The journey from FLAVORS to 99…
…has been a damn long one!
About 4 years ago, Raj and I directed FLAVORS. Anupam was our friend by then and he agreed to produce the film along with us.
It is an independent film in every aspect of the word. It was low-budget (which felt ridiculously high given that we were putting in all our savings), we did most of the tasks during production, we used all free locations…
The film turned out rather well given all the constraints. It was an awakening of sorts. A lesson that it takes a lot of effort and commitment and money to make a film. And after it is made, the film charts its own course and has its own plans. A lot like a child – not that I’d know anything about that subject!
In this case FLAVORS reached out to a larger audience than we had initially expected. If I may estimate, almost every Indian in America knows about FLAVORS and every other Indian has seen it – usually on a pirated DVD that didn’t translate as cash to us, the producers! Not to forget all the Americans who saw the film. But it’s still a niche audience. And it’s still considered an offbeat film.
That’s when the mainstream bug bit us.
We figured that it makes a lot of sense to make a film for a large audience rather than for a smaller one. Pretty basic, isn’t it? And if we stick to our guns and retained our sensibilities, we might actually be able to bring to the audience a new flavor.
That was the start of the journey – from FLAVORS to 99.
The plan was simple: go to India, stay for a few months, wrap up production, come back to the US and continue with our lives.
The first step was simple enough – the move to India. I quit my software job, sold the car, sold all my furniture at throwaway prices (all except my 5.1 surround sound home theater system, which I’d use when I moved back to the US), booked a 3-month return ticket to Mumbai. Raj did likewise. Meanwhile Anupam had already moved to India and was working on expanding his business.
After 3 months in India, we were exactly where we started. So we decided there was merit in extending the trip by 3 more months. At the end of the additional 3 month period we were exactly where we started, but a lot poorer. In fact, the both of us started feeling the pinch.
At first I was counting in dollars and everything felt cheap. A meal for 2 dollars, movie ticket for 3 dollars… After 6 months in India rupees started feeling like rupees! 180 rupees for a movie ticket?! You must be insane!
That was the first setback.
Raj and I returned to the US. It wasn’t too hard to find a software job during that time. We quickly got back to consulting. We put our heads down and toiled away at the computer for a few months. And kept fine-tuning the script in the lunch-hour.
The bank balance started looking a little better with each passing month. After a few months, I calculated that with all the savings in my bank I could live for at least 5 years in India without earning a penny. Of course that would mean not being extravagant, not having a car etc. With all luxuries, maybe 3 years.
So – once again – Raj and I set back to India. This time I sold my 5.1 surround sound home theater system before leaving. We were ready for the long haul.
Anupam finally had the production company set up, a very professional outfit, with an experienced partner and CEO in place. We had one weapon in our hands – the script. We approached a few actors and everyone liked the script. But for various reasons things didn’t work out. Dates, financial terms, script modifications… each time a different reason.
Finally in 2008, things started falling in place. We started locking the actors in, one after another and ended up with the eclectic cast we have now!
I should say production was a breeze. Not that we didn’t have challenges every day of production, but once you accept the fact that it’s all part of the game you’re ready for anything. We wrapped up production in 3 months (50-odd days of shooting), postproduction took another 4-5 months and we were ready.
Releasing the film posed its own set of challenges, given the recession, strike et al. Finally 99 is ready and releasing – wait a minute – tomorrow! Can’t seem to get rid of the damn butterflies in my stomach!
It feels like we’re at 99 runs, just one short of that elusive century. This Friday will determine if we score the century or not. A wise man once said that it’s not about how many centuries you make, but how well you played. Makes a lot of sense if you ask me. But, damn, it must feel good to make a century!
Like the theme of the film goes: the journey from 99 to 100 is a damn long one!
A note about the author – just a few lines to help the reader understand the context of this article. Krishna DK, along with directing partner Raj Nidimoru, and writing partner Sita Menon, has written and directed 99. Anupam Mittal has produced 99, under the banner People Pictures. 99 is releasing worldwide on May 15, 2009 (www.99thefilm.com). The previous film by this team was the Indo-American film FLAVORS (www.flavorsthemovie.com), which had a worldwide theatrical release in 2004.
Tags: 99, Flavors, Making
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
From Software in US to Filmmaking in India… what a journey! Kdk, Flavors is a personal favorite. Have watched it a dozen times and I’m sure every software engineer in US has done the same. It is such a sharp capture of the desi software guy in the US… Looking forward to 99!
Krishna – welcome to PFC boss! Ur post brings back memories when my girl friend & I living on the east & west coasts respectively would watch flavors over and over again just to laugh at our situations! Lovely film… loved it!
All the best to you and your friends and more power to film-makers like you! Please ensure a release in the US with some marketing… flavors I am sure you know still has a following in the US.
Looking forward to 99!
is it releasing in the US?
It says releasing worldwide but I cannot see any listing for the bayarea.
Krishna – any dope of the release status here?
Hey Krishna..welcome on PFC boss!! loved flavors and got a chance to meet the actress at IFFLA this year, as she was representing Sita Sings The Blues…
Good luck with 99..
Any thoughts on the effect of strike wrt to 99?
Krishna – What a wonderful post and an even more wonderful journey!! In my mind, “Flavors” is one of 3 Indo-American films that every Indian ought to watch (the other 2 being “American Desi” and “ABCD”). I was pleasantly surprised when I watched this film first time with friends, after 8 years of living in the US and relating to almost all the nuances of an “code monkey” that you captured on film
Did not know you guys were behind 99. More power to you and best wishes for another succesful run!!
Loved many scenes… but one which hit a home run was the software guy deleting all his project files before he is packed out of the workplace. That was pretty
I think my favorite scene is where the consultant on “bench” hangs up on a interviewer coz the guy at the other end is not the “end client” but one of the many layers of sub-contracting companies that’s out to pimp his ass… so true :D
@8, Yeah that was hilarious so was the scene where the three on-the-bench engineers discuss they should make a movie if they don’t get a project. Then one of them asks, “But who will see our movie” and all three turn towards the camera looking at you…
Ha ha… that was clever (and oh so true!!)!
What a coincidence !! I just saw Flavors yesterday for the first time and absolutely loved it. And today I find this post.
Best wishes to the team.
Ohh man!! so many great scenes…Krishna i have to confess something to you…i stole your idea of that ” dinner”..where the guy in West coast takes his GF “out” for a dinner and drink over the phone..and used the same one on my ex..she was very very happy :-). It was very cute/romantic. Who came up with that?
Loved when the Software guy tells his female roomamte that he is in love with her..lol!! and when she says “Grow up”..he gets disgusted and says ” You grow up”..i was roflmao on that..
BTW..thanks for Flavors..and it was also so pleasant to see Anjan Shrivastav and Bharti Achrekar back..memories of Wagle Ki Duniya..
u ppl rock!!!…kudos 2 ur guts…ur story gives inspiration to do something exactly opposite to what u r currently doing…Hope sometime I reach that stage…
Thanks for all the feedback, guys!
99 is releasing in the US as well. Here’s the listing: www.d2rfilms.com/listing
It’s not too wide a release outside of India to start off with, but if it does well, it’ll expand.
Wow! that was straight from the heart.all the best to you Krishna & the rest of the team of 99.
All the best to you and your team Krishna! I loved Flavors!
My favorite scene was when one of the guys on ‘bench’ finally lands a job and gets all idealistic on the other two!
congratulations! very impressive! wishing you guys the best and look me up if you are ever in Los Angeles – babu subramaniam
whoa. dats so inspiring! thanks for sharing.
I have not seen Flavors but whatever I am seeing of 99 upto now…it shall be a good film all the way..and that was a great adventure you guys have had, must say that..would like to meet y’ll some day..hopefully!
Hey Krishna, I loved Flavours, man! Especially the ‘cultural difference’ thing, AWESOME. You should have had released the movie in India too! Happy about 99, keep updating us about your future works.
Cheers!
flavors was/is awesome. 99 looks promising at least the fillers.
@FLAVORS People: The mother character in FLAVORS is the best ever portrayal of an indian mother. Characterisation as well as acting by that lady was too good.
” In india there is love marriage but no boyfriend before marriage”
” You should think this is the only husband i have and try to…”
And that guy with thick indian accent saying ” this tastes like water ya “.
Krishna, Flavors was a lovely film.
Managers of the site, Doesn’t this piece belong to “exclusive” section. Krishna and the team completed two movies independently and their story deserves exclusive space on PFC.
wow…Norwalk 8…gr8…will surely go and watch…neone from PFC coming to NORWALK 8?…
Inspiring story! Maybe some day we too would be able to find our creative-calling…
Flavors was fun to watch. Funny in the right places and I guess every desi remotely connected to IT would relate to.
All the best for 99! Looking fwd to watch it.
Hi Krishna,
Flavors is one of my all-time favorite movies! Watched it several times and it is an absolute delight to watch the movie. Among our friends circle, we still quote “Ramana Dasarakothapalli” and his funny dialogues from the movie every now and then!
Good luck for the new movie 99! I am sure it will do well. Can’t wait to watch it!
Hey! I bet it has been a beautiful but a difficult journey none the less, good luck for 99, I would see it for sure and also flavors too.
Wish there were some prints at this side of the world too:-(
Chalo, dvd dekh lenge.
The film looks fab!
Great music too.
And Kunal Khemu seems to be in a film that might just highlight his talent!
Seriously, he’s a very talented guy, but his previous films just fail to show that!
I’m sure that 1 day, he’ll strike gold.
Acting acchi karta hain.
Looking forward to the (dodgy?) dvd release in the U.K.
All the VERY BEST to u guys.
Especially Mr Khemu! :-)
editors- I agree with srikar@23- this deserves to be in the exclusive section!
Krishna, all the best for 99. Dont worry about the reviews. They will all give you 2-2.5
rediff’s Elvis ranted about how it looked like a badly executed first film, but still gaave 2.5 stars, because there was nothing else to watch in multiplexes. If its true, then all your experience in Flavors is down the drain. But would like to get a first feel in theatres during the weekend.
Didn’t like “Flavours”. OD of ABCD films or maybe was I just friggin done with Software guys talking smart. (My Bias, My Bad).
American Desi, Outsourced, Loins Of Punjab…..
Desis of the A, start making real films!!!!!!
FLIP SIDE.
99 looking nice though (the promos)
Anyways my (you must be insane) 180 bucks to your 99
for the journey and for coming to India to make a film and a difference.
All the best and yes, India is the place to make films….make a difference. Hope you have enough money this time to last a life time of AAIYASHI in India!!!
Cheers!!!! and great luck.
99 promos looking superb! (though i find a bit of a hangover from Bluffmaster…esp. the soundtrack) Definitely going to watch this one. And Vinod Khanna…wooha! Hope he makes a SOLLLID comeback.
Hi Krishna,
Is it true? Did you shoot 99 on HD?
Hey Krishna…
Saw the movie man. It was superb. After a long time saw some genuine comedy (not the mindless capers type). The best part of the movie was perfect ensemble cast. As usual these reviewers dont see the movie in total light. They judge from first half and second half…how fast and slow…kinds…
Thanks boss for entertaining and giving 180 Rs its due worth. If possible will watch it again too…
But the sad part is there were some 30-40 ppl in jayanagar inox. But the good part is everybody enjoyed and started clapping at the end.
Promote the movie man. Hardly anybody knew about it. And do take time to put reviews in different sites. There are very few reviews floating around with 2-3/5 types. It kinda puts off people. Hope it helps….
Just watched 99 ,it is a time pass movie and especially pace of the movie is pretty good. Reminded me of Pulp fiction, Snatch and Lost Stock & Smoking Barrels.Go for it ….
Krishna,
99 is a great movie! tight script, good fun….keep making movies. Bollywood needs u.
-sanjit
yayaver… you have rightly pointed… it reminds of dark comedy… but not really dark… humor is very desi… i liked the character of amit misty the most…
very surprising… pfc… no review yet…
reminds me of the nepotism… would request the members to put a review soon..so that more and more people go and watch it…
Cherish – write a review. no one is stopping you. iVIEW it
If i had the talent to write one…I would have definitely written it. I can’t analyze a movie as others in the forum do. BTW I am not being a cynic here, was re-emphasizing the spirit pfc stands for – encourage quality cinema. Thats it. Probably people are busy watching election results.
99 was a really cool flick,watch guys .really wellshot and edited and performances were also good
grt effort . best of luck.
Yes, Aman we would watch it but can’t! :-(
No release man :-(
And it was the ONLY film which STANDS OUT in the bakwaas promo’s these days!
I’m moving to India!
Final!
saw the movie last night and, i am really glad that it doesn’t set into any known genres we have in India. I couldn’t stop laughing at the funny dialogues in the movie and man was the timing amazing. I have never seen a comedy so well written with an actual story line. And the fact that it used the whole match-fixing scandal as a back-drop for the story was commendable. After the long drought(read producers’ strike) of movies, i am glad that someone came out and gave us a well made movie which was really enjoyable to say the least. Hope you guys make more, smarter and entertaining movies.
Watched 99 11pm show at LamcyPlaza Dubai.
What a Movie~!!
Brilliant job guys, Kumal Khemu was uneffingbelievable! This is his best performance after Zakhm. Cyrus Broacha had glimpsed of his Bakra goodies goin for him, but I guess you left him in the toilet alot, good on you!!
Boman Irani was fabulously believable as a compulsive gambler who wants to quit. Simone Singh is a natural. Vinod Khanna, I think the character sketch was based on Vijay Mallya, its commendable the amount of research dat went into it, I mean you could have easily made it a Las Vegas style den, but you stuck to keeping it real, keeping i dingy.
Attention to detail, attention to detail, attention to detail…heck you guys even got the cellphone models to the t! Excellente!
Soha Ali Khans body language in the last scene, wow…that girl really gets into character.
The script…tight, beautifully tight, the second half kinda sets you up for disappointment, your thinking oh no…the director is gonna lose the plot again..oh they r going for too many “kahaani mein twists” but you pulled it off mate…oh did you pull it off!!
I kinda agree yet disagree that its loosely fashioned on a guy richie movie, maybe the pace…but you definitely had a really indian twang going on here. Love the scene where AGM is fast asleep while waiting at Sachins hotelroom…that I guess was very Guy Ritchie/Quentin Tarantino. But someone did make a remake of snatch, Sunny Deol, Shahid Kapur and Vivek Oberoi…cant remember the name of the movie, I guess that tells you how much I liked it :P.
Cast and Crew of 99 take a bow, this one is getting into my DVD collection…and yes watching it tonight as well, with a different bunch of mates!
On a side note, what timing yaaran..what timing..IPL, Elections…the mood was just right for 99!! Cheerio
Random notes on the support cast
Dimple – Mophair, Safari Suit, Big Bully…total wimple, supercasting…simple!
Mahesh Manjrekar – This shivaji is a bhai at heart! Bhai Bhai Bhai…mannerisms, lingo, dressing..sab ekdum bhai maafik, bole toh jam gaye boss.
Amit Mistry – Dimple…wham, dimple…fataak, dimple….Pow. LOL Take care kar! Magic!
Momos in Delhi…wow man…you guys really are from America? no film maker has ever, ever shown that! Dev D started it, but you guys used it in its true form…on a cycle, like the idli waalas of bombay!
I wanna go watch it again right now!
Awesome movie…great work guys..lovely
I watched 99 in Calif. One of the best I’ve seen. Now how does one post a review on this site?
My review follows in the next comment.
MY REVIEW OF 99:
Imagine I asked you to describe what your life was like a decade ago…
Right, me neither – so instead, Imagine I asked you had to make up a story of your life, based on key events that happened to you 10 years ago but fill in the rest as you like…
Now imagine how much harder it would be if I asked that the story you were creating also had to bridge to the current day events back then
It is a daunting task and one which the writers of 99 have done with flair and function. The script is whip-smart in the way it combines popular trends (cell phones, bhojpuri movies, the onset of cafes) of the time with the news making events (y2k, cricket match fixing) of the time to narrate a truly innovative story. All this while adding twists and turns to the main plot that will keep you buckled to your seat for the 2hr ride.
The casting was genius – Especially true of, Soha Ali Khan (as the girl next door that you want to take to mom) Kunal Khemu (as ‘NOT the bigger-than-thou hero who doesn’t need your rooting for him to make a century’), Amit Mistry (as the lil guy with the big stick – aka dimple) and Boman Irani (as the most frustrating-gambler-husband-who-you-love-nevertheless ever).
Kunal is a natural born actor and in Amit a star has just been born.
Why you will love it : Sharp dialogues, sharper delivery, excellent acting all round, awesome cinematography, fantastic music
Why you might settle for liking it : The movie is in a genre that is new to Bollywood – “What, I don’t have to be awed by the hero’s machismo and the heroine’s svelte body?”, “What, the lead characters are the underdogs that I will want to root for, rather than supermen who drive Lamborghinis and live in palaces?”, “what, I will hope that the hero escapes from the bad guy rather than making mincemeat of the villains face?”.
The genre is called a ‘crime caper’ but 99, refuses to be boxed neatly into a category and insists on being a crime caper-historical fiction-and-much-more
This movie wont change your life – don’t expect to leave the movie inspired and moved. It will be more like you stepped off a roller coaster ride and you want to go back to the end of the line again.
Ladies, It would be like eating a perfectly whipped chocolate mousse – Enjoy!
Cherish – you really think great writing is driving this site !!!!!!
It just about speaking ones mind. Good, Bad and mostly Ugly. But the great thing is…people write, make an effort. I like PFC for that…EFFORT.
Saw 99. Will agree with comment 35- very ‘Guy Ritchie’ish approach to a crime comedy, though with 100% desi flavour. Honestly, it heavily reminded me of Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
The humour is just outstanding.
Casting is superb, except for may be Soha Ali. Expected more from Cyrus though.
Desreves a separate review. If published on Iview will paste the link here.
@ 45 Cliff- The disastrous desi snatch was called Fool & Final…..:D
Team of 99,
Thanks a lot! You made my Sunday!
Totally agree with you Cliff. And what dialogues..bhenchod..sample some of these:
‘Dilli me ladkiyon ke sirf do hi naam hote hain Neha and Pooja.’ This is amazing observation..ROFL..!
‘Tu Chup sakta hai tera pichwada nahin’
Network fuck ups were amazing, there are just too many, sadly can’t recollect everything..but amazing work guys! Take a fucking bow!
http://passionforcinema.com/thunderstorm-99-before-mundu-there-was-mindi/
Dude,
congrats on the century. I wish i could have been a part of it. We spoke when u were workin on “FLAVOURS”. U livin one of my dreams dude. keep it up. Hope to drop in on ur next production.
i had no clue or background to this film as my life’s been a turmoil the last 2 months, just needed a break, drove to the theatres yesterday with my mom, bought two tickets for 200 bucks and loved it! the film rocks. it could have been edited to a slightly shorter runtime, but the 25 odd people in the theatre on a Monday evening couldn’t stop rolling on the floor screaming in pain clutching their stomachs till the very end.
a very well made film – i’d love to catch flavours, and hopefully this on screen once more if it runs for a second week.
kudos!
kickass film! must watch
My review of 99 posted on PFC- http://passionforcinema.com/a-twist-in-the-tale-of-two-cities-99-movie-review/
Will love to know your views, Mr. KDK :D
Thanks for the awesome comments, guys! Those were really nice things you all said about FLAVORS.
And I’m loving the reviews of 99! It’s quite exciting! It’s one thing making a film, it’s quite another when people love it. That’s my century right there! :-)
I would have liked to respond to each and every comment on this page, but at the moment, looking at the number of them, it’s looking quite impractical. :-)
Keep it coming, guys.
Can anyone disclose what the total making budget of 99 must have been?
Sorry, forgot to mention – I saw the movie and it was a fun watch.
This has become my alltime favourite movie. Take a bow Krishna D.K. & Raj Nidimoru, thank you for giving us this movie.
But it hurt to see only 20 odd guys in the theatre in the evening show. But I am sure this is going to have a cult following. Amazing AMAZING movie!
I saw it at sterling, bombay, on saturday evening. It was pretty decently crowded (tho not for a saturday evening). Some girls were squealing with laughter, and generally the audience was enjoying it.
I think one of the problems with recent movies is why film makers are unable to come up with decent hindi names for movies. Names like ‘Strangers’, ‘13B’, ‘Stoneman Murders’ and ‘99′ lose out on a large percentage of viewers simply because they are not sre what the movie is about, or even if it is in hindi. The bigger promoted movies like ‘Welcome’, ‘Hello’ etc can afford to do it as everyone will know what the movie is about and it is in hindi just by the songs and promos on tv. Smarter ones opt for half hindi half english names like ‘You me aur Hum’ ‘Namastey London’ ‘Jab We Met’ etc to play it safe.
But thats no excuse for not being able to come up with good hindi names. I think it speaks more for the lack of creativity rather than dearth of words in the language itself.
@Nitin
When I came back home tonight and told my mom about the movie and how much I loved it, her response on hearing the title was “English movie thi?”
I agree with you that English titles alienate Indian audience to an extent but after seeing 99 would you have titled it differently.
@Aseem – Frankly I do not see the importance of ‘99′ to the movie, except for a few weird dialogues which seem to have been forced in to connect the title to the movie. I would definitely have named it something else.
lol i seen flavors pirated too. sorry lol. but it never released here anyways. the chick was fire.
wanna see 99 too. good luck dudes.
Well, I was working in a software job (MSFT) in Seattle, US and quit and am trying flimmaking here. I had seen your FLAVOURS there(pirated from Mayuri video shop) and had loved it…I knew only an insider can write a story about s/w engg folks so well. It is inspiring and encouraging to read that you managed to make so much progress. I am currently pursuing film school education but hope to get into directing a feature very soon after that.
I was keen on knowing how you managed to get onto the distribution network. I was planning on getting together a team to produce my first film too after my school but was not sure of how to go crack the distribution market. Any information along those lines in your future blogs will be very useful.
Hi,
Thought it was a decent film, well researched & innovative.My only problem was with Boman’s & to a certain extent Simone’s characterisations which didn’t make me care for them or their relationship.This made the film less funnier than it could’ve been for me. Still overall a unique Hindi film.
Regards,
Santino
Wonderful..just saw the trailer..Looking forward to the movie. Is it releasing in the US also?
Flavours is my all time favourite. We used to rent it every single time for our guests to watch it. So I have probably seen it a dozen times easily, with all the lines memorized.
Good luck with the movie and hope you will make more.
Excellent movie. I saw it on a (legal) DVD. Congratulations. Will go in theaters for the next one.