*Note: interview has been edited for clarity.
Vidal Dcosta for The Movie Buff: What was the major inspiration behind pursuing filmmaking? Can you let our readers know about what drives you as a filmmaker?
Nehal Ghodke: The love of watching movies was cultivated during childhood. When I was a kid, Marathi and Hindi movies were broadcast on Doordarshan (an Indian cable TV channel) every Saturday and Sunday. And later, when I was in college too, watching movies in theatres became a passion. This is especially true watching “First Day First Show” every Friday, which became a routine.
It was only after discovering Director Neeraj Ghaiwan’s “Masaan” and Anurag Kashyap’s “Black Friday” that I understood the range of films being made as well as the impact of cinema. I ended up watching all the films of Anurag Kashyap in a row. Then I watched the films of Hansal Mehta [and] Vishal Bhardwaj in a row and I got more and more interested in all these variety of films. I felt that I should also get into filmmaking. I pursued a degree in Mass Communication and Journalism at the New Arts Commerce And Science College in Ahmednagar and began my filmmaking journey.
Could you share with our readers a bit about your writing or filmmaking process?
NG: I have written and directed [three]short films so far, and most of the time, my film’s themes are based on books and ideas. The story of “Mauju E Sukhan” is based on the poem “Bol Ke Lab Azad Hai Tere” by Faiz Ahmad Faiz, while the story of my film “Vrittam” is based on the book “Sapiens” by Yuval Noah Harari. I’m an avid reader, so I always feel inspired by books for the subjects of the movies. My style of filmmaking is to combine literature and films, but [they’re] also rooted in reality with some intimate storytelling.
Are there any filmmakers or creatives whom you look up to or whose filmmaking style you draw influence from?
NG: When I was studying filmmaking, I watched the films of Zafar Panahi and Abbas Kiarostami and I felt an affinity to these directors and their works. I was overwhelmed by Zafar Panahi’s film “This Is Not A Film” as well as his passion for filmmaking. [Now] I am influenced by the love of film, [and]by budding directors Ali Asghari, Asghar Faradi, Payal Kapadia, Shaunak Sen, [and] Aanchal Mishra—whose work feels close and intimate—and by writers and directors who portray reality in an authentic manner. They influence me and my work.
What are some genres or subjects you’d like to tap into further down the road?
NG: As mentioned before, I am already interested in realistic films and [their] influence can be seen in my films. Since the subject of human relationships and events around them is close to my heart, I will try to make something based on such subjects in the future. Currently, the story of a short film has been completed and I will start filming it soon.
“Mauju E Sukhan” shines a light on being creative in an unfair world against sociopolitical limitations. Did you encounter any limitations or barriers during filming and how did you overcome the same?
NG: The story of “Mauju E Sukhan” stemmed from when I was pursuing the mass communication course in Ahmednagar. In the third semester, I formed a team with some classmates. We used to do filmmaking practicals or projects together. [My classmates and I] came across Madhale Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s book “Saare Sukhan Hamare;” and while reading this collection of poems, I read the poem “Bol Ke Lab Azad Hai Tere” and I was impressed.
We already had in mind a story based on an author. Thus combining that story and Faiz’s poetry, “Mauju E Sukhan” was born. In “Mauju E Sukhan,” the character of the writer is similarly influenced by many different people and their thought process, such as Sahadat Hasan Manto, Ismat Chughtai, Mahatma Gandhi, Che Guevara, etc. I’d read books about these historical figures too. [I] started writing the script of “Mauzoo E Sukhan” with them in mind.
The project faced a lot of difficulties during filming. There was no money, as we wanted to create a good project with minimal money. With the help of a friend’s camera, a small room, and [little]money, “Mauju E Sukhan” was produced. I’d like to thank my team members Avinash Chavan, Amol Surunkar, Karan Wakade, Vishal Jare, Preeti Zambare, Monali Dhonde, Akshay Tonde, [and] Mayur Dhadge, who all helped a lot. I believe that to make a good film, the contributions of the writer, director and actors are also important. I’m lucky to have got all that while making “Mauju E Sukhan.”
Did the pandemic inspire or hamper you as a filmmaker? What are some lessons that you’ve learned as a creative during the pandemic?
NG: The lockdown period of [Covid-19] was a difficult time for every artist. During that period, I was living in [a]rural area, so the effect of [Covid] was less. I had a lot of free time, so I mainly watched world movies and read books, [and] learnt new things about cinema [which] added to my film appreciation.
At the same time I made a short film called “Vrittam,” which was made on a very low budget like “Mauju E Sukhan,” based on Yuval Noah Harari’s book “Sapiens.” This short film is about how [Covid] affects a man and how his outlook on life changes. It reached various film festivals around the world and was showered with many awards too. There was a positive side that ran parallel to this difficult time. I learnt a lot about changing decisions during the pandemic, but I learned a lot from it. Lockdown brought about a lot of changes in filmmaking, both in a positive and negative fashion. Most importantly this was the time that I learned how to create more art with less money.
We at the The Movie Buff thank Nehal Ghodke for his time. “Mauju E Sukhan” is currently playing at the Student World Impact Film Festival. You can learn more about the festival by visiting https://www.lightfilmfest.org/swiff/festival.
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