You don't require a Godfather to make it in the Hindi film industry, and first-time director Sudipto Chattopadhyay seems to be all out to prove it.
Chattopadhyay managed to find a producer in Sanjay Gupta, and rope in Bipasha Basu in his film, Pankh.
But shooting his first feature film is not all that's keeping Chattopadhyay busy. The creative head of White Feather Films has done seven television shows, including hosting a Bengali talk show called Din Prathi Din, shot many advertisements, and penned seven books, including a biographical book, Zen Of Then.
He tells Nithya Ramani how he shot Bipasha in Pankh, and much more.
Tell us about Pankh.
Pankh is about a boy, who is promoted as a girl in films, for money. It deals with the after-effects of the trauma he faces in childhood. He grows up to be a drug abuser, and a mentally upset adult.
His mother Mary (Lillete Dubey) is a failed actress, who strives to make her child succeed. She wants to fulfill her dreams through her child, Jerry [played by Maradona]. She takes him for an audition but the director requires a girl. So Jerry becomes Baby Kusum.
Jerry hates the idea of acting as a girl but his mother forces him. The trauma he goes through, the kind of situations he faces, his embarrassments, even as an adult, makes up the film.
What role does Bipasha Basu play?
Jerry has only three friends -- two turtles and an imaginary girl. Bipasha plays his imaginary friend, his alter ego. He shares everything with her. She plays the devil as well as the angel.
As a director, how well do you think Pankh will fair?
This is a huge risk that I've taken. Pankh is not a mainstream Hindi film. It has a social message. It is a dark film for those parents, who force their children to fulfill their unsuccessful dreams. Parents must realise that children should have the freedom to live life on their own terms.
I want people to empathise with my protagonist. I have pushed the envelope to a great extent. My film shows gender issues, sexual politics and sexual conflicts.
What was your toughest scene?
There was a six-minute long scene with Maradona and Bipasha in Mumbai's Whistling Woods. It had a moving background; the camera was on a crane. It was a very difficult scene.
The climax between Lillete and Maradona is very good too.
How has the Censor Board reacted to this?
We have not gone to the Censor as yet. But if they cut anything from the film, it would be butchered. The purpose will be defeated. The film is only 109 minutes long. If they edit it, it will become a 20-minute film.
Who was your inspiration? Were you inspired by child star, Ahsaas Channa's life?
No. My film was scripted eight years ago, Ahsaas entered the movies only a few years ago. I was inspired by someone else but I cannot disclose the name. I found this trend very peculiar to Bollywood as well as to Chinese cinema.
Do you know anyone in Bollywood, who has experienced similar situations?
There are many. Almost all the child artists have gone through such situations. I would blame parents for what children go through.
In fact, I would not want Raj Magnani, who plays the younger Jerry, to watch it even though the story revolves around him.
How did you make five-year-old Raj Magnani act? Did you tell him the film's story?
No, I did not. I have given him minimal dialogue. I needed him to wear girl's outfits, which he obviously was apprehensive about. I would tell him stories of Bunty Aur Babli, and tell him that he had to act as Bunty at certain times and Babli at others. When his shot was over, he was sent to his van. I did not even want him to look at what I was shooting. I have used him as a prop, as little as possible.
If I want to convey a message through a film, I cannot make Raj go through the same trauma in the film. I have been very careful with Raj.
Why did you choose Maradona?
Maradona had come for the auditions when I was looking for my cast. I saw his pictures and knew that he was the Jerry I wanted. In the second round of auditions, I asked him to imagine that he was talking to turtles after getting doped. When he acted the scene, I was sure that I got Jerry.
When I narrated the story to Maradona, he was apprehensive initially. But as I explained in detail, he developed confidence in me and agreed.
I asked him to watch a number of films and documentaries: French, Spanish, Chinese, Dutch and Indian cinema. I gave him, and costar Amit Purohit extensive workshops to learn. Amit plays Salim, Jerry's friend.
How did you get Bipasha to work for you in your first film?
[Producer] Sanjay Gupta is a good friend of Bipasha's, and helped me out.
How difficult was it to get a producer for the film?
I do not have a Godfather in the industry. But I have friends. [Television actor] Rohit Roy and his wife Mansi are very close to me. Rohit was a part of my television shows. He introduced me to Sanjay, and that's how I could get Sanjay to produce my film.
Sanjay gave me all the freedom I needed. He came on the sets only on the first day of shooting.
Pankh means wings. How is the film related to the title?
Pankh means a constant fight to fly away from life.
When will the film release?
I want to take it to international film festivals and see the feedback. Then, I want to release it in India.
White Feather Films is releasing quite a few films this year.
Yes, we are releasing more than four films this year -- Woodstock Villa will be out this month, Pankh in June or July. The release dates for The Great Indian Butterfly and Alibaug haven't been decided yet.
What next?
I will direct a film called Na Hum Tume Jaane.
