Interview of film 'Charas: A Joint Effort' Director

rajugusain

Interview of the Director of film 'Charas: A Joint Effort'

Raju Gusain
Dehra Dun, May 5

Filmmaker Tigmannshu Dhulia is back in the limelight. A native of Madanpur in Pauri Garhwal, his new film 'Charas: A Joint Effort' is releasing on May 7, 2004.
Commenting on his new venture, Dhulia says, "Charas is an action and adventure film in the backdrop of drug trafficking taking place in the Himalayas. It is an out and out entertainer and not a 'message oriented' film."
"The fact is that many foreigners have been staying in the hills for the past ten-twelve years and for all purposes are 'missing' persons who don't want to be found. Charas is about them."
Directed by Tigmannshu, the film stars Uday Chopra, Jimmy Shergill, Namrata Shirodkar, Irfan Khan, Raj Zutshi and Rajat Kapoor.
When asked whether he had plans to make films in Uttaranchal, Dhulia disclosed, "Yes, I would very much like to make a genuine film in Uttaranchal of international standards. But I would only do this exercise if the state government invites me to do so."
Subhash Ghai has shot major parts of his under production movie 'Kishna' in Uttaranchal. Tigmannshu considers this a good beginning. "The State Government can promote Uttaranchal by providing incentives to producers in Bombay and inviting them to shoot there," he adds.
After doing post-graduation from the National School of Drama, Dhulia joined Ketan Mehta as assistant art director for 'Sardar Patel'. After that he did not look back and worked with many reputed directors like Shekhar Kapur and Mani Ratnam. In Kapur's 'Bandit Queen' he was casting director and assistant, and wrote the dialogue for Ratnam's 'Dil Se'.
Sharing his views, he says, "There are many great memories of working with Shekhar Kapur. I must say that I was truly fortunate to assist him and Mani Ratnam, two of India's finest film makers, and they have greatly influenced my talent and career."
The people and natural beauty of Uttaranchal continue to remain an inspiration for 36 year-old Tigmannshu. He dreams of an Uttaranchal that's free of regionalism and asserts, "My utmost desire for Uttaranchal is that its people should stay united. Regional divides like Garhwal versus Kumaon should not come in the way of development of that area. If the people can manage that and rise above their petty interests, Uttaranchal will go far."
After making his debut with 'Hassil', which received rave reviews, Charas is Tigmannshu's second movie as Director. He likes all kinds of cinema but hates preachy films as he considers it the job of social workers and politicians.
Asked about Mumbai film personalities from Uttaranchal getting together for promotion of the film industry in Uttaranchal, he says, "Highlanders in Mumbai getting together and doing such work is a romantic thought, but everybody is busy, with most Uttaranchalis being actors. I think they don't have the ability to initiate such a project. I would add that they only come in when all the hard work is over."

Edited part of the interview got published in:
Hindustan Times
May 6, 2004
New Delhi edition (Late City)

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rajugusain

Photo of Charas: A joint Effort

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-m2-

a rather amusing review of Charas in yesterday's 'the Times of India', with a pretty good synopsis of the plot, can be found here:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/a...72,curpg-1.cms

looks ok to me

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oldhippie

Is this film worth watching?? I just picked up the DVD yesterday.

Bill

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Too Many Gandus, Too Few Bullets.