Director Sujit Sarkar makes films that definitely have a message. After 'Piku', Sujith Sarkar has once again brought a touching story of father and daughter in 'I Want To Talk'. The film starring Abhishek Bachchan has been released in cinemas. Recently, Sujith Sarkar had a special conversation with Frontpage Insights. Meanwhile, he said that if films like 'I Want To Talk' do not get support, then directors like us will not get courage.
Read the highlights of the conversation…
Q- Say something about 'I want to talk'? Answer- This is a film that reminds us of the relationship between father and daughter. When I started working on the film, I remembered my relationship with my daughter. When Abhishek Bachchan was told the story, he remembered his relationship with Aaradhya. We all have daughters, somewhere this story connects us all. Although I have made 'Piku' on father-daughter relationship, this film is completely different from that.
Question- How special is this film for you? Answer- This is a very special film for me. People say that Bollywood does not produce good films. I have brought a film which I want the audience to support. If the audience doesn't support such films then directors like us will not dare to make such films.
Question- From your first film 'Yahan' to 'I Want To Talk', the city also seems like a character? Answer- I see every city from my perspective. If I talk about Delhi itself, I have represented Delhi in 3-4 ways in my films. Delhi looked colorful in 'Vicky Donor'. A different color of the Bengali colony was seen in 'Piku'. Dark Delhi was introduced in 'Pink'. Winter Delhi was seen in 'October'. I have been living in Delhi for 17 years. I have seen different colors of it. Shahr will also be seen as a character in 'I Want To Talk'.
Q- What has been the most challenging aspect of your career? Answer: The biggest challenge is making the film on its own terms. I try not to compromise in any way. I guess if you present something convincing why wouldn't people like it? When a spiritual master says something with faith, we believe it.
Q- When were you introduced to cinema? Answer- Satyajit Ray's films have had a deep impact on me. In my childhood, I watched many Satyajit Ray films with my father, but I did not understand cinema that much at that time. At the age of 22, I cried a lot when I watched his film 'Pather Panchali'. After that I watched many films of Satyajit Ray. From there I was introduced to cinema, which was a different world for me.
As a child I read Premchand a lot, but I did not understand anything. I was moved when I started re-reading Premchand after watching Satyajit Ray's films. Then read Dharamveer's play 'Andhayug'. Suddenly my life changed, but till then I did not think of becoming a film maker. Yes, I was definitely inclined towards theatre.
Question – At that time you were working as an accountant in 'Le Meridien' hotel in Delhi. When you told your parents that you quit your job because of theatre, what was their reaction? Answer : It was the year 1992. At that time, getting a job in a five star hotel was a big deal. I did not tell this to my parents immediately, otherwise they would have been shocked. He kept giving money at home by doing some work. One day my mother got suspicious and told him. A few days later told dad. They became anxious, they didn't know what theater was?
Question: Did you also act in theater? Answer- Never acted in theatre. I used to do it backstage. Learned many things from NK Sharma like acting technique, how to rehearse on stage etc. I assisted in Deepak Roy's documentary film.
During that time I met Siddharth Basu. He was a great quiz master at that time. Was known for doing many shows. I was in the online direction. He gave me notice and introduced me to Pradeep Sarkar. For the first time, it was Siddharth Basu who brought me to Mumbai and gave me an opportunity to join KBC. Online was directing the first 10 episodes of KBC.
Question- How was your experience of meeting Amitabh Bachchan for the first time? Answer: I never thought that I would meet Amitabh Bachchan. Bachchan Sahib came to Kolkata during the shooting of the film 'Yarana'. I was very young then. At that time the entire Kolkata was dancing. I used to watch them on TV and read about them in newspapers.
I never imagined that one day I will be doing KBC and Bachchan Sahib will be opposite me. I consider films like 'Pink', 'Piku' and 'Gulabo Sitabo' with Bachchan Sahib to be the biggest achievements of my career. I have learned a lot working with them. Even today they consider work as the first priority.
Q- You are very close to the world of wildlife, tell us something about your childhood? Answer : I grew up at Hashimara Air Force Station in North Bengal. This place is in the midst of forests. Here I grew up among elephants. Elephants were my friends. I was four years old at that time. As soon as the baby elephant was born, it was brought there for training. We play with them. Every Saturday-Sunday Dad would take me for a walk in the forest on an elephant.
Question- You are also a dog lover, do you think you like animals more than humans Answer: It is true that I love animals very much. I have seen the ingenuity of man. That's why I make films that have a message. I think through cinema we should take people to a place where the audience is not narrow.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
