Director Anand Gandhi's 'Ship Of Theseus' explores various aspects of life like identity, beauty and death through three different characters played by Aida El-Kashef, Neeraj Kabi and Sohum Shah. The story in 'Ship of Theseus' talks about human values and features three characters - an experimental photographer, an ailing monk and a stock broker. Filmmaker Kiran Rao has released the film in collaboration with UTV Motion Pictures. Director Anand Gandhi joined IBNLive readers for an interaction on his movie 'Ship Of Theseus'.
Q. There's certainly no formula to enter the world of cinema. But what you think a young aspiring filmmaker should take initiatives. Asked by: kumaresh bhatt
A. A young aspiring filmmaker today should start approaching cinema as a sort of a cultural scientist - art and cinema can have two important relationships with scientific inquiry - to initiate a hypothesis through heightened intuition, and to assimilate the inferences of science and make them accessible. So, a young aspiring filmmaker should spend all the time learning, exploring, thinking, traveling, reading, watching the best the world has to offer in philosophy, art, architecture, music, literature, theatre and science.
Q. There is a lot of discussion about ticket pricing for SOT. Given such constrained environment for Indies to reach larger audiences, what do you think should be the ideal way to ensure that more Ship of Theseus like movies are made and seen in our country? Asked by: Dharmagya
A. There are several short term and long term projects we need to initiate to maintain a healthy cultural environment. The short term objective was to prove that there is a significant ticket paying audience for cinema that is intelligent, contemporary, meaningful and relevant in the country today. That has started happening, and we have to come together to prove this point. The long term plan that all of us are excited about is to develop a completely new, independent infrastructure for the production and consumption of this cinema in the country. Small arthouse theatres dedicated to content that is inventive, thought-provoking, challenging and inquiring... We have begun working on that. We need everyone to participate, so that we can change the place.
Q. Hi Anand, isn't it weird that brilliant movies like SOT, Lunchbox, B.A. Pass etc. need an endorsement from international film festivals before Indian distributors pick it up? Asked by: Akshay
A. It is. At the same time, we are slowly, yet increasingly becoming self dependent. We need validation only from local audiences, which we have now begun to get, and this will only get better. A huge number of people in this country (including myself and my friends) have migrated to consuming global culture (American TV, European cinema, TED talks, etc.) and there is a growing disappointment with locally produced content - this will push the producers to produce more content locally that matches up in thought, vision and craftsmanship with the best of the world. Let's make this happen.
Q. Can you tell us something about the trial and tribulations you and your team endured in making SOT? How did you ensure to go on? Asked by: Dharmagya
A. Filmmaking is a resource heavy process. It takes a huge amount of effort and resources to make any film. I was privileged to have a great team, which is half the battle won. We could stick through all the difficult times, and there were many many difficult phases, because we really knew that we are making a film that just needs to be made.
Q. How were you able to convert this concept of theseus paradox in to a story? What was the starting point? Asked by: mihir
A. There were several starting points. One of the starting points was in a story I was developing with Khushboo Ranka about a blind hockey player, who gets a cornea transplant, but continues playing, cheating and winning the blind hockey tournament. We thought she should be a part of an anonymous group bound together by something unique and physical. :)
Q. From where did the production team get the inspiration to make such a movie and give this title after Greek Mythology.Had to Google search to understand its significance. Requires guts to make such a movie with unknown cast. Congratulations. Asked by: Dilip
A. Thank you. It's a completely manufactured idea that a film like this should require guts. Should we be living in a society where it should be the other way around - where making a silly, frivolous film with no story, with regressive worldviews and terrible craftsmanship should take a lot of guts to make? We go to a film or a book to seek a new experience, expand our worldview, to widen our understanding of ourselves and our relationships - the phenomenon of the going to films that are copies of copies of copies is a manufactured one. The title of the film is only an invitation to further dialogue. There are many layers hidden in the narrative, if you care to dive deeper. :)
Q. I have watched your short films. You seem to be focussing a lot on the law of causality, the 'what goes around, comes around' concept. What made you indulge in such high philosophy at a young age? Is it your area of interest or do you intend to make movies in other genres too? Haven't watched your movie yet. Have booked tickets on 30th @chennai. Asked by: Sundaram
A. Firstly, thank you for voting the film to release in your city. This itself is a great start. I am interested in causality, in questions of free will and purpose, and how our understanding and inferences affect law, justice, and social living. I think film, esp. narrative fiction film is a great tool to engage with these questions. I am going to make a lot of science fiction films from here on.
Q. What are your cinematic inspirations in terms of movies and directors? Asked by: Dharmagya
A. You can find some of them over here http://recyclewala.blogspot.in/2013/07/i-was-recently-requested-by-site-to.html The complete list is really, really long.
Q. Haven't seen such profound conversations shown in movies. How did you work on it? Asked by: Dharmagya
A. The idea of having the conversations was to trigger off a yet deeper inner dialogue. In that way, the conversations in the film are distillations of much deeper questions - that's what I worked on for the longest time.
Q. Did the choice of Stockholm had something to do with Sweden being rated as one of the most fair and just social systems in the world? Asked by: Dharmagya
A. Yes, very much. Thank you for the observation.
Q. What your words to the aspiring filmmakers and ofcourse the outsiders? Asked by: kumaresh bhatt
A. I would say spend lots of time on everything from ubuweb to butdoesitfloat, read a lot, travel, meet people, question, observe, draw, photoshop, travel, read, inquire, assimilate.
Q. How did you manage funds for the film? Any advice for other independent filmmakers out there on this regard? Asked by: Karthik Kumar
A. The film was financed by the amazingly talented actor Sohum Shah. Banksy, the elusive graffiti artist once said, "All artists are willing to suffer for their work, but very few are willing to learn to draw." The only advice I have had for myself is to keep reminding myself that I have to learn the craft - once you do that throughly, money will come to you.
Q. I live in Jaipur, the capital of the biggest state in our country and there are absolutely no theatres showing SOT. How are non-metro audiences supposed to watch good indie cinema? Is it really that hard to procure shows in other cities? Asked by: Tushar Sharma
A. You are right. We are pushing for a Jaipur release. Please vote for the film to release there. YOu can vote here https://www.facebook.com/sotfilm/app_155877547929344 We are working on evolving an alternative infrastructure. Please spread the word on the film - if enough people fill up the theatres (as it's happening now), films such as these will start releasing across the country. Let's come together in producing a better cultural environment.
Q. I haven't seen Ship of Theseus yet, but how was the travel to make this art and will next one be a short or a feature film. Asked by: Sibi Pandian
A. Please do find time to watch Ship of Theseus. You can find out more about the film and show timings here https://www.facebook.com/sotfilm The next one is a feature I have produced directed by Rahi Barve, starring Sohum Shah. It's called Tumbad.
Q. One thing about SOT other than its visual splendor is its brilliant writing. What i the secret behind it? Any tips on writing for aspiring film-makers? Asked by: Nirmal Henry
A. The now celebrated cinematography of the film is by Pankaj Kumar. I am happy that the writing resonated with you. I would only recommend reading a lot, finding ways to distill experiences in words, experimenting with all forms of exchange, trying to not be too derivative, trying to synthesise and unify polarities, while engaging with them.
Q. Hi Anand, loved Sohum's performance in Ship of Theseus. Rarely see such a natural performance in Indian films. Would love to see more of him. Do convey this to him. Also how did you go about casting for the film? Asked by: Arshya
A. Thank you. Sohum Shah is indeed a discovery. The casting was a long process of searching for individuals with cast life experiences and journeys.
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