Bringing the real to reel

Director and playwright Mohit Takalkar talks about fresh perspectives in the field of cinema

The film watching experience is being continuously redefined by new directors. Mohit Takalkar is one such director and playwright who is trying to change the way we look at films. Toto Funds the Arts in association with The British Council Library of Bangalore presented the sixth edition of ‘New Voices in Indian Cinema’ recently featuring the celebrated filmmaker.

Two films by Mohit Takalkar, Chirebandi , a documentary on playwright Mahesh Elkunchwar and The Bright Day , a film about the confusions and dilemmas of a young man, were screened.

Talking about his theatre experiences, Takalkar says, “Film making is a fantastic process but my heart lies in theatre. I want to keep doing theatre for myself.”

Talking about his experiences while trying to bring his script to the notice of bigger directors and producers in Bollywood Mohit says, “Once Karan Johar came to watch a movie. I got excited looking at him and after my friends pushed me, I went to him and told him I had a script, he didn’t even turn towards me, he just went away.

I didn't know how to go about making the film until I met Amole Gupte the director and producer of Stanley Ka Dabba . He shared his film shooting experience with a Canon EOS 7D. At first I didn't believe that a film can be shot on a camera, but he proved me wrong and supported us throughout the film making process. “The movie screenings were followed by conversations with the audience. From talking about his favourite dish truffle mushroom chicken to his difficulties in making these films, the director answered it all.

Sanjana Chatterjee, while talking about her experience of watching

The Bright Day , says: “It was a deeply artistic and inspiring film. What I loved was that it was more of an experience than just watching a film. That lost boy could have been any of us. It’s lovely to have a film where it’s okay to find yourself instead of engaging in the race of life.”

The director, meanwhile, says: “It’s very unfortunate that we didn’t get any response for The Bright Day in India. I didn’t expect to get any response at all, but then we got invited by the Toronto International Film Festival followed by Shanghai, New York, London and many other places.

Netflix showed interest in it too, but In India, people hardly watched the movie apart from film festivals and other screenings.