Love gets Wrinkle Free with Sandeep Mohan
(You can read the full interview at
http://artisticinclination.com/sandeepmohan/)
Every
film-maker has a story to share and so does Sandeep Mohan. Making his
debut into bollywood with his an anti-ageing comedy ‘Love, Wrinkle Fee’,
he is constantly striving hard to change the film making scenario in
India. Sandeep Talks to
AiN about his latest movie ‘Love Wrinkle Free’ and other projects.
AiN: When, in life, did you decide to follow directing as the path you’d take as a storyteller?
Sandeep: At around 21. I wandered into it. Never
planned or dreamed as a kid that I will one day be a writer/director.
Had a lot of questions in my mind, and I guess this is one medium that
allows you to explore this.
AiN: How did you get the idea to write the script for ‘Love, Wrinkle free’? What was your biggest fear
before starting it?
Sandeep: Love, Wrinkle-free evolved from my
observations about Urban Indian society. Living in cities, I could sense
that people are getting excessively obsessed with the way they look,
and the ‘external’ self was getting way too much importance. This too,
in a country which prided itself on ‘inner-growth’. Slowly a story
started forming in my mind as I set about to explore this theme in a
light-hearted tone, and thus Love, Wrinkle-free took form…
Fear? Well, many, but I didn’t let that hold me back. The biggest
fear must have been the fear that I would run out of fuel since the
process of indie filmmaking is so hands-on that you need lots of mental
and physical strength. I am glad that it worked out and I was able to
motivate myself to go at it..
AiN:
You couldn’t have a better star cast than this. Both Ash Chandler and
Shernaz Patel is top notch.How did you go about assembling such a cast?
Was it as simple as a phone call away?
Sandeep: I had these actors in mind and gave them
the script, and they were very keen to be part of it. Nothing in
filmmaking is simple as a phone call away, you got to understand that.
You need to be constantly at it to convince people that what you are
dreaming about is actually going to happen and that too in a particular
way. I had to communicate my vision to the actors for them to get
excited that they are part of something unique. I am glad I approached
these actors since they gave their heart out for this movie. Now they
are friends for life.
AiN: The film is in English, did that limit the number of audiences?
Sandeep: India is the second largest English
speaking country in the world. Yeah, we don’t speak the way Americans or
the British do, but we have our own way of communicating in English.
Love, Wrinkle-free is an Indian-English movie, and since the movie is
set in Goa and in a Roman Catholic world, I thought it apt to keep it in
Indian English. A Tamil movie or a Bengali movie also has a limited
audience, but that doesn’t mean they have stopped making movies.
Similarly, a movie in India in Indian English does have an audience, and
the challenge is ‘how to reach out to them’. The language is not the
issue. Love, Wrinkle-free will appeal to those people who like sensible,
light-hearted movies, and it was very well-received by this section of
the audience when it released in 10 cities in India in May.
AiN: In order to secure funding you need to have a known actor and in order to get a known actor
you need sufficient funding. What do you have to say about budget constraints? Can the film be
funded on the basis of concept alone?
Sandeep: Funding for an indie movie is difficult all
over the world. Nothing is easy. But it is not just in movies. Climbing
Mount Everest or even a smaller hillock comes with some amount of
effort. So you trust that your passion for the story that you want to
tell will drive you and get you to a point where you have enough funds
to start the movie. I never had ideas like I need well-known actors
since for me the Super star is the ‘Script’. Everybody else is
secondary. A film can be funded on a good script, and a good team. You
have to set your expectations accordingly. I never wanted to become
famous or wanted the world to sit up and clap. I just wanted to tell a
story through Love, Wrinkle-free and I did. I am not greedy nor do I
have silly ambitions like winning the Oscars. I am just interested in
making movies. I know how much money I can raise, and hence I write a
script to suit that budget.
AiN: If you could destroy a myth about the film, what would that be?
Sandeep: There are no experts. So listen only to your
heart, and don’t let anyone else with more experience or who is older
tell you how to make ‘your’ movie. A film is a director’s vision, stick
to it. At the same time, take everyone together. Be tactful about this
fine balance.
AiN: You have worked as an assistant director for Sanjay Leela Bhansali, written various scripts and
then finally ‘Love, Wrinkle free’. Do you plan on acting in movies as well?
Sandeep: I have no plans in acting in movies. Though
I am interested in making documentaries, probably writing a book and
possibly playing Badminton tournaments in the near future, before I die.
AiN: Where do you think this film will hold a place in film history in a couple of years?
Sandeep: I have no idea about how history records
movies, my job is to write a story and direct the movie. I will just say
that they will look at ‘Love, Wrinkle-free’ has one of those films that
stuck to its original vision and offered something very unique as
compared to the usual fare that comes out. Also it is not necessary for
indie movies to be dark, and ‘Love, Wrinkle-free’ is one of those very
few Indian indie films that uses a lighthearted tone to drive home its
point. Also the international audience also lapped it up in most of the
fests and we have managed to sell the movie to some foreign markets too.
AiN: What are the other projects you are working on?
Sandeep: I am at the moment working on a very
interesting script which is keeping me very excited. I have a few other
scripts which are ready too, but I will come to that when the time is
right. In a vast country like India, there is no shortage of stories if
you keep your eyes, ears and heart open
AiN: Many aspiring directors never achieve modest success. What do you have to say to young
people out there to get into the film industry?
Sandeep: I am no expert and hence don’t have
anything to say to them except ‘Follow your gut’. And don’t get into
filmmaking to become famous, all that is the side-effect. Put your
everything into the script and go about it with an uncompromising
vision. Simple. And most importantly, enjoy your life beyond movies.
