Chanda

1)Is Chanda based on a real life story about riots and the aftermatch in Gujarat?
Yes, loosely yes. You see ‘chanda’ is about the 8-9 year old girls who come on to the streets to sell the flowers, candles, paper tissues, begging and so much more.. The basic thought behind the film is that have we ever thought where do these small angels come from? Who are they? Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Marathis, Bhaiyyas (Now Hindu is further divided).. Have we ever thought where do they vanish when they turn 18? No, we have never thought… We go back home, switch on the ACs and go to sleep… Have we ever given a thought that does the street of Mumbai let these girls sleep peacefully? The local mafia, the beggar mafia, the auto rickshaw drivers, the police, the coffee wallahs…I don’t think we have ever thought about it.. ‘Chanda’ forces you to think about it.. To think about these homeless girl children. At an average 39 million girls and women are lost alone in India.. That’s a phenomenal figure.. Honestly riots produce more homeless children. But I do not pin point Gujrat or any other riot… On the contrary, this is my director’s autobiography.. he worked for a shelter home before he became a film maker.. He has seen all this at close counters. ‘Chanda’ is a real character, not at all a fiction. She is still alive. And a prostitute… I met her. She knows that I am making a film on her.. But would not expose her to the media.. She doesn’t want to be recognized..


2)Why did you think of making a film on Gujarat riots after making a film like Tingya on the relationship between a kid and his cow?
You see I am a film maker.. When I made ‘Tingya’ then I was asked why did I make a film in Marathi? This has been the most irritating questions that has been hurled at me.. This should be banned.. Now when I make ‘Chanda’ I am asked why a film on such subject after making ‘Tingya’. I just cannot Xerox my success. ‘Tingya’ was something that nobody wanted to make. 42 producers had refused it.I liked it and I went by my convictions to make it. No financers and co producers. Every penny was mine and I risked every penny and it paid off. Similiarly ‘Chanda’ was with Gajendra since last 10 years. Nobody wanted to make it. It was his first script. No one thought it was lucrative commercially.. But I liked it and I went ahead with it too. And as a producer, writer and director I am expected and supposed to deal with different genres.. And I am doing that. ‘Tingya’ became ‘Tingya’ and I am sure ‘Chanda’ would become ‘Chanda’. Don’t you think I should have made this film about homeless street girl child? I am also dabbling with other genres as well

3)Why did you opt to cast stars like Makrand Anaspure and Siddharth Jadhav in Chanda?
I think Makrand and Siddharth are both very brilliant actors. And you see Makrand in the film you’ll come to know what I am talking about. The day I saw the first cut in my editing room, I came out and called up makarand and told him ‘Boss, you’re brilliant.. I am speechless.. and now I Understand why you had chosen that role as to the protagonist”. You’ll say the same when you watch ‘Chanda’. Makarand is an actor to watch out for after ‘Chanda’

4)How tough was it to cast the child who has played the role of Chanda in youir film?
Not really tough.. She just walked in.. Unlike’Tingya’ where Mangesh had auditioned around 1000 children and then picked up Sharad Goekar and Tarranum pathan..

5)Have you set out to make a political statement with Chanda?
No,not really. I don’t think any concern about human beings is a political statement. Here we are fighting Marathi v/s the bhaiyyas, Hindu V/s the muslims and the core issue remains decayed. No one is interested in the dying farmers, their wives and children, the police force, the homeless street children and so much more… It is shocking to see children being the victims of their political agendas and benefits.. The Israeli attack on Gaza showed some appalling and dreadful pictures of infants. Why should they suffer? After the Taj and Oberoi incident, this man said “It’s sad that the place where I used to drink my coffee daily in the morning has been bombed”. Did this man know that there are millions of children who yearn for a drop of milk for years and years and he’s talking about his coffee.. We all paid homages to people who were having chicken curry worth 2000 rupees and a peg of whiskey worth a little more.. When will we light the candles for children who die due to malnutrition.. When will we stand up for children who die due to dehydration, who die because of undernourishment.. We ask for the securities of people living in high rise apartments, the heavy double Z securities of the ministers who were not seen even for a glimpse during the 26/11.. when will we talk about the securities of the ones without the roofs? ‘Chanda’ is dedicated to the lives of people that remain unchanged before and after 26/11..

6)Why did you zero in on an established dierctor like Gajedndra Ahire to direct Chanda after asking a debutante to direct Tingya?
You see more than the director it is the content that matters.. It hardly mattered when Mangesh told me that he had never assisted anyone for either film or TV.. What mattered to me was the man who brings such a brilliant subject on the table. And similiarly I am making ‘Aatpaat nagar hot’a” with two debutant writers Nikhil Upadhye and Rohan Ghughe. Nilesh again has zero experience of assisting any body but came with a mind blowing subject which is amazing.. And as far as Gajendra is concerned, everyone knows his caliber in the industry. His national awards, his films, his concepts…. They are all so different and appealing. I liked ‘Chanda’ and immediately went on to make the film with him.

7)What is the subtle message that you set out to dtrive home with Chanda?
The film says “She was searching for a parent in them. They were finding a woman in her…. The story of a daughter lost in our paradise. Let’s know one chanda, Let’s own one chanda’.. Now is this message sufficient.. I think ‘Let’s know one chanda, Let’s own one chanda’ says it all..

8)What are your future plans as far as making films in Marathi is concerned?
Well, there is ‘Aatpaat nagar hot’a’ written by Rohan Ghughe and Nilesh Upadhye and directed by nilesh Upadhye.. It’s a one of the finest stories that I have heard and I am sure it will take Small Town Boy Productions all together to a different level. We make the film in March and then take it all over. I am supposed to tie up with a big company to make 3 marathi films in the year 2009. That is what I have in plan for the marathi films and Small Town Boy Productions will also be doing two hindi films written and directed by me