for anyone caring to peep in here, I am back to posting blogs on my original blog,
www.confessionsofafilmmaker.blogspot.com
see you there.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
a little bit of avakai in my life....
As I sit watching the edit happen on my movie Avakai-Biryani (Mango Pickled Biryani), I am reminded about how all of this first started……..
Back in 2006. Sekhar Kammula’s ‘Godavari’ had just released to good reviews but to an unfavorable box office response, finally ending as an ‘average’ film business wise. Having worked as both the executive producer and associate director on the film, I gave it my all and I mean MY ALL, shooting in the middle of that amazing river for a 100 days, with more than a 100 people on board 3 launches, bang in the middle of the monsoon, with the heaviest rainfall and floods being recorded ever, the production of Godavari was a truly life changing experience for me, something I will take to my grave, something that made me believe that we could shoot on Mt.Everest next if we wanted to….something that really made a filmmaker out of me…
and watching it not making it in the box office, disheartened me, depressed me and pushed me into the blackest phase of my professional career…..I was questioning why I had spent the last 10 years of my life in this cynical-tough as nails-bitchy-unforgiving place called ‘the film industry’…
Sekhar had me take time off, I went on a bit of a soul searching trip across the konkan…drifting from one low to another….this trip was just a pretext to finally sit down and write a feature film, something Sekhar has been goading me to do since my ‘Anand’ days with him…little did he know, I was only making the trip to escape from the industry here in Hyderabad….The ‘Godavari’ experience left me feeling bitter about the people working here and the public….I was hard headed, I know, but I thought I needed to get away and re- renew my career…..my life….
This was when I tried to write something ‘happy’…something optimistic…something inspirational….something lighthearted….the result was Avakai-Biryani…but….I didn’t actually write the entire draft of ‘AB’ while on my trip on the konkan….instead I would write and leave it midway to wallow in self pity and a few vodkas, the depression wouldn’t leave me…..but I still managed to write a treatment which will make COF look like HAHK. (sigh….alright the full form “Hum Aapke Hain Koun”)
Anyways….The result of all of this was “confessions of a filmmaker”-(shot on HD-released on the internet, with assistance from PFC)…….but then, let me skip a few chapters after that….and talk about the immediate past and the imminent future….
Avakai Biryani….my first movie…my immediate past and my imminent future…
Hello PFC readers, don’t think anyone here would have missed me….but I am happy to be back, writing again…
Right after “Happy Days” began my “Happy Phase” (corny-I know)….but seriously, the super success of Sekhar’s ‘Happy Days’ revitalized me….so much so that I re-visited my once darkly written AB script….
The result was a happy, progressive, optimistic ,movie draft….which I was happy to present to Sekhar and which he readily agreed to produce….
And so today as I sit watching the edit….I am also reminded about what big adventures it took to make this small film…..but more about that in a later post….
For now cheers PFC.
Back in 2006. Sekhar Kammula’s ‘Godavari’ had just released to good reviews but to an unfavorable box office response, finally ending as an ‘average’ film business wise. Having worked as both the executive producer and associate director on the film, I gave it my all and I mean MY ALL, shooting in the middle of that amazing river for a 100 days, with more than a 100 people on board 3 launches, bang in the middle of the monsoon, with the heaviest rainfall and floods being recorded ever, the production of Godavari was a truly life changing experience for me, something I will take to my grave, something that made me believe that we could shoot on Mt.Everest next if we wanted to….something that really made a filmmaker out of me…
and watching it not making it in the box office, disheartened me, depressed me and pushed me into the blackest phase of my professional career…..I was questioning why I had spent the last 10 years of my life in this cynical-tough as nails-bitchy-unforgiving place called ‘the film industry’…
Sekhar had me take time off, I went on a bit of a soul searching trip across the konkan…drifting from one low to another….this trip was just a pretext to finally sit down and write a feature film, something Sekhar has been goading me to do since my ‘Anand’ days with him…little did he know, I was only making the trip to escape from the industry here in Hyderabad….The ‘Godavari’ experience left me feeling bitter about the people working here and the public….I was hard headed, I know, but I thought I needed to get away and re- renew my career…..my life….
This was when I tried to write something ‘happy’…something optimistic…something inspirational….something lighthearted….the result was Avakai-Biryani…but….I didn’t actually write the entire draft of ‘AB’ while on my trip on the konkan….instead I would write and leave it midway to wallow in self pity and a few vodkas, the depression wouldn’t leave me…..but I still managed to write a treatment which will make COF look like HAHK. (sigh….alright the full form “Hum Aapke Hain Koun”)
Anyways….The result of all of this was “confessions of a filmmaker”-(shot on HD-released on the internet, with assistance from PFC)…….but then, let me skip a few chapters after that….and talk about the immediate past and the imminent future….
Avakai Biryani….my first movie…my immediate past and my imminent future…
Hello PFC readers, don’t think anyone here would have missed me….but I am happy to be back, writing again…
Right after “Happy Days” began my “Happy Phase” (corny-I know)….but seriously, the super success of Sekhar’s ‘Happy Days’ revitalized me….so much so that I re-visited my once darkly written AB script….
The result was a happy, progressive, optimistic ,movie draft….which I was happy to present to Sekhar and which he readily agreed to produce….
And so today as I sit watching the edit….I am also reminded about what big adventures it took to make this small film…..but more about that in a later post….
For now cheers PFC.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
My Last Post Until Further Notice.
Yes, this will be my last post Until Further Notice. There is just too much to do on a daily basis, its becoming increasingly difficult and therefore redundant for me to continue writing this blog for now....
I have just a few weeks to go before shooting starts, and all my energies are focussed on achieving just that.
Things are looking great and progressing well....
So thats it for now guys. Sorry, but maybe I will write later, who knows, when things are calmer....like when the shooting is actually done.
until then....
bye for now
I have just a few weeks to go before shooting starts, and all my energies are focussed on achieving just that.
Things are looking great and progressing well....
So thats it for now guys. Sorry, but maybe I will write later, who knows, when things are calmer....like when the shooting is actually done.
until then....
bye for now
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
wed, feb 06(2)
A good day today, finally I see my characters emerging through the rehearsals. This is really quite heartening. A bright positive day for me....
A first unit of technicians have left for the location to assess the situation there and make plans for some pre-liminary arrangements.
lets see what tomorrow has in store, today had good momentum....so much more exciting things to look fwd too.
A first unit of technicians have left for the location to assess the situation there and make plans for some pre-liminary arrangements.
lets see what tomorrow has in store, today had good momentum....so much more exciting things to look fwd too.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
wed, feb 06
i have 7 min to go before my batteries ru out on the comp.
its been a tough revelatory day....tough times on the rehearsals, the actors are finding their way slowly but surely.....i really should try and spend some more time with them....
the complexity of the schedule becomes more and more evident and the pressure to make every day count is immense....
still m0re casting work to do...more logistics to be worked out....
i have to take my time out of all of this and write a bit, but i also need to be at work every minute, cus i wanna make sure we arent getting complacent...
there aren't enough hours in a day right now....the clock is ticking!!!!
its been a tough revelatory day....tough times on the rehearsals, the actors are finding their way slowly but surely.....i really should try and spend some more time with them....
the complexity of the schedule becomes more and more evident and the pressure to make every day count is immense....
still m0re casting work to do...more logistics to be worked out....
i have to take my time out of all of this and write a bit, but i also need to be at work every minute, cus i wanna make sure we arent getting complacent...
there aren't enough hours in a day right now....the clock is ticking!!!!
Monday, February 4, 2008
mon,feb04
Interesting days so far. Actings workshops have started. Our executive producer is in the house, taking over production issues, a location rekki is due in a couple of days, lyrics are being worked on....
more importantly, today i meet our cameraman....the man, whose vision is key to this films success....am keeping my fingers crossed that everything works out well for the both of us....lets see...
i am hoping the cameraman understands whats in store for us and i hope it inspires him...i am hoping the production designer gets going with his work asap....keeping my fingers crossed, my town is waiting for me....
all days from now lead to the shoot day...scheduled for the first week of march...i am really hoping we meet that deadline...if we do, super, that would be with only 1.5months of pre-production behind us....
everyday must count....
more importantly, today i meet our cameraman....the man, whose vision is key to this films success....am keeping my fingers crossed that everything works out well for the both of us....lets see...
i am hoping the cameraman understands whats in store for us and i hope it inspires him...i am hoping the production designer gets going with his work asap....keeping my fingers crossed, my town is waiting for me....
all days from now lead to the shoot day...scheduled for the first week of march...i am really hoping we meet that deadline...if we do, super, that would be with only 1.5months of pre-production behind us....
everyday must count....
Saturday, February 2, 2008
day 16 or is it 17, pre prod
moving into February now. we have finalized the main leads, rehearsal workshops start tomorrow. action stations!!
the art team, costume team and the rest of it is closely coming together.
need to get back to work for now....will write in details in a later post.
the art team, costume team and the rest of it is closely coming together.
need to get back to work for now....will write in details in a later post.
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