New Delhi: Debutant director Gyan Correa's film 'The Good Road' is India's Oscar entry this year. The Film Federation of India selected 'The Good Road' despite a stiff competition from films like 'The Lunchbox' and 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'. Gyan Correa explains the idea and inspiration behind 'The Good Road' in a candid chat with IBNLive.
Q: What was your first reaction on the selection of 'The Good Road' as India's Oscar entry?
A: Quite shocked. Didn't expect it at all. Then a sense of wow, this is big, how will this all pan out. Now, after all has settled down, a quiet realization that it's a good film, and deserves our best effort.
Q: What prompted you to make a film like 'The Good Road' which brings many stories on one platform?
A: Many years ago I decided to travel by truck and bus and began to interact with people, sort of fly on the wall thing.
Q: But, there must be a philosophy behind presenting road as a character?
A: What people go through in India is quite staggering. In the large part they wake up with hope and belief in a better future. Truck drivers work against all odds, and stand up and deliver.
Q: Getting a film made as per your will is a tedious task. How did you cope up with the difficulties in the process of making 'The Good Road'?
A: Convincing people to work on an unconventional idea like this is tough. Money is difficult. Difficult, but not impossible. This film, and many others, would not have been possible were it not for the people at, and mandate of, the NFDC, my producers.
Q: The locations shown in the film must have been difficult to shoot at?
A: Conditions were very difficult when shooting. Sonali is a professional actor, and has the determination put up with tough working conditions. But it is difficult to wake at 3:00 am with four or five mice sitting on your bed looking at you.
Q: What films mean to you, philosophically?
A: Tough question, and I'm not really comfortable answering that. I can talk of my own film. There are several layers in 'The Good Road'. They are all over the place. And I'm thrilled when people say things to me, ask me questions, because I know then that the effort was well worth it. But a film is a film, and once it's on the screen, it's not mine any more. 'The Good Road' is now a set of images and sounds in the viewer's head - and that belongs to him. He will make what he wants of it. I can only hope he enjoyed those 92 minutes, and I hope it stays with him for much longer.
Q: When did you decide to become a filmmaker?
A: I was never a film buff. I got serious about film ten years ago. When I first started writing this film, I wasn't even sure it would be a film. I was born in Kolkata, and grew up in Mumbai. I'm of Goan ethnicity, and my wife is Gujarati. I've been in advertising ever since I graduated from Xavier's and XIC, Mumbai.
Q: What do you think about the comments given by the presenters of 'The Lunchbox' when 'The Good Road' was declared India's Oscar entry?
A: Disappointment is understandable. But one has to trust the process that we have submitted ourselves to. Anurag and Ritesh agree with me on this.
The big news is, wow! two, three, four good films, so many Oscar worthy films in one year! When were we so spoilt for the choices in the past? It's good for the audience, and good for film makers for two reasons. Films are attracting audiences, and the bar has just gotten higher.
####
Comments
0 comment