In perspective, South Indian and Australian cinema could be as similar as chalk and cheese. But, “It’s showbiz and we all connect to the content emotionally and intellectually”, says Australian producer and company director with RKP, a film and TV production company, Robyn Kershaw.
In recent times Robyn is remembered for her Indian-Australian feature film Save Your Legs!, which premiered at the 2012 Melbourne International Film Festival, the BFI London Film Festival and the Mumbai Film Festival. Robyn has also produced award winning musical film and box office hit Bran Nue Dae (Dir. Rachel Perkins 2009) starring Geoffrey Rush, Jessica Mauboy and Magda Szubanski
She’s now part of the Australian Consulate-General, Chennai’s initiative to showcase a collection of 10 Australian films in Hyderabad, where she’ll interact with audience and filmmakers from the south Indian film industry this weekend.
Excerpts from a conversation with Robyn Kershaw:
What convinced you to be part of this initiative? (Collaboration of Australian-South Indian film industry)?
I am a compulsive storyteller and I have a strong Indian aesthetic. I studied the ‘Rasalila’ in Vrindavan as part of my Murdoch University Degree. It was the beginning of my love affair with Krishna, classical texts (the Uddhava Lilas) and I now understand how much this study accounts for my taste and sensibility as a filmmaker. Also I am excited to be experiencing more of the aesthetic of Telugu movies and filmmakers. I was captivated by the celebration of southern India in Vidya Balan’s performance of the Dirty Picture .
With this initiative I have an interest in talking to filmmakers about a true story that originated in Hyderabad and involves Australia.
What’s the sense you get when you watch Indian films?
My first experience of watching an Indian film was in 1982 and I was enchanted by the audience celebration as much as the film — the multi-generational audience knew all the words to all the songs and the dance moves — it was a revelatory experience; one that kept me engaged in Indian cinema year after year. And I have seen it evolve over this period. I have always connected to the dynamic story-telling and visuals of Indian films — from the classics (fearless Nadia’s Hunterwali, Agneepath ) through to independent cinema ( Miss Lovely ). Also the art forms like Yakshagana and Kathakali interest me as well.
Do you find a common cinema sensibility that connects Indian and Australian audience? Especially with south Indian cinema?
I think audiences globally want to be engaged, whether it is entertainment or thought-provoking experiences…its show-biz. There is nothing more satisfying for me than experiencing stories and seeing them connect with audiences emotionally and intellectually.
What’s the secret behind the successful partnership you’ve had in Creative, Production and Marketing areas?
Communication is the key to all successful collaborations. Working with so many creative minds, it is essential to ensure that everyone is making (and promoting) the same film. It is often a miracle and sheer determination from all involved that a film is ‘on point’, whether it is a handful of filmmakers working together or hundreds of people making a film. The successful partnerships are the ones that have a shared vision, and a shared language to execute the vision.
As a successful TV producer, your views on striking a balance between good content and TRPs.
In my experience the most successful shows are the ones that have no near ‘relative’, so often it’s hard to convince a Network head, or indeed internally within a network (as a commissioning editor), when you have no comparison to point to…so you need to build a case for the network to support the work/the ideas/the people. Ratings are only one quantifier of connection - many shows take seasons to build a base — for instance Breaking Bad which is now regarded as a seminal TV series. Its success came from extraordinary craft, devotion to the idea and commitment from many to keep making the show when it often did not seem to make commercial sense. It makes sense now!
Your experience of being associated with Nandita Das. Are there more collaborations in future?
I adore the energetic pace of Indian filmmakers, and Nandita is a devoted filmmaker with many ideas. We are working together on a film that is an Indian-Australian story, inspired by real events. And I am in discussion on a number of projects with Indian filmmakers and yes in my future will be working and collaborating on more stories that have an Indian-Australian connection.
(Robyn will be interacting with audience members of the public at PVR cinemas Kukatpally on April 2, 3.30 pm and introduce giving an introduction to her film Bran Nue Dae scheduled to be screened which we will be screening at 4pm.)
Australian Film Showcase
The films to be screened range from classics such as the original Mad Max (1979) starring Mel Gibson and Paperback Hero (1999) starring Hugh Jackman to modern entertainers such as Red Dog (2012), The Sapphires (2012) and The Dressmaker (2015) starring Kate Winslet and Liam Hemsworth.
The 10 films will be screened at PVR Cinemas, Forum Sujana Mall, Kukatpally between April 2 and 10, 2016.
All screenings will be open to the public free of charge.
