellow lights (‘Chicago’ feel) and neon sticks, which the children across the stage (the fans) will hold up as the rock-star's performance progresses with great gusto.

THE WISHING TREE is a specially designed 25-foot tree created in fiberglass and rubber, for this film. It is being created in real as well as on computer graphics to render a fantasy feel for children. It will also be very real. The whole concept of an old man like tree, twisted, which can hug and dance almost like a person is endearing & exciting.

THE WISHING TREE is a visual treat for children and adults of all cultures alike.

THE WISHING TREE - CAST:

Shri Amitabh Bachchan has lent his voice to the tree. The principal cast is as follows:

1. Shabana Azmi

2. Saurabh Shukla

3. Makrand Deshpande

4. Rajit Kapoor

5. Vrajesh Hirjee

6. Shernaz Patel

7. Raj Zutshi

8. Navneet Nishan
9. Jaya Bhattacharya
10. Jayati Bhatia
11. Vineet Sharma
12. Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal
13. Manmeet Singh
14. Bobby Darling
15. Amita Nangia
16. Shipra Kasana

The Kids:

1. Harshpreet Kaur

2. Shivani Joshi

3. Mark Shaw

4. Abhas Yadav

5. Aditya Manghani

Duration: 99 minutes

Language: Hindi (With English Sub-titles)

Format: Film (35mm)

Shooting Days: 65 (approx. 100 shifts)

Animation/Graphics: 18 minutes (excluding titles) by ‘Prime Focus’

Songs: 4 (Digital Dolby included)

Locations: Ladakh, Panchgani, Wai Forest (Satara), Mahabaleshwar, Mumbai Film City

MAIN TECHNICIANS

Sandesh Shandilya, the popular music composer had done the Theme Track of "Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham" alongwith the mellifluous “Suraj Hua Maddham” from the same film. He has also given music for films like “Agni Varsha” (2002), “Chameli” (2003), “Road” (2002), “Rules” (2003), “Socha Na Tha” (2004), “Uff Kya Jadoo Mohabbat Hai....!” (2004) & “Rang Rasiya” (2014). He has also composed for the film, “Beatification of Mother Teresa” starring Penelope Cruz. He has also collaborated with Richard Clayderman on his recently released worldwide music album.

Rajeev Jain, Director of Photography, was highly appreciated for his camera work in Badhai Ho Badhai, Pyar Mein Kabhi Kabhi and Army. He was also the Additional DOP / 2nd Unit DOP for such notable films as Rang De Basanti, Chalte Chalte, Gupt and Trimurti. He has also shot several ad-films and short films.

Visual Effects have been executed by Prime Focus & Red Chillies VFX.

Rekha Kalra is the Associate Producer of the film.

“THE WISHING TREE”, which has been produced by Raajaysh Chetwal / Rhombus Films, is a film which passionately weaves Indian mysticism with the complex life of the modern day Indian kids, in search of something magical. It’s a film about faith & hope, which transcends barriers of language, nationality and cultures. It gently nudges people to think about and restore the organic and utterly magical relationship between man and nature.