New Delhi: Rajesh Jala is one of those filmmakers who have refused to compromise on their style and content. The National Award winning filmmaker is known for making films such as 'Floating Lamp of the Shadow Valley', 'At the Stairs', 'Children of the Pyre' and '23 Winters'. He speaks at length about the hurdles he had to face while making films with deep social concerns.
Back then, cinema was a luxury
Since my childhood, I always wanted to be a filmmaker. I am talking about early 1970s when cinema was like fashion and luxury. Family members were a bit apprehensive that kids shouldn't watch films. There was just one TV in the entire colony and every Sunday we would go there for films. Today's generation might not understand the fascination we had with cinema. It was not easily accessible then. Later, I would bunk school and narrate stories to friends because I was believed to be a good narrator because I narrated the stories with proper sound and music. I believe it might have helped my persona to get closer to films.
The arrogant artist
When I was 15-16, I would watch TV serials and think in my mind that I can do better than these people, I was arrogant. Probably that arrogance pushed me to believe that I can be a filmmaker. This was the beginning of my vision and that was the reason I stayed in the refugee camp for 8 years.
A Kashmiri Pundit in exile
I lived in the refugee camp of Delhi for 8 years because I didn't want to do a job. And, I am the only one from my family to live in that camp which was built for the Kashmiri Pundits in Delhi. In 1989-90, militants started killing Pundits and the entire community left Kashmir by 1990. I arrived at the camp in 1990 and stayed there till 98 when I started earning a little money.
The refined language
If you are referring to the pronunciation and accent part, I would say I picked it up in Delhi. There was just one TV channel DD and Bombay was the hub of films, so I went to AIR and started working as a casual VO artist. As typical Kashmiris I also had a distinct accent but I brushed up my skills in coming years.
First film
First film happened in 1996. Tassaduq Hussain (Cinematographer of 'Omkara' and 'Kaminey') and I shot a small film called 'Chinar'. We also made an 11 minute film on the inmates of a psychiatric hospital. We got encouragement and proceeded further.
First big project
From 1996 - 2004 I would do all kinds of films. Almost every film was a stupid project. Those type of films which you had to make in 10-15 days. Then first serious film of my life 'Floating Lamp of the Shadow Valley' happened, a company came on board and it took me a complete year to make me that film. it was released in 2006.
The National Award
'Children of the Pyre' got so many awards at big film festivals, and of course the National Award.
See, it does help a filmmaker but it's not the pinnacle of success. If quality of the winning films is a concern then there is a life beyond these awards as well. The criteria and methodology can be a bit more transparent.
Chingari (The Spark)
Currently, I am working on a film called 'Chingari' which is the story of a riot victim, Gujarat riots. It's about his inner conflict and coordination with the outer world. It's a full fledged feature film and is already selected for NFDC's Screenwriters' Lab.
Explaining Art
Art is not like just pursuing in the realm of aesthetics. I want to share realistic stories, voices that are not heard, issues which are needed to be addressed. It's my conscious decision to make films on the human aspect of conflicts.####
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