The World Will Try To Pull You Down, But Don’t Ever Let That Kill Your Conviction – Ekkees Tareekh Director Pavan Kumar Chauhan

Here’s a man who desired something wholeheartedly and he worked to make his dreams come true! Cheers to that! Pavan Kumar Chauhan the director of “Ekkees Tareekh Shubh Muhurat” is a man from the heart. His understanding of the working of the mind and the interplay of providence and fate in one’s lives is so palpable. It was an enjoyable repartee that we had last afternoon, over the telephone. I relished it thoroughly. More so because somewhere, the man and his words mirrored my thoughts and psychology. It was comforting to know that I am not the only one who has these conflicting thoughts about certain matters of life!

To hear from someone a first-hand account of how he kept his desires burning even though he had his own responsibilities to take care of is not just inspiring, it is FULFILLING! It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to state that I had a feeling of oneness with most of the things we spoke about! And that surely is no mean feat.

Pavan are you listening?

He spoke at length about life and its ironies, not to forget his film “Ekkees Taarekh Shubh Muhurat”, about the excitement he had because it is his first venture, his hop skip and jump with his journalism stint and the juxtaposition of his ambition to become a filmmaker. His camaraderie with his producers, cast and crew and much more.

Excerpts from the conversation -

You started off with journalism, you were a journalist for so many years, what took you so long to make a film because that is what you really wanted to do?

 My dream of making films is 20 years old. Dude to financial issues and family problems I couldn’t come down to Bombay. I started work in the electronic media and made it a stepping stone for me. With time I gained experience and when I got some time for myself, I used to invest it in learning new things about filmmaking as a craft. I delved into the nitty gritties of television. This was another reason why I was into television reporting also. After that I started off with short films and other creative work which began.

Do you mean you were doing all of this while doing journalism?

Yes!

How would you cull out time from the busy schedule? I ask you this because, I am a journalist as well and I don’t really find time to do anything else, because you always have to be on your toes. I mean anything can crop up at any time.  

I know very well, that we journalists don’t really have any schedule as such. At times we work for 20 to 22 hours at a stretch. In the beginning, I used to be a reporter, I am talking about 2004. After that I joined a television channel and then I was a freelancer. While doing all of this one thing was pretty clear that I wouldn’t at all get time. That’s when I gave up news reporting because that was anyway not the goal of my life and I shifted towards programming thereafter. In programming, I got some time for myself. But again, if I didn’t like the job, I used to quit. Which is why I was stable nowhere, I have worked in sprints I most places, with time durations of a year, 2 years or even a month or two. I always wanted work according to my choice, I didn’t bother much about the salary if the work that was being given to me was according to my taste. The when I joined Zee, I had prepared for a film which unfortunately got shelved. After I bid adieu to Zee, I was determined to make a film. I was like I am already 38 if I don’t make a film now, when will I make it? That’s when I started planning. I started writing the script. I had already written a lot many stories by then. When I used to switch jobs, In between I used to get a lot of time and that’s when I used to write stories. I made a draft for Ekkees Tareekh Shubh Muhurat and narrated it to the producer. They wanted to make a family drama without any vulgarities. They loved the story, I wrote the script and they took me onboard and the film began.

I had read somewhere, that after the producers heard the story you had written and they gauged the passion that you have for the story they roped you as the director. Now because you are a first-timer, I was wondering how the producers had that conviction that you would be able to direct the film?

It is very tough for a first timer. It is so tough that at times, your own people make you a wary about your own determination. People talk! But what is important is the will power that you have in you. When you begin approaching, approach not just to one but to 10 people. And when you do that, be sure that somewhere or the other there will be takers! When I was studying journalism, I was taught to remember that one never has the authority to do what one wants to do. If you have to work, you have to approach 10 different people. Whoever believes in you, keep them with you and stay away from the sceptics. Be in touch with people who help you and guide you. I practise that!  But what is of utmost importance is the will power, you cannot let it get cowed down by what people say! And again you should have the ability to convince people.

And what about your own satisfaction. Given the fact that this film of yours is now ready for release, are you satisfied with your own work? And because you are a newcomer, was there any pressure from the producers to kind of mould or alter your creative thought process and what your thinking about the characters or the setting is in a different manner?

The first thing is none of the directors can be satisfied with their work. For instance, till the last moment we did incorporate a few things and changed a few sequences because I thought they could be done in a better way.

But this is what you thought could be done to better the film, what about the interference of the producers? Did they ask you to make any changes because they felt a particular scene or sequence or shot is no working out the way they want it to?

As far as the producers of my film is concerned, Rakesh Jodhani and Mukesh Jodhani the producers are such honest and good people that they gave me complete liberty to do the film the w2ay I wanted it. There was no interference. They didn’t ask any single question with regards to the finance. They have literally put blind faith on me. They had seen my pre-production procedure, I won over their trust and once that was done, they provided me with full support with everything. I wish every director gets producers like them. Even during the shoot, they never stopped us from putting up any particular set as many do because of expenses! We don’t have much sets in the film, all the shoot has been done in real locations but still, even if the distances were far, they were ready to shell out the transportation costs! That is why I hope all producers become like them because then it will help many new talents!

This is your first film, and you are completely new to the filmmaking repertoire but because a film is made with the help of a crew. So how did you get hold of your cinematographer, editors, assistant directors, VFX artists so on and so forth given that the film has been written and directed by you?

When the producers gave us a green signal, we came down for casting to Mumbai. While writing, the façade of Sanjai Mishra used to be in my mind for the character of the Pundit. I knew exactly how the “Pundit” will look, what clothes he will wear, what mannerisms he will have. I wanted all of it to look even on the camera. Therefore, with an urge to better things we contacted costume designer Darshan Jalan. After reading the story, he flew down and he revealed how much he loved the script and that he could not wait to be part of it. The budget again wasn’t the issue because Darshan got himself so involved in the film and after seeing the final product, you will see that he has done a fabulous job. And after reading the story, everyone liked it so much, every cast in the film readily agreed to be part of it. Arun Pillai, who is a senior make up artist in the industry was on board with us. Then because we didn’t have the budget to go for a big editor, we stumbled upon Suraj Gunjal and he has done a swell job. As far as the AD’s are concerned, I knew a few people while some had come to meet me in Mumbai. I had allotted them work. I had segregated their work and all of them had done a great job. As far as one of my AD’s Amit Sharma is concerned, he joined a bit late, about four days prior to the shoot. He did help me in the pre-production a little bit. He really worked hard in the post-production as well. Because I used to stay in Delhi, he used to coordinate with me on a daily basis on the progress of the work and then I used to fly down and make the necessary changes. Alok Sharma, who was my chief AD too worked hard, in the last moment he also handled the locations for the film

Pavan, from what I understand – even though you say that the film is a family film for me the sole standpoint of the film is “irony” (BHAGYA). For a man who throughout his life harboured the desire to tell stories, doesn’t get to become a story teller due to family issues and other day to day problems. However, when he is in jail, he lives his dream of telling stories to people but ironically only to the jail inmates. What made you write about such a cynical and mordant character?

Whenever someone is born, he has his own desires and so do his parents. Everyone has a dream in his or her life. For instance, if I talk about myself I wanted to make a film and I made an effort to make it. In the film the Pundit Girdhari Lal Sharma wants to become a ‘Kathavachak’ (Narrator of stories). It is almost a part of his family but he wants to do it in a bigger way. But there are some circumstances in his life which do not allow him to pursue his dreams. He crosses an age mark beyond which it becomes difficult to even dream! His responsibilities increase. Amidst all of this, the pundit’s father wants to get the daughter married because all the time her wedding is being postponed for some reason ro the other. Finally, the date is fixed for the wedding but even on that day something befalls and the Pundit finds it is not possible for him to go ahead with the wedding as planned.

(contd) As far as the jail sequence that you spoke about is concerned. Yes, you were very right when you used the word “Bhagya”. The Pundit has three main desires amongst which one happens to be the desire of becoming a sage with his own ashram and disciples. The film says that you can have desires but for fulfilling them if you use unfair means, things go awry! You can’t afford your desires to transform into greed! He wished for disciples who would sit around him and sing praises for the lord. God answered him, he told him I am giving you disciples, now you can do what you want to but in the jail! So it is a story about a man who has wishes, but in order to fulfil them he takes a wrong path, that shouldn’t be done.

Well, from the crux of our conversation, all I could understand is that the film will surely be worth watching. So I appeal to all and sundry to come down to the theatres and watch a simple story-telling unfold that will surely mirror a lot of things one goes through in their personal lives! That in itself is interesting. We wish all the very best to director Pavan Kumar Chauhan and his cast and crew for their film we are sure it will do great!