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Interview Pradeep Sarkar’s Laaga Chunari Mein Daag opens next week. He tells MINI ANTHIKAD-CHHIBBER ad filmmakers are wrongfully accused of being obsessed with technique
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Cutting a long story short Pradeep Sarkar: ‘Ad films have taught me the discipline of time’
Pradeep Sarkar insists that ad filmmakers are more sinned against than sinning. About the said filmmakers’ weakness for flash and style the National Award winning director of “Parineeta” says: “Come on, film is a visual medium
and it is not a crime if a film looks good. There are stylish, shallow films made by non ad filmmakers. So there.”
Sarkar’s whose next film, “Laaga Chunari Mein Daag,” from the Yash Raj banner, is opening on October 12, says there are no disadvantages of coming to feature films from an ad film background.
“I am probably the oldest winner of National Award for first film at 52! But I think it was time well spent making ad films. I learnt the discipline of time. In the ad world you are telling stories in 30 seconds and you learn to respect your viewer’s time. In a feature film we are taking away two hours of a person’s time and he is paying for it as well, so you jolly well need to respect that.”
Sarkar says his habit of storyboarding his films is also from the ad world. “I audio-board every shot with music, dialogue — the works. So if you close your eyes, you can see the film in your head.”
Sarkar dismisses the argument that storyboarding limits creativity. “There is no hard and fast rule that you cannot change the storyboard. You just go with the flow.”
Switching camp
“Parineeta” was produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Sarkar’s earlier work including assisting on “Mission Kashmir” and “Ekalavya” was for Chopra. So does working with Yash Raj mean he has switched camps?
“Oh, come on, I do ad films for so many people right? Adi (Aditya Chopra) narrated the story and I loved it. And so I am making the film.” When asked about the adverse reactions to “Ekalavya” being sent as the Indian entry for the Oscars, Sarkar candidly says: “I worked on the film so I am going to be biased. And people will react anyway to everything. But if you want my two bits, I think the number of films sent should not be restricted to just one. There should be different categories and that way everyone is happy.”
“Laaga Chunari…” Sarkar says is “an intriguing journey of a woman from Benares”. Sarkar says he shot in Benares as “it is picturesque. I have a thing about the homeliness and simplicity of the place.”
Perish any thought of Benares being short-hand for exotic India!
Shantanu Moitra’s music for the movie is getting much kudos and Sarkar laughs saying: “Yeah, finally the guy is working! But seriously he has given an amazing score. My brief to him was to keep to the basics but travel, which is what the film is about as well.”
Rani Mukherjee’s costumes have been designed by ace designer Sabyasachi who Sarkar says “is terrific to work with. He knows how to clothe people and moments.”
Sarkar, whose “Parineeta” was a remake in a manner of speaking says “the concept of a remake is absurd. You have the story and how you execute reveals your unique signature. I did not even watch Bimal Roy’s version of ‘Parineeta’. And ‘Ramgopal Varma Ki Aag’ is Ramu’s take on ‘Sholay’.”
Sarkar, who counts Satyajit Ray as his source of inspiration, says: For me it is back to basics and back to ad films till another great story comes along. My mission statement, my big idea, is to tell stories.”
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