"The song comes almost at the opening of the film," says Loveleen Tandan, when she answers the call. "It's a courtesan song, led by Menu Mumtaz, Mehmood's sister. She is performing for the zamindar; they have a host of courtesans in the background, standing in front of windows. The song is shot in such a way the women are all in silhouette; they look like shadows. It was brilliant -- I get goose bumps when I think of that scene."

Goose bumps is not all she gets -- inspiration is another derivative from her favourite caller tune. Tandan is clear that she will one day, sooner than later, direct feature films. In the interim, every career move is a learning, a step towards that goal.

Some of those steps have been giant-sized, from the time she cast for Mira Nair in Monsoon Wedding, to her latest avatar as casting director on the multiple Golden Globe-winning Slumdog Millionaire.

Casting is part art, part process; get it right and you make a film, get the subtlest nuance wrong, and you can equally break that film. Tandan has mastered the art; additionally, with this film, she took another giant step when she received co-director billing alongside Globe-winning director Danny Boyle.

No one thought Slumdog would walk away with four Globes, Tandan says -- the movie has proved to have a life all its own, going in directions no one anticipated.

In the picture: Loveleen Tandan with Rubiana Ali, who plays young Latika in Slumdog Millionaire

Text: Ronjita Kulkarni

Also Read: Showcasing Slumdog Millionaire

Next