I was into making corporate films, documentaries and serials. I was comfortable doing that. But, there comes a time in one’s life, when you feel a tugging at the heart to do something bigger. For me, it was a deep desire to make a film.
Kari Subbu, a friend of mine, who was also acting in one of my serials asked me to direct a film. My circle of friends was pretty big at that time, and I was encouraged by most of them to direct a film.
One day, Kari Subbu decided to produce Mani and asked me to direct it. He wanted all new comers to be a part of it. Even we were totally new to the world of films.
First, I think I started living in a world where I made a film in my mind. But, once we got on the field and started making the film, we were exposed to a whole new world. Making a film in reality was a totally different experience. Creating something from reality to a work of art from scratch — be it films, music, painting or dance — is challenging.
While making Mani, though every location, every shot was recorded in my mind, it was not executed the same way in reality. You see, a work in the process of becoming an art, can lead to either a minus or a plus point.
It is just like being a bathroom singer. One can sing brilliantly within the confines of that tiny room, but on stage, he/she may miss a tune here and a note there. I felt the same when I first called the shots as a director for this film.
I was blessed with a great team of actors and enjoyed making Mani. There was a lot of energy in the whole team. There was also a raw innocence that I found in each one, which was so appealing. That innocence of our very first attempt is something that will stand for life . We were all so passionate that we got involved in every aspect of the film, including editing the film. Editing a film can change the film entirely.
Cinema also offers a lot of mesmerising situations and Mani was one such film even though it was made on a very limited budget.
When the film did not do well at the box office, my ego was terribly hurt. It is the same feeling that you get when you write your first article and find out that no one read it.
Similarly cinema is my big article, why did people not watch it? Then I thought, may be some it is missing something significant. But it will always be a special film for me. Just as a man’s first love or a first date. Any first attempt is always memorable.
I am basically naughty. But, Mani gave people the impression that I was a very serious film maker. I am known for my sense of humour, but my first film showed me as a very morose man. I wanted to come out of that image. Though my second film Ranga SSLC with Sudeep was not a flop, it was not a big success either. Then the third one — Mungaru Male — changed that whole perception of my sense of film making.
Today, I still dream of making films every moment. If only there were people willing to invest in new themes.
As told to Shilpa Sebastian R.
This column chronicles fimmakers’ first efforts
