Interview: There was no one to understand my story then, I spent all the money I got- Shoojit Sarkar

Reaching Mumbai was the biggest achievement for me

Coming from an Air Force background, filmmaker Shoojit Sarkar has also worked as an accountant in Delhi. But after attending the International Film Festival in Delhi, he/she was attracted towards films. he/she says, ‘Sometimes I don’t understand how I came to this field? When I was in Delhi, I used to think that I did a play. I did not act, I used to do backstage. I got a chance to connect with good people. I got a chance to do good work. But we used to see Mumbai from a distance. I never thought that I would have to go to Mumbai. I thought that I would spend my life in Delhi. But then, I came to know that going to Mumbai is the final result of my life. I felt that reaching Mumbai was already an achievement for me. I did not need any other achievement. I never thought that I would be able to go to Mumbai. So, I reached Mumbai. Now what else do I need? Whatever I wanted, I already got it. This is where my creative journey started.’

I spent all the money I had earned

Two-time National Award winner Shoojit Sircar also had to go through a phase of struggle and rejection. he/she says, ‘I too had to struggle, but I had no problem with it. I faced everything with a smile. I spent all the money I earned. The biggest rejection for me came when I did not ask for help from anyone for my first film. Me and my friend Ronnie (Ronnie Screwvala) now produce our films ourselves. At that time I did not find anyone who could understand my story and invest in it. This was the biggest rejection for me. Then I decided that I will not go to anyone anymore. Now I will earn money myself, save it and make my films myself. This was the biggest lesson for me. From then I learned that if you want to say something, then it is possible that many people may not agree with you, which is natural. Your thoughts, your ideas may not suit them, so at least you should do it yourself. You should have enough resources so that you can make your film.’

Does not increase the budget of films unnecessarily

There is no doubt that all of Shoojit Sircar’s films have been critically acclaimed, but even he/she cannot predict the box office. he/she says, ‘All my films have been unpredictable, so I am not surprised. When any of my films works, I myself do not know how my film did. I thought ‘October’ would work, but it did not. I felt that I had done a very good job in ‘October’. But people loved ‘Sardar Udham’ a lot, yet many people did not like it. Some people said about the Jallianwala Bagh scene that we do not want to see so much violence. And some people said that they had never seen Jallianwala Bagh like this. Most importantly, I do not increase the budget of my films too much. I avoid spending unnecessarily and increasing the budget of films. I try to keep the budget reasonable. In this way, if the film does not become a huge commercial success, it will not be a big blow. I focus on making my films the best according to the available resources. I believe it is important to make films in which you have faith and if it connects with the audience, then it would be icing on the cake.

I was very nervous being a jury member at IFFM

Shoojit, who recently played the role of jury for short films at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), says, ‘This is the fifteenth edition of IFFM and when I was selected as a jury, I was nervous at first. But I liked the subject this time. I liked the idea of ​​’all over voices’. Everyone’s voice should be heard. So I liked the basic thought. And then I know Mithu Bhowmick Lange (founder and director of IFFM) from Delhi. She is our friend from Delhi. I have been to this festival 3-4 times, so I have a personal connection with this festival. Everything is like home. Everyone is taken care of. Anyway, I like the format of short films. If a short film is good, then its reach can be any amount. The budget is less, but the technique and technology are not less. Be it actors, acting quality, music, cinematography. There are many such short films, which are even better than feature films.’