Have you noticed certain sounds are constantly present and become a part of your life? The ticking clock, a dripping water tap, humming AC, the buzzing radio. White noise is a combination of different sound frequencies.
But how is this cacophony of sounds connected to the latest 35mm non-mainstream film, White Noise that scheduled to release on December 3?
"When two people speak at the same equilibrium, it's called 'white noise.' The protagonists of my film strive to be heard amidst the madness of sounds that surround them," explains first-time film director Vinta Nanda.
Nanda, who directed the popular television serial Tara, decided to make a feature film on a subject she knows too well: The heady, cutthroat world of production houses, which relentlessly churn out never-ending soaps.
Although the film has nothing to do with Don DeLillo's novel also called White Noise, the film -- like the novel -- promises to offer urbane audiences a slice of their everyday life.
It focuses on Karan (Rahul Bose), a newly arrived film editor in Mumbai, and his chance encounter with Gauri (Koel Purie), whose beauty and complexities intrigue him. Gauri seeks refuge in work and drink, suffering from depression after ending a long relationship with her former boss, Pawan (Aryan Vaid), who is now married. Headhunter Malhotra (Jatin Siyal) hires Gauri and hopes she will resurrect one of his fading on-going television soaps, Pavitra Aarti.
"I love the exuberance and freshness of first time filmmakers, perhaps that's why they are drawn towards me," says Rahul Bose (seen alongside in photograph with Koel Purie). "It was great working with Vinta, because she was very open to suggestions and trusted my instincts in several scenes. White Noise is going to be a film I am satisfied with."
In Aparna Sen's Mr & Mrs Iyer, Bose played Raja Chowdhury, a wildlife photographer, in a constantly reactive mode in relation to the film's Tamil Brahmin female protagonist, Meenakshi Iyer (Konkana Sensharma). Then as an investment banker Aman Kapoor grappling with an accidental brush with a foul-mouthed (Sudhir Mishra's) Chameli. "With White Noise [where again, he has a passive role]," says Bose, "I complete a trilogy of strong, silent characters."
The English language is a comfortable choice for Rahul who has done several films from English August to Everybody Says I'm Fine. His next English film will be White Noise.
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"Characters in Hindi films do not speak the way characters are supposed to speak," says Nanda. "They seem to be living in their own world, which urban India just cannot identify with. Since my film is meant for the urban audience, I chose English."
Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen's daughter Nandana Dev Sen and Tabu were first short-listed for the role of Gauri. But the deal did not work due to commercial reasons, and Koel Purie was roped in.
"Koel is very professional and I was very happy with her contribution," says Nanda.
For Koel, the experience of working on White Noise was cathartic. "It was like purging. I was going through a similar turmoil as my character, Gauri. My real life and reel life were in sync. It has never happened before and so was a great experience."
"Our comfort levels were very high," says Rahul, who directed Koel in his film, Everybody Says I'm Fine.
In one of the scenes building up to the climax, Mahesh Bhatt (who is Nanda's mentor) was especially invited to direct a scene in which Gauri was disturbed.
"I was very nervous, because the scene was a serious one and I was going to be directed by Mr Bhatt," says Koel. "He looked at me and said I want you to think tears and feel tears, but I don't want to see a single tear. It was great experience to be worked up and sound hysterical without actually crying."
Koel, currently working on Mahesh Bhatt's Nazar, and also awaiting the release of Roger Christian's American Daylight along with White Noise, adds, "No man could have written a story like White Noise. It takes a strong woman to do so."
"From writing scripts to making films and television soaps, I've almost realised my dream," Nanda says. "My relationship with television will always continue. I am currently producing Mili for Star Plus. There is so much more to do. White Noise was a difficult journey, but a great experience."
