32-year-old director Sudhanshu Saria is in the news for his controversial love story between two men, Loev. After premiering the film at the recently concluded MAMI film festival, he has bagged a Hollywoood film and an invitation to be a member of the jury at the 20th Tallinn film festival. In conversation with the director who says he wants to entertain and not titillate.
Congratulations. You have been selected as a juror of the 20th Tallinn Film Festival.
It’s an incredible honour. I was invited in May but I was embarrassed because I did not feel I deserved it so I did not tell anyone. I am the juror for the first features competition -- the same competition in which Loev premiered. I take my duties very seriously so I have not looked up any trailers or any information on any filmmaker. I want to be completely blind beforehand and just judge what I see.
How was Loev received at the festival last year?
Loev did not win any prizes despite being a talked-about film and a festival favourite. Jury members would individually come and tell me on how they loved the film. When Loev didn’t win any prize, they told me, ‘Look, you will be okay but there are other films that need a prize in order to get noticed.’ I was very conflicted because I was insecure, scared and did not know what would happen to Loev. I wish I could go back one year ago and hug myself and say: ‘Dude, it is going to be okay.’ We’ve received the love of the audience which is irreplaceable. And this will be my message to all filmmakers -- These prizes don’t matter.
These are exciting times for Indian films and film people. Reportedly, Deepika Padukone is working with renowned Iranian auteur Majid Majidi.
My heart skipped a beat when I saw some stills but I don’t know if it is rumour. If it is true, it is very encouraging and gives us hope. It’s exciting for the filmmakers, audience and everyone around. I would like to develop a subject like Piku. To imagine a film like Piku, before it was made, was madness. Nobody even thought on these lines. Films like Piku and Queen are motivated by storytelling and characters, and not by spectacle and packaging. Pleasing the audience is important but it shouldn’t be the core of all you do. There is a subtle difference between titillating and entertaining.
Your next film is in English and I heard you are contemplating Hollywood actors.Anand Mahindra is backing my next, a Hollywood art-house film. It is about closure; an unfinished love story. It will have an American actor but not a Brad Pitt; it will remain art house cinema at the end of the day. I think at the moment the art-house market is very exciting.