New Delhi: Slowly and steadily, filmmaking in India is evolving as a content driven business. Despite the success of some 'low on content' big budget films, the audiences more or less have endorsed 'well crafted' cinema in recent times.
'From Sydney with Love' is the latest film on the block which will try to make its presence felt among big ticket films such as 'Jism 2' and 'Gangs of Wasseypur 2'. The debutant director Prateek Chakravorty is not new to the film industry. His family banner has made films like 'Love in Tokyo', 'Deedar' and 'Barood' in the past, but this is his chance to re-hoist the family flag.
So, what made Prateek to go for filmmaking?
"In 2003-05, I was studying in Sydney where I was doing my MBA in marketing. At that time, the whole perspective of a student from India, who goes to Australia from a small town and how she adapts there, interested me. I had my own incidences and occurrences and I had an idea about the changes in a student's life, so this formed the basic milieu of the story. It was a cool concept and we have tried to retain that coolness."
He further added, "It's a big responsibility. My grandfather Pramod Chakravorty was a big name and it's the 50th year of our film company. He made some great films and always emphasised on being true to the story. Though my father is an engineer, I always had a keen interest in cinema. The inner urge to be a part of the cinema compelled me to go for From Sydney with Love."
Having a well known director as grandfather must have helped him in the film industry, "He made good films in his era but I can't make those films now. Talent should not be taken for granted in legacy. I also need to impress my audience, so I have tried to be honest and sincere with my story. I could have taken the options of big stars but it's a university film and I am not a Rajkumar Hirani to pull off Aamir Khan doing a '3 Idiots'. I have got a star cast which is hungry to work; their attitude towards work compels me to take them as my family."
Sohail Sen's music is quite something in the film. "Many things on this film have happened due to some strange forces of nature, young minds got together. Making a film with all newcomers is a risk but it's worth taking. You might just end up liking the film due to its music."
Not many directors opt for acting also in their films. "Acting happened by chance, the character was a lot like me. During the pre-production, I incorporated a lot of nuances in the character of Raj Bakshi which were also present in my personality. I was auditioning people for this role but I was very sceptical whether they will be able to pull it off the way I want, so I decided to do it myself, in any case it was a fresh star-cast."
Promos suggest that his character has a good length in the film; "He is a little quirky, little crazy character, lives life to the fullest. Soft and loud at the same time, actually very unpredictable character."
Will 'From Sydney with Love' be able to excel at the box office, "I know I have made a good film but the audience is the real judge. We have seen 'Vicky Donor', 'Paan Singh Tomar', so the audience endorse good films. These films have got their share of applause, so I am banking on those vibes only."
But, it's releasing with 'Jism 2', "(Laughs) Yes, they have the 'Jism' and we have the 'Jaan'."
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