Chhattisgarh filmmaker weaves magic!

A Master of Arts from Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University Raipur, Waghela started his career 18 years ago in painting and moved onto films. Now, his latest short film 'The Home' has been screened in 21 film festivals across the world, including at the famous film fest of New Mexico in USA.
On the sidelines for preparations for Raipur International Film Festival season-II, beginning here on April 9, Tushar told TOI, 'I started exhibiting my paintings from Raipur as I belonged to this state.In the last 18 years, I got the privilege to show my art in many states in India as well as in many other countries.'
Waghela's foray into short films seemed like a destiny. 'In 2008, when I was working on a project of land acquisition of Chhattisgarh, I made a series of paintings, depicting the sufferings of farmers and others whose lands were taken away by government for projects and even by builders. This series took three years to complete but I felt something was missing in what I wanted to say. Later, I clubbed moving elements to describe my paintings in form of experimental short film Phantom of a Fertile Land. It was this eight minute film that started my journey in film making,' he said.
Waghela's 'Shadow of Thoughts' is Chhattisgarh's first film selected in any category at Cannes Film Festival. The film is about a writer who finds his own painter friend as a character for his story. He gets so deeply involved in his writings that he begins to doubt his own existence, creativity and significance of life.
Waghela's movies are based on paintings and explains all elements which paintings cannot not describe well. 'My latest short film, 'The Home' has been selected in 21 film festivals across the world including American (New Mexico) and Australian film festival in the category of experimental cinema. I always make a thought that if you want to do something in art and cinema you don't not need any materialistic things. Just be passionate about your work the whole world will see your calibre,' he added.
Another film based on painting is 'Prisoners of Moons' while 'The Ghost Taxonomy' is based on Indian Economy. 'One movie very close to my heart is 'Dandakaranya-The Jungle of Punishment' as the name describes. The movie has a human showing difficulties in the part of Dandkaranya whether it for local tribes, security forces or the Maoists fighting in the region. All people are living in suffocation despite being surrounded with greenery,' he added.
WATCH: Shadow of thoughts - Trailer