John Abraham was a living example of The Cello Show’s tag line ‘If you’ve got nothing, nothing can stop you’
Gujarati film Chello Show is the Indian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards. Chello Show was selected after RRR and other big movies. This is the first such recognition for a Gujarati film. Directed by Pan Nalin, the film follows a nine-year-old Gujarati village boy’s love for cinema and his subsequent career as a filmmaker. It is also a story similar to the director’s life. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. It won the Golden Spike for Best Film at the Valladolid Film Festival. Director Pan Nalin speaks:
Unforgettable recognition
The excitement of Chello Show representing India at the Oscars is beyond words for me and my team. Many young and great talents have worked in front of and behind the camera in the film. It is a memorable recognition for the cast and crew. It is a historic moment not only for Gujarati cinema but also for Indian cinema itself.
Box office figures are not important
There is no audience for all kinds of films in our country. Therefore, the biggest challenge faced by films like Chello Show is distribution. The movie hit selected theaters on the 14th. We are looking at what is the future of cinema. How will the audience receive the film? We should be concerned about the satisfaction that the audience gets from watching a film and we should not be fooled by the box office figures of 100 crores.
My childhood story
Chello Show is a film with an element of childhood experiences. My childhood was in a village called Kathiyawad in Gujarat. I saw the movie for the first time when I was eight or nine years old. It turned my life upside down. It was a time when movie theaters across India were going digital. And many single screen theaters were closed down. The Chello show was prepared with all that in mind. It felt like time to tell innocent and real stories. The film is about me getting mesmerized by the power of cinema. So this film is a story full of heart touching emotions and simple four “F’s” of life – Film, Food, Friends, Family – but they don’t know that another “F” is waiting for them called Future.
Every movie has commercial value
I believe that there is no distinction in cinema between parallel cinema, independent cinema and art house cinema. All movies have commercial value. In his 20-year film career, some films have made a lot of money, while some have earned less. But nothing has caused financial loss. I make the film in the way I like to say, keeping the commercial value. Each of my films is commercially well-planned. It has the freedom to tell the story however you like. And producers have a chance to get their money back. I am also involved through my production company Monsoon Films. Chello Show is produced by Dhir Momaya of Jugaad Motion Pictures. Later Siddharth Roy Kapur of Roy Kapur Films joined us.
Film festivals are not a place to sell movies
It is a myth that film festivals play a major role in the marketing of films. It will be understood if we look at the marketing of the films held through the world’s A-listed film festivals. It is very little. or nominal. Meanwhile, Covid and the subsequent growth of OTT platforms have changed the situation. Therefore, film festivals should go back to its original purpose of celebrating cinema. It is a completely wrong idea that film festivals are a place to sell films. At the same time, it is sad that India, with such a rich film culture, does not have A-list film festivals. It is doubtful whether there are strong film clubs in India today. Sometimes there may be some. But I don’t know about them.
A riot of visuals
As a big movie buff, I can’t help but pay tribute to those who have had a huge impact on my life and film career, which I love. Such scenes are subtly used in Chello Show’s cinematic treatment. I want the audience not to recognize these things easily.
Every story is born with a DNA. The making style of the movie will be recorded in it. It’s really inspiring and exciting as a filmmaker. The story of Chello Show cannot be told without completing a festival with songs and lights. We discussed camera movements and camera angles for the songs with cinematographer Swapnil Sonavane. Observed how to use natural light and artificial lights. I also wanted the light to become a character. By the end of the film, we aimed to create a literal ‘riot’ of colors using light. A cello show has a great connection with light when emotional scenes are tied together. A meditative cinematic approach was adopted while making ‘Samsara’. Unlike this in ‘Angry Indian Godasa’, fast movements and energetic style were used.
Film content only
There is no distinction between films as world cinema, regional cinema and Indian cinema. Since its inception, cinema has transcended geographical boundaries. The Lumière brothers came to India with their short films. Film crossing national borders is not a new phenomenon. But the covid period and the subsequent spread of OTT led to it becoming just content. If we have what we call content, then we need a container. Then the marketing and sales team. This content can become a consumable before we even realize it. A good distribution system is needed to deliver this. Therefore, if the film is to reach people, a large distribution network is needed.
It was my mother who gave me confidence
Malayalam cinema and South Indian cinema have always contributed great films and talented talent. When I was studying at the National Institute of Design, I saw John Abraham’s ‘Amma Najat’. It was the first Malayalam movie I saw. I feel lucky to have seen that movie that day. My mother had a huge impact on my life to know. He later learned about the production and distribution of the film. It was a great inspiration. It was John Abraham who gave me the confidence that one day I can make my own film. His method also inspired him to ignore the excuses that held him back from making films. John Abraham was a living example of the Cello Show tag line ‘If you’ve got nothing, nothing can stop you’.
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