Here’s a question to readers of this weblog.
Would any of you be interested in seeing a sequel of sorts to the story of Agastya “August” Sen?
Upamanyu and I have been toying with the idea of adapting his novel Mammaries of the Welfare State which follows August in his new journey. I just loved the humor in this book. Of the “rare” and “raw” kind rarely seen on film.
If we get a positive response (and of course some cash 
then you could see another movie.
Related posts:
a sequel to english august? hell yes!!, im throwing my hat into the ring as an assistant allready….are u looking for AD’s? if so how do we get in touch with you?
nSo Neilesh is the first one in with his response! You’re up for the AD job, Neilesh. Now task number 1 is to get more of a ground support for this project!
dev
is a script in the works or is it allready written? Mr Benegal id be happy to assist you in any future projects (dude id even assist you in shooting a wedding video if need be), split wide open was great and english august kicked arse, rahul Bose is a demi god of the arts and we all know that, to be part of anything even resembling these elements is a dream come true. But ive got to ask, how does one become an AD on one of your films? id love to discuss this with you, i filled out my email address whilst submitting my reply here, if you could email me that’d be pure Gold!,
your Ad in waiting
Neilesh
Yayy!! English August II .. make it
!! I can provide support by going and watching it 
.. but seriously.. English, August was such a masterpiece!! I would love to see a sequel..
Hey dev, any updates on English August DVD?? eagerly waiting for it to come out..
Hello Mr. Benegal, english august 2? definitely for it
By the way i am a screenwriter and I though English August was one helluva kickass film… and Split wide open rocked! Is it possible for us to work together in the future???
Hello Mr.Benegal,
I’ve got to admit that I’m a huge fan of your work. “English August “, is one of the best movies I’ve see.
I’m definitely looking forward to seeing your next work, but I’m not sure if I would like the new movie to be called “English August II”. Sequels for some reason get the viewers started on a wrong footing, mere mortals go to sequels with the first one in mind but come out dissapointed. I’m sure the title “EnglishAugust II” is not doing justice to you and your creative team.
Looking forward to your new movie.
cheers,
mayur
“And I wonder, still I wonder, who’ll stop the rain…..”
Yes! But it is always a challenge the make the sequel at least as good as the first one!
WHen will the DVD be out? In the meantime, is there a way to watch English AUgust??
I want to watch it NOW.
The title of the film will be Mammaries of the Welfare State and certainly not English, August 2 !! It’s really not quite a sequel as we know sequels but more a contunuation of the story of Agastya Sen and where he is at a later stage in his life.
Hello Mr. Benegal,
I’m glad to hear that it won’t be called ‘English August 2’ as sequels tend to let you down more often than not because of the preconceived notion that most people go in with.
I really enjoyed ‘English August’, and am definitely looking forward to your new work.
cheers,
mayur
English August II - Ogu ! Is making us wait too long. I think you must make it, i don’t think CASH will be a prob for you if you start it. I stay in Vrindavan (U.P.) and will be more than happy to help you but i don’t know how, may be you want to shoot here for some part of that movie. Plz if possible do come over and have a look around it’ll be great to have you here for the work. Do think about it, waiting for your words to come this way at least….
Suvarna…....
I would like to get in touch with Dev Benegal to see if my profile would suit the character of Srinivasa Ramanujan for his forthcoming movie on Ramanujan. I live in Canada and am originally from Karnataka, India. I would appreciate an email id for Mr. Benegal
English August II….I’ll give you 2.50 towards it. Please do go and make the movie and any others you have on your slate. You are such an EXCELLENT director and the world is currently bereft of your films. I think particularly that you should do more do more foreign collaborations. The UK needs you.
English August sequel would be great. Mr Benegal, when are the auditions? I am an actor. Where can one send his portfolio? A response will be highly appreciated, sir.
i am the regular audience of commercial hindi cinema i really tell u that i have not heard about you. Do you require any ideas regarding a good commercial film i will be hear call me i think iam a library
http://www.guru_f_i@yahoo.co.in
hi,
I was wondering if you could help me.
I did not know how else to contact you but through this blog.
I’m a student of media studies at CIEFL (Central Insitute of English and Foreign Languages), Hyderabad. I’m working on a paper for a course, “Media adaptations of literature”. Here I need to come up with a theory of literary adaptations and the problems a script writer faces when he adapts a novel for a film. I have not watched English, August as I have not been able to get the DVD. But I’ve read the book (so many times !).....If you have the time, and the patience..could you please answer these few questions ? I’ll be very greatful..
a. What was the most difficult thing for you while working on English, August ?
b. Considering it is impossible to include everything in the film, on what basis did you decide to choose some events while leave out some ?
c. Did you change the dialogues of the characters, or did you change anything in the book to suit your medium ?
thanks a lot !
Its ok if you don’t have the time, i’m just trying my luck
regards,
Antara
hello there dunno if this post is gonna work but.
Great that your doing a weblog.
.’Mammeries…’ will be a great project as the book was good, as were your two other films.
Both were lights in a mostly murky tunnel of indian cinema.
‘split…’ a milestone.
If only other directors had the balls do stuff with integraty.(and shit, without songs…)
cheers jake
i just started reading Mammaries of the Welfare State. Finished about a third. it’s hilarious so far. I would love to see the movie!
It’s a great idea. I think the movie will do fine because there are probably more people now (as compared to when English August came out) who enjoy this type of humour.
hey..dev..i havent seen english august but i have read the book. some months back, the movie was screened at IHC but i couldnt reach there. i think its one of the most amazing books i have ever read. i’ve recently saw “split wide open” and loved it. i have been following upamanyu’s work constantly. i m currently reading weight loss. i think it would be great if u can pull of something like english august – II. i would be glad if i could help u in any manner. i m an out-and-out movie buff. i can do anything for a movie like this from holding a light to making a tea or coffee.
Mr. Benegal plz reply, so many of us waititng for a word from you !
Suvarna Goswmi (Mr.)
Wow, I just now stumbled upon your blog, Dev, and feel embarassed about being so behind the curve. I would love to see another movie come out of a collaboration between Upamanyu Chatterjee and you. I enjoyed English August immensely; I watched it as a student of media at Sophia College in Mumbai during the International Film Festival in Mumbai. I hadn’t read the book yet and then did but could not quite picture Agastya as described in the book. Rahul Bose made such an impression as August.
As far as garnering support, I would love to help in anyway I can. I raise funds for a non-profit making drugs for tuberculosis and am based in New York. This would be an initiative that I enthusiastically support.
Best of luck in your endeavor. I am very eager to help. By the way, is there a way that I can buy a copy of English August? I have looked everywhere.
I will give anythin to watch Rahul Bose act out d Delightful Aghstya againand again… Meanwhile—i dont know if i m a film maker material—but i love films—nd films of ur kind—and hollywood films wit gr8 stories and mastery over emotions—makes me feel =-why dont i give it ashot—for there are afew stories dat i wanna say 2—
i dont how 2 go abt entering this field—may b ppl become Assistant Directors fo start—so i m up for it—if Mr Dev Benegal, kindly allows anovice 2 learn—nd work under him.. plz plz take me as ur assistant director—or assistant anythin—2 b in atleast in d film crew—so dat i can atleast understand d process of film making—
Its Arnav here—an Engg student.. nd i guess Engg dont maKE BAD film people—look at Nagesh Kukunoor.
Arnav – arry_2k1@yahoo.co.in
Antara: I hope the article answers some of your questions.
Arnav: Try visiting http://www.24×7MakingMovies.com if you are keen on making your own film.
Asmita: Yes… the DVD! I have one in hand but the NTSC version eludes us.
Hi Dev,
I have heard a lot about English, August and Split Wide Open. Unfortunately, I have’nt been able to see any of these. Could you let me know about the availabilty of DVD or VCD of the above movies. I shall be thankful to you.
I might be one of the few people on the face of this earth who has read English August more than 17 times. I picked this book for the first time way back in 1999 and it pushed me into reading more Indian authors. In the last eight years, I have read the book at different stages of my life and every time it has come back with something new to speak of. There have been times when Agastya Sen’s predicaments have helped me explore and discover my own self as an objective viewer. I know my liking for the book and the characters are highly subjective, however, am sure there has to be a strong relationship if even right now I want to pick the book up and go to some parts of it.
Unfortunately I never got to watch the film. I have tried looking for it in practically every place anyone suggested me. I hope you can guide me find a copy.
I know that was kind of selfish, but
I read the Mammaries of the Welfare State as well. Where the book was definitely well written, it requires the reader to get matured as well with the character. So while you are looking to make the movie, you might want to consider the fact.
I do not know what is stopping you to go ahead and get the baby on the production floor. I do not mind pitching in to help you catalyze the process. (That is presuming you have not actually started making it). In fact, you have my e-mail id… lets take it ahead.
hi… where can i but english august and split wide open? id love to see these movies
And by the way, when can v have that DVD that u r displaying on tropic film’s website will be available in stores?
Hi Dev,
I enjoyed reading every bit of English August! I’d love to watch the movie but I hav’nt been able to get hold of the DVD. I’m reading mammaries of the welfare state-and like the first book – its awesome so far!Its great to know u r planning to make mammaries of the welfare state too.Gosh I’d love to watch both the movies. Btw is it easy to get a DVD of split wide open? I don’t know how I could help – other than bringing a jing-bang crowd to watch the masterpiece….
Hey Dev – I refused to watch EA when it released on screen as I was a EA book fanatic and refused to believe that it could be converted to a film. Since then several people assured me that i was wrong, and the film was a good adaptation. But now I am just not able to get the film – no store has a video availabale
How can I see EA now? Do help.
I’ve read that book and found nothing interesting in it.