KOCHI: The mysticism in the movie was enchanting. And so were the visuals. What was captivating was the use of a folk narrative in a contemporary setting.
The short film (aka Laila Aur Saath Geeth) is based on Rajasthani writer Vijaydan Detha’s short story, and it portrays the tale of a woman who stood her ground when harassed by patriarchy. Recently, the short, which won multiple awards at film festivals across the world, was screened at the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK). The director of the short, Pushpendra Singh, says changes in cinema worries and elates him at the same time.
“The Bollywood aura was what defined films for a majority of Indians when I was growing up. I too wanted to be an actor because of that. Later, exposure to different kinds of films prompted me to explore further,” says Pushpendra, who studied and later served as faculty at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).
TNIE catches up with the director for a quick chat. Yes, that’s a very positive change. Filmmaking used to be expensive, but now, with affordable cameras and home editing, it’s much more accessible.
The internet has also played a crucial role by enabling filmmakers to reach a wider audience through social media and crowdfunding. For my first film ‘Lajwanti’, I used crowdfunding to raise money, which wouldn’t have been possible in earlier systems. These are definitely positive advancements in the industry.
Many people are now go.