Exclusive | Rajshri Deshpande Talks About Independent Cinema, New Film 'Privacy' With Director Sudeep Kanwal
The film recently had its world preimere at Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.
New Delhi: Rajshri Deshpande of 'Trial By Fire' fame will soon be seen in a thriller by a Sudeep Kanwal, who is making his directorial debut with 'Privacy'. The film recently had its world preimere at Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. Both Rajshri and Sudeep sat down to have a conversation with ABPLive. Rajshri spoke about independent cinema, her work, 'Trial By Fire' and the upcoming film 'Privacy' while Sudeep spoke about taking inspiration( among other things) from Francis Ford Coppola's 'The Conversation'.
Excerpts from the interview with Rajshri Deshpande
You have played such diverse and acclaimed roles and worked with filmmakers like Nandita Das, Anurag Kashyap, Pan Nalin, Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, was this Indie-zone an intentional career move or it just happened?
No, actually, I'm an independent film baby. I started my career with an independent film. I believed in newer directors who have more passion and interesting story lines. So, I don't think that I will be able to leave the independent zone. Of course, you do more projects, you move on from an independent space to bigger spaces but for me what works is scripts, stories and that can be for any format; a 5 minute short or a 5 season series. It's just about stories and that matters to me more than anything else.
Besides, independent filmmakers bring a lot of passion to a project so that's the space I definitely want to keep working in, and keep supporting newer directors.
The teaser of Privacy looks intriguing, What can you tell us about your role in Privacy?
I'm part of the world Sudeep is trying to create in the film. Rupali is a multilayered character. For me, Rupali is just like a girl you know of somewhere who may be going through certain things which we may not know about but it's there, she is there. I hardly know any Rupali who has gone into that kind of a shade but of course there are society elements which I have read and seen, so all that is quite possible as is also in the film. Rupali is quite a complex character to portray.
One cannot not ask about Trial By Fire. What was it like to receive that kind of appreciation for your work on such a scale?
It was amazing. I'm glad ‘Trial by Fire’ traveled across the world but I feel it's an important story. It's not just about the work I have done but Neelam's struggle and her struggle of 25 years, is quite inspiring. Neelam and Shekhar and the entire team; their perseverance towards the case is so inspiring. I keep telling people don't just look at it because it's a show because a lot of people tell me 'I'm scared to even watch it' but I feel, you know once you surpass the tragedy she lived, you will know how inspiring she is.
In many interviews, you have been addressed as a shapeshifter. What kind of prep do you do for your roles and how long does it take to get out of the mould of a character you play( like a character who has had a traumatic experience for example)
No, I take a lot of time. I am very slow. I do one project at a time and then I like to go away from everything. I do social work and go back to my villages and work there. But I like the process, an artist will get emptied with everyday kind of work and I do not like to repeat myself or my characters.
Excerpts from a conversation with director Sudeep Kanwal
What can you tell us about the film Privacy and the inspiration behind it?
It's about a CCTV operator who is in the Mumbai command centre and the events she sees around her. The story is primarily about this one character and her personal struggles.
‘Privacy’ is a thriller. One of the sources of inspiration behind the film comes from an article in 2016 where a report spoke about Mumbai doubling its cameras; how a lot of these cameras were equipped with great technology and could see for up to 1 km etc. So, that blended in with the idea of privacy being such an exclusive thing in Mumbai. It also talks about the socio-economic aspect of Mumbai, how it's hard to find a space where you can find privacy. All those aspects came together and the story came into existence.
With so much cinema around the topic ‘privacy' in the west and across the world, what were some of your reference points and sources of inspiration film wise?
‘The Conversation’ by Francis Ford Coppola, is a favourite film, even beating ‘The Godfather’. It is such a small film about wiretapping; mode of surveillance, something I did not know of until I saw it in the 2000s so that's just one part of it. Another thing I loved about ‘The Conversation’ was that the movie is about this person’s struggles and not the job he does.
I like character driven films as opposed to plot-heavy films. In a way, yes films like that inspired me more than anything else.
This your first feature length film debut. How excited are you about the film? What kind of response are your expecting?
It's exciting and nerve wrecking. I have been living for this for so long now and now its out in the world. I am also feeling relieved because the film is out there. Third, his expectation is always to be accepted. I just want the film to be accessible and seen. So whatever feedback I get will help me make a better writer and director. I 'm more concerned about audiences seeing the film.
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