Hulla – finally releasing on 12th Sep. Phew.
I didn’t really know how to begin this – a piece about the film I’ve tried to set up for 7 years, and finally it has got made and is now about to release. The part I’m actually looking forward to is when at least a few of the PFC readers see it and have things to say about it – so I can either defend, or elaborate, depending on what the comments inspire.
It is the debate, if any, that I’m interested in the most, as I cannot get that in any other media. And even more than the content of the film it is in that the film got made in the first place and what even a relative amount of acceptance to Hulla means to people trying to make their first films regardless of their background.
Quite simply, the film got made against the odds. I was always a writer, never ever wanted to be a filmmaker. The first day of shooting for Hulla in fact was my first day ever on a fiction film shoot. Sure, in another life, I’d been there when ads I’d scripted were being shot – but hanging around during shoots, even when it was my ad script, had always been excruciating to me. Film sets were not my favourite places on earth, still aren’t, to be honest. And sure, I’d finished shooting for my Indian Ocean non fiction film, but that was in real locations with hardly any “taam-jhaam”.
To top off my own inexperience, I had selected a crew of mostly first-timers to make Hulla. That was not by design. I’d been determined to surround myself with people who were charged by this material and the prospect of making this into a film. Given that salaries were ludicrously low on the project, that enthusiasm was much less in people who had other options, even if the material interested them – money does talk that loudly. So, the team around me consisted of people who were driven by the film’s proper fruition rather than people working on it for career-growth or bank balance needs. So, this meant the entire direction team (including the Director), the Cinematographer and the Editor, consisted of first timers. The Chief Assistant Director had never assisted on a feature film, and his assistants had never been on any film set. The Audiographer/ Sound Designer was doing his second film and the Art Director was getting his first individual credit. The leading lady of the film was in her first Hindi film, and a 78 year-old actor was making his film debut. Moreover, both Rajat Kapoor and Sushant Singh were doing their most unusual roles in the context of their careers so far. There were lots of other new faces, some from Pune stage, some from Mumbai television. No wonder, the producer Sunil Doshi was nervous.
Moreover, the film had begun at breakneck speed. Due to schedule problems, much to my disappointment, the main actors Sushant and Rajat were unable to spare a single day’s rehearsal-time, and made the whole preparation process seem somewhat inadequate. And then followed just 40 days of pre-production (out of which half went in location hunting), 28 days of shooting and 25 days of editing. It scares me today to even look at these figures; I wouldn’t want to do this again. Due to the low budget nature of the project, during the shoot, there could not be more than three or four re-takes at any stage. Still, the shoot turned out in budget and got completed on schedule.
I state all this not merely out of pride but to make the point that if a team of first-timers like us could pull this off, then anyone really can. All it took was a simple common-sense approach to everything, without elevating anything to rocket science. (And this is not the only film unit that has proved this – to some extent, even Bheja Fry’s and Aamir’s in recent times have). And we weren’t even an exceptionally harmonious team or anything like that. There was politics, back-biting, mismatch of wavelengths, sporadic cases of lack of commitment, occasional insubordination, insecure acts of one-upmanship – in short, a typical film unit by all accounts.
Hulla is not a film in any way focused on technique. Given the nature of its material as per my understanding, it needed an unadorned, urgent, real treatment, with more emphasis on the energy of the narrative and the chemistry of its characters than on choreographed set pieces. Unfortunately, some key members in my team did not really understand this approach (despite claiming to), and their bewilderment turned out to be an unnecessary source of irritation, as energy had to be expended to get them to focus in the way we had planned. After all that, thankfully the film turned out even better than I had imagined, probably an indicator to my lack of imagination (or optimism) or perhaps I had simply underestimated the role good performances could play.
It is a pleasant thing to be able to say this after the torrid time the film had in taking off. The film began life as a single page magazine humour piece in 2000; an NRI filmmaker friend of mine thought it would make a great film; I wrote the script in 2001 and he came down to raise the project in 2002; but he lost enthusiasm in 6 months when there were no takers and went back to the US; another director came on board, had the script till late 2003, but could not raise the project either; I decided to execute it myself in 2004 (after a nudge by Rajat Kapoor in that direction); found a producer in 2004 itself, or I wrongly thought I had, as Red Ice dropped the film twice after raising it – twice the film came crashing down with a resounding thud, the second time just 2 weeks before the shoot. Then came Sunil Doshi in end-2006 with the offer to do the film if we brought our budgets down considerably, which we somehow did. But there was a major hiccup with him too, as he stopped the project 10 days before the first day of shooting because he wasn’t happy with the “test shoot”. After some very anxious moments, that got resolved and the film proceeded on its feverish course. You bet the film has paid its dues.
We’ve maintained a sort of a diary for the film in the last 18 months here – ever since the film began with Sunil Doshi. The idea really is to de-mystify the whole process of making this film, which will hopefully give confidence to people without film backgrounds to execute their films themselves. That is, if this film works for people, of course.
People keep talking about the lack of original stories in our cinema and writers in our industry. From my experience, I believe the problem has more to do with producers and the lack of respect (or importance) they give to writers. This is why I also feel that if new stories and new ideas are to make it to our cinema screens, with attendant originality or at least independent takes, people currently outside the industry have to come and make their presence felt, through low budget films that the people who are involved with will be fired-up to do, without bothering about remuneration, political correctness and professional growth. The so-called “trained” personnel (from the likes of FTII) will not be able to do it because they’re interested more in replicating the sensibility of the cinema they are interested in (or more accurately perhaps, awed by), not in telling their stories their way (if they have any stories to tell in the first place). On the evidence of the last decade and a half, and taking the risk of generalizing, they are more interested in mood pieces than in stories anyway (especially the direction graduates). Sure, there are exceptions but they are very few in number and they’ve have hardly made a lasting impact on Indian cinema as they rightfully should.
It is the untrained, unknown storytellers who will take our cinema forward – that is my theory. And one of two such films won’t make a difference; it is a critical mass that has to build up. Hulla’s success or failure means little in an overall context, where significant sample sizes prove or disprove theories. For now, I just hope people are interested in seeing a film with no dance floors, stars or guns, no item numbers or lip synch songs. Hell, not even a love angle. Now you know why the film took 7 years to come to the screen.
Filed Under
Exclusive, Movies, Preview, Thoughts
Loading ...
51 Responses to “Hulla – finally releasing on 12th Sep. Phew.”
Leave a Reply
(Ref smilies)
Our Comments Policy : The following kinds of comments are troll capped, blocked and/or commenter's identity reported publicly: Verbal abuse, personal attacks, hate statements, spam, trolls, advertising. Please assist us in keeping the comments clean. Use the contact form to let us know if you find unwarranted comments on PFC. Thank you.
-
Advertisement
-
- Random thoughts on Yuv
- Dev.D- Emosional Aty
- SORRY
- An Interview With Oye Lucky Lucky Oye’s Dolly - Richa C
- The story of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi Reve
- Ada Music Review
- Ajay TG- Man With A Camera.
- Maharathi: Murder is in the Details (Zero Spoiler Review)
- Mukhbiir Versus Chamku – A toss-up between two lone rangers
- Random thoughts on Yuvvraaj
-
Advertisement
Hottest Today:
Recent Posts:
you had so much confidence in the film…really nice to know that. Lets see now on the screen. Congrats and keep it up
i was waiting for it because of Indian Ocean
Great man, now waiting for your film!
Eagerly awaiting it!
All the Best!!!
folks I saw hulla at bollywood and beyond, germany’s only festival of indian cinema.
line up for it…hulla is great.
rajat’s best after monsoon wedding.
carry on jaideep
“…the film turned out even better than I had imagined, probably an indicator to my lack of imagination…” :):)
Missed Hulla at Osian, will surely catch it in cinemas,,,doing my bit for the revenues:D
By the way, what is the budget, was just going through the diary and it might be a dumb question but am just curious to know if a film earns anything from the festival participation and screenings?
All the best to Hulla and all associated with it!
wish u all the best.
but I thought the leading lady of this film has already appeared in a hindi film called ‘Yash’ years ago which had songs like(which at that time were a rage by the way) ‘yaaron na jaane mujhe kya ho gaya, ek ladki ne mera dil le liya’ and also ’subah subah jab khidki khole baaju wali ladki haaye, dil mera bole hello how are you’
jaideep or whatsoever congrats for hulla……..meanwhile y such angst against so called trained professionals(The so-called “trained” personnel (from the likes of FTII) …
Kirtika Rane is back on the big screen after a hiatus I guess…after few marathi films n serials this is her first hindi film if im not wrong…
May your Bowfinger succeed!!!
Dear Jaideep,
First I must let you know- I am an FTII-ian and that too a Direction graduate. More on this later.
I read the synopsis of your HULLA story somehwere and must tell you -it is one of the most original idea and a fantastic story you have worked out! I sense a potential ‘hit’ on hand-both in terms of content and also at the box office. Knowing Sunil Doshi and his USP- he will make sure the experiment doesn’t fail. And we better don’t fail if more of such films have to be made in future! I admire Sunil Doshi for his ‘formula’ which makes films like this happen. With this expectation -I look forward to your film.
Yeah, after knowing what all you have gone through in last so many years -I feel comforted that I am not alone as my journey too has been no different from yours so far as I am also trying to tell an original story which is not ‘COMMERCIAL’ enough by Industry standard -till it proves otherwise at the box-offcie! So “Cheers” to you for that!
Now coming to FTII…I think your remark was unwarranted. I understand you must have had some bad personal expeiences but this genralization is even unfair. It’s a very debatable topic…FTII is not an ISI mark! Graduating from FTII means nothing…it doesn’t make you a better filmmaker or a technician…not every body who graduates from IIM or IIT or AFMC or AIIMS goes on to excel in life professionally. Similarly not every Direction graduate go on to become great or even an average director. Their urge to tell a story or not or how to tell is also there look-out. Other’s shouldn’t be bothered or be affected. You may / may not be knowing that every year only 8 students graduate from FTII in every specialization…not everybody comes to Mumbai…they go to Kerela, Orisa, Kolkata, Delhi, Bhopal and so on. Those who do come to Mumbai realize after few years that they cannot fit themselves in - in the industry scenario for whatever reasons. And those who hang on…hang on somehow having firm beileve in themselves..which is anyway very few…so it’s better not to genralize.
On a PERSONAL level - I beleive that for EVERYTHING in life there is place for formal learning in whatever you want to become then why not for films…FTII is for people like me who wanted to go for formal trainning and there’s nothing wrong with that… I have known a lot of first time non-institute Filmmakers who prefer to pick their team from FTII - for instance - the latest being Abbas Tyrewala whose entire technical team including his Associate Director was from FTII…so each to his own.
All the best for your film and hope your success inspires more people to fight it out!
Sanjivan Lal
Hi Sanjivan, I agree it is wrong to generalize and I did mention that there are exceptions but my experience since quite some time is that their the overwhelming focus on craft stunts their ability to look at the big picture and to just feel things which cannot be explained logically (my last two years of working on two projects with a whole host of them is particularly relevant in this regard). Am not at all questioning the importance of formal training or even their status as the premier technicians in the country, but I just think not much should be expected in terms of conceptual progress from them, which I think that is really a pity because of the natural advantage they have to take things to fruition. One of the reasons why we do so many derivative films is the over-emphasis on technique from these people who actually should develop an original vision for themselves. No slur on anybody, but as I mentioned, the last 15 years of Hindi films at least suggests the same, does it not? On top of that, the superiority complex that is also radiated by a lot of them and the intellectual arrogance that is a by-product of that is laughable, given their conceptual output frankly. It would be ridiculous for me to paint all of them with one brush; there are many I respect and like too. But by and large, especially in the newer generations, this seems to be an even bigger problem. This is my observation, and time will tell if it is an over-reaction (even if it is not, hope you will be one of the exceptions). The last 15 years do suggest otherwise already. This is a good debate for an independent post actually. Finally, thanks for all the kind words and good wishes and wish you the same. Thanks to everybody for their best wishes.
Have seen this film. It is okay. Once the basic idea (which is interesting) is revealed, the script doesn’t really do much. It moves within the same sphere. More like a TV serial than a film. Felt that the screenplay did not do justice to the idea which had a lot of potential.
Within the post, there seems to be so much angst for no reason. The funniest one is the Director’s theory ‘It is the untrained, unknown storytellers who will take our cinema forward’.
Isn’t 95% of our cinema the product of untrained directors and still we suck big time? Isn’t 95% critical mass? While most of good Hollywood and European Directors are trained. From the diary, it seems like the Director did not like his team (who may be trained) and is generalising. But that is okay I guess. Everybody has a right to crib.
Training cannot impart story sense. That is the sum product of our environment and what we read, observe and analyse and that still does not have to do with craft. Craft can also be learnt the same way but one needs to also have the talent to observe and analyse. Not everyone has that. Gurudutt, Raj Kapoor, Satyajit Ray, Ghatak, Vijay Anand were not formally trained but were great craftsmen.
What one actually needs is just pure talent. Training will just hone it faster, I think. While untrained talented guys will make great cinema anyway
As for now, see Hulla. It is okay. Nothing earth shaking … An above average idea with a below average screenplay
Jaideep -just a point…if somebody throws a weight or shows off his knowledge or shoots off his mouth too often about Cinema-then FTII is not anyway responsible for that…that’s the person’s nature..his own insecurity…his own complexities…his own immaturity is…such a person can be from any walk of life…I am sure you must have met such people outside films too! You need to meet some matured FTII-ians…there are many… Despite filmbuff’s spoilers above -I will still look forward to your film….as I think…it’s a great contemporary subject which has a potential to be a big hit in today’s times! All the best!
Filmbuff1234…a point for you…TAARE ZAMEEN PAR or JAANE TU YA JAANE NA…are HITS not because they were great screenplays but because both the films had some great moments / emotions / laughs / some interesting characters and a consistent story…such is a situation today that any film which offers this much- is bound to do well… The maturity of screenplay writing you are talking about or looking for which existed earlier in our industry or exists abroad is yet to set in here…the system does not allow that maturity to set in…the best of our Industry writers are still seeking that maturity in their scripts…so you never know if Jaideep’s film has decent enough funny / touching moments / interesting characters / novel story…and is consistently told without confusing the viewers it may do well…Let’s hope for the best after all he has put in 7 years of his life there…
Well, No one here is hoping that someone’s film does badly or too well for the simple reason that I, as a part of a collective audience, don’t really care. Singh is King and Bachna Ae Hasino (and a million others) prove that bad cinema can really make a lot of money.
Well Sanjivan, please read my post carefully. I never talked about the box office. You say that some moments are enough for a box office hit. That is common sense. Why even great marketing can get you a opening nowadays. Love Story 2050 is a great example.
You also say that in todays’s times, there is no real need for a matured screenplay (for a box office hit) nor does that kind of a thing happen in India any longer. Actually, I did see all that in Omkara, Maqbool, Lage Raho, Johnny Gaddar, Satya, Black Friday, etc. just to name a few. Not all of them are box office hits but amazing screenplays with great direction.
Actually matured screenplays is also a rare commodity abroad. What we see and hear is the best of the 300 odd films made in Hollywood and a 100 odd made in Europe.
I commented for the simple reson that I saw the film. Hulla has some decent moments and a great idea but no real depth of screenplay or enough material which goes beyond the original idea. The screenplay just moves in one big loop. The box office can always be another matter altogether, but who really cares about that beyond the people who make or lose the money. For me, just give me my 100 Rupees worth
No, Filmbuff, I am saying we need mature screenplays all the time but you rarely get one…the films you have mentioned are terrific efforts by its writer / director knowing the system around us…but they are few and far in between…I am saying today whether your film has a good screenplay or not…the situation is such that even if you manage to tickle few funny bones, evoke some emotions, crack some witty jokes in the name of dialogues, show some intresting characters and a consistent treatment-the chances of its doing well is bright…people lap it up…they in general are not bothered whether it looks like a tele-play or cinema…Bheja Fry is a good example…It still does not certify that its a great film! The over all maturity of a screenplay - the control is strongly desired but not many have been able to crack it… All I am saying is that HULLA appears to be an attempt to do something fresh and original…so I hope it works…if the screenplay according to you is not good enough…then well…it’s more for the Director to realize for his future projects!
Hey Sanjivan, agree with most of what you say except Bheja Fry (a shameless & shameful rip).
Also, don’t really understand the system comment. My experience says that the system is the same everywhere around the world. It is as difficult to make a film anywhere in the world without a star. If you want to make a film any other way, you better be ready for the long haul.
We are also very condescending towards first films. Directors don’t necessarily improve after first films (Look at Aditya Chopra after a brilliant DDLJ) or their third (Gowarikar is still good but nothing like Lagaan yet, or like a Black Friday from Anurag Kashyap). As an audience, the amount of money I spend does not change, whatever be the number on the Director’s credit list.
I would rather trust Directors with great screenplays and technical craft rather than the ones just with good ideas, average screenplays and worse craft.
yeah you may be right…the reason I think most people do not improve or get better is perhaps because of the trappings that comes with success…no time to write…now even the good writers have begun looking for scripts written by others to direct…directing anyday is more lucrative than writing…but basically it boils down to aapko kitni bhookh hai ek achhi story bolne/Kahne ke liye…there are still two people I know who are working hard on their scripts even after tasting success..Raghavan and Rakesh Mehra…Rakesh infact went and did a course in script writing after AKS…and I don’t mean Star System when I say ’system’ for writers /first time directors..I don’t want to get into that now orelse my post would become an article…so to keep it short and simple…some corporate houses are trying to create a system by announcing various script competitons - promising to select the best entries and support them with development fund and help them with experts but are mum about who will direct them…they all basically want stories and the writers for their directors…I gusess this system is meant for those who have already made a film or two…till then you either wait or find your own way out….I am concluding my post here..in case if you want to conitnue our discussion we can always meet up over a cup of coffee and resume…All the best!
Sanjivan, I think the FTII comment (which I regret now in this particular forum, as it was unelaborated) requires more elaboration and is better off as an independent post where we can have this discussion in a more focussed way. As far as filmbuff’s comments go, Sanjivan, I guess if you call Rewind the greatest short film of this century, all the points you make will be conceded by him. That’s all this is about at the end of the day.
Hey Jaideep, most of the post was not for you except the part where I talk about Hulla but you have obviously mixed it up. Did see your film and commented. I did see a lot of potential in the idea which was never realised. Obviously you are offended. Maybe because you are still close to the film and will take some time to see it from an outsider’s perspective. Haven’t seen Rewind. Missed it at Osians but will definitely watch and get back to you.
Sanjivan, we should definitely talk and catch up soon. My e-mail address is filmbuff1234@gmail.com. Send me yours.
Dear filmbuff (or rather, Atul), don’t bother getting back to me, because if you can’t even shed your anonymity before making comments, they aren’t really worth anything. As far as being offended by comments are concerned, i can tell you many people won’t like Hulla, I have no delusions about that at all, am saying it upfront here itself. But not many of them will have an agenda when they tell me that. But, to paraphrase you, everybody has a right to do that.
I do agree that I did get upset about the FTII part for the simple reason that it has nothing to do with the title or the rest of your post. You have generalized about an Institute where you have not studied and more importantly made remarks about FTII Graduates, who you have a clear choice of not working with. Not that it should not be discussed, but this post did not merit that at all, unless, of course, there is an agenda. You have none, I hope
Unfortunately, I saw Halla and too have an opinion on that, which does not meet your expectation of what I should feel. If as you say, the opinion does not matter, why even bother responding to it?
Wonder if it would have been the same if I had been been awestruck by your brilliance. Being anonymous wouldn’t have mattered then I guess.
Am done with this post. Have no intentions of writing again. The so called ‘agenda’ rests.
Atul, if you remember, I kept trying to keep a distance from you in Germany also, but you kept gatecrashing into wherever I was (thrice you did this) and holding forth with your opinions about various things, which you will distinctly remember I told you I wasn’t interested in. Neither had I shown any interest in your opinion of Hulla then, if you remember. No question of any expectation from you or your opinions (or your work; I happen to think Rewind is total drivel, as is Race). This is a public forum and you’re welcome to say what you like but have the balls to say it under your name. I like to keep my distance from people like you. So, it will actually be nice if you indeed stayed away as you say you will.
As far as the FTII thing goes, frankly, you are the perfect example I had in front of me when I made my point. But I would prefer to write an independent post on that because my point has been misunderstood somewhat here.
So filmbuff is a FTII graduate who made the short Film REWIND.
And his name is Atul Taishete.
hmmm….
i have seen rewind and thought it was very bad. interesting gimmick attempted but destroyed by very pretentious treatment. very wannabe. but why race, that is abbas mastan film, no?
look forward to hulla.
Hi Jaideep….looking forward to ur film…ur article is inspiring and intriguing.
Wondering if you’re the same person who wrote the novel ‘Local’ about this advertising professional who lives on a local train?
I saw Hulla in Stuttgart, and quite enjoyed it. Is it “perfect” cinema? No, it isn’t. Is anything? I guess beauty (cinematic or otherwise) would be in the eyes (and experiences) of the beholder.
I am impressed by Jaideep and his commitment to making the film. I am very happy that the film got made AND is being released. And I hope that the movie does well. Why? First, because as someone who is passionate about cinema, it is my honour to support a filmmaker who is passionate about cinema (as opposed to box office). But more so, because as a viewer, I would like to always have a real choice at the multiplex. And for me to have that choice, movies like Hulla need to do well. Even if I had hated the film, and I don’t at all, I would want it to do well so that future movies like Money Hai Toh Honey Hai, Mission Istanbul, and others like those, will have to battle the “indie” low-budget feature for a spot on the screening schedule.
Not sure if I am making any sense or accurately communicating what I am feeling , but don’t want to make this comment too long.
And so … Best of luck, Jaideep. I won’t be in India on Sep 12 but I will tell all my friends to go see it on opening weekend. Even those who went to FTII.
saw Hulla poster in Fame Lido in bangalore ,will try and catch a show.
congratulations on making ur first film…just one thing that i don’t agree with in ur post is this statement
“people who are involved with will be fired-up to do, without bothering about remuneration, political correctness and professional growth.”
people either work for remuneration or for professional growth and ideally for both. No one can be expected to work when both of these are absent….even in the film business so ur argument for working only for the sake of a “creative” project seems a little weak.
Thanks again for your comments. Yes Hina, I did write Local and its commercial failure pretty much made me a filmmaker, you can blame that directly (did you read the book? - if yes, maybe i should take your autograph :-)). Good to hear from you Manish, I share your hope for smaller films competing with the bigger mainstream films - won’t be happening in a hurry though - Hulla’s release has been pushed to September 19th thanks to two of these films releasing on 12th. So, please do tell your friends to see it in the 20th-21st weekend.
Kunal, you’re right, I need to clarify the “professional growth” phrase here. I meant someone who does it purely as a “career” film, as something that looks good on his or her CV. Whereas people who are charged to make a film for “creative fulfilment” reasons always have the hope that others will like the film as much as they do and therefore that will get them more work, ON THEIR TERMS. That’s pretty much how Hulla got made and I think if a few more films get made with that spirit and even if half of those click with the audience, that would change the scene the way Manish hopes for above.
[...] my last post to talk about my first film Hulla which is releasing next month (though now pushed to September 19th, as per the latest update), I [...]
Godspeed sir….thats all i can say…
Dear Jaideep,
The craftlessness of your film that you are so proud of is precisely the bane of Bollywood. Wannabe writers like you come from nowhere and come up with an amateurish effort; and just because you have shot some stuff that finally gets released, you think you are a ‘filmmaker’ who can open his big mouth and deride anyone and everyone.
People like you are precisely the reason that Indian cinema is nowhere near world cinema standards; you don’t even understand what constitutes ‘cinema’. Indian cinema will always be at the pits if thoughtless, callous people like you call the shots boasting about their ignorance. Waiting eagerly for your masterpiece now to see whether all this noise you are making makes any sense finally.
saurav - come forward and make INDIAN CINEMA of what it should be maan …. wats stopping u
and if u can’t …why be a spoilt sport ?
it’s easy to understand from ur comment that its a personal spiteful one …. and may be a struggling aspiring filmaker still trying to make it ..
His (Saurav) first task should be making everyone understand what HE thinks constitutes ‘cinema’.
@saurav..
HAH!!
i have a name these days to throw at comments like urs…
especially this part ‘Indian cinema is nowhere near world cinema standards’
“Subramaniyapuram”!!!! HAH!
Just one question for saurav. How do you know the film is craftless and wannabe? You claim at the end not to have seen it, right? Makes you look quite stupid.
Jeevan, I think Saurav knows it is craftless and wannabe because an FTII director has not made it. Isn’t it obvious? What an idiot.
[...] I wrote a piece on the Passion for Cinema website here meant basically to provide an overview of the film. I ended it with my standard hope that new [...]
Samir - A filmmaker who says that he doesn’t bother about technique is hardly a filmmaker. Try and hold a camera for once in your life - and you’ll know why I said what I said. You people are nothing more than armchair idiots who do nothing except than licking asses of any new director that writes a post. It’s got nothing to do with being an FTII director or anything similar.
Jeevan - The para about ‘I have no technique’ explains it all. You’ll easily realize that when the film comes out. That will make you look quite stupid but I am not sure whether you’ll have the acumen to perceive that.
DPac - Didn’t get your ridiculous mumbo-jumbo. Next time to speak, try and phrase it better.
Honhaar Goonda - Read a few good books by master filmmakers and try watching masterpieces more than once. Maybe then, hopefully, you’ll form an idea.
Kartik - It’s hardly personal, it’s just a reaction to a pompous ‘I-struggled-so-hard-maan’kind of a piece.
You are being the spoilt sport here - a child who’s trying to butt in when one man is trying to talk to another.
Are you an aspiring filmmaker? You seem more like a fence sitter. If not, you have no business trolling on a site that calls itself ‘Passion for Cinema’.
Saurav, why not tell us your full name and identity so we can keep a look out for the highly educated and genius works of cinema that you will be creating in the future? Otherwise, till you do that, maybe we’ll pass on bitter wannabes like you.
Pass me your identity and I’ll pass you mine. Till you do that, you’ll just be another random troll who neither cares nor understands cinema; but decides to present his opinions nonetheless.
I’m also keen to see your masterpieces; that is, if you ever bothered to even try.
dear saurav, i am samir wagh, 3rd year BA (Eco Hons), st stephens college, new delhi. now please tell me your identity. i want to work in cinema at some point and would love to know who you are so i can avoid the likes of you. but will look forward to seeing your great classic works. i’m sure everyone wants to know your identity.
hey guys…all saurav is trying to say is that a director who does not respect technique cannot really be considered seriously…which is right. A lot of fakers get away with bullshit words like “treatment” ,story, mood, feel, ambience” and god nows what else without having a clue of how to achieve all this…
and like it or not but for people who are somewhat educated or experienced in filmmaking, it is possible to judge the technical qualities of a movie from promos and articles like this even without watching the movie
oh no, another one of those. what happened to saurav, kunal? why are both of you so scared to identify yourselves? no confidence in yourselves? why do you “educated” guys talk so much and do so little at the end of the day?
dont have to prove anything thing to anyone samir….least of all to you. giving my identity to you will not in anyway help you to better understand the point me or saurav is making here…this is a forum. If you have understood and have an opinion on what we have said, by all means comment on that or else forget it
This is funny. We normally deride those so-called film-makers who make commercial potboilers that they have no script sense, no technique and all they care about making money and fooling the masses.
Now, someone over here says the same stuff about another (debutant)filmaker (rightly or wrongly, it does not matter) and we take out knives and dagger and get personal in conversation.
Chill guys, let Saurav and Jaideep worry about it.
I haven’t see Hulla so I dont know if Saurav makes sense or Jaideep is right all the way.
The promos look interesting to me. May be I will watch it.
Saw Hulla at a screening. Good concept but poorly executed. But cant blame the director for it considering the budget this movie must have been made on. Wish films were financed better so that what is conceptualized can be executed effectively.
Hi Jaideep,
Loved your post, its natural self-deprecating tone and the earnest hope for better cinema. I will definitely watch “Hulla” and get back with my heart-felt comments for sure.
“All it took was a simple common-sense approach to everything, without elevating anything to rocket science”
Great thought and action - wish more and more people breathe this simple philosophy and dare to make a film in the first place - good or bad is besides the point.
For several years, I sincerely believed that the aspiring filmmaker and actor is me is starving because there is no opportunity for me, it only meant I was disowning my own commitment to further my cause, waiting for the messiahs to carry the burden of my dream. Now, after all these years, I have finally come to terms with the reality that my dream remains unfulfilled, as own my belief in it fails the litmus test.
It feels really great to see people like you who dare to go through the grind - ready to be examined under the microscope for a work of creation that one has delivered against all odds.
Here’s wishing you every success.
Warm regards
Sudhir