I'm an interfering director: Shoojit Sircar

Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar, who is known for his unique sensibility of content-driven films, says he prefers to be interfering in a project carries his name.

Sircar, who has produced "Pink", also worked as a creative head of the movie, which is directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury.

"Being the creative director of 'Pink', I never felt like directing it as such, but when we do a film, we get involved in every department. If my name is there in the film, it has to have that standard and live up to my reputation," Sircar told IANS.

"In that sense, yes, there are many occasions that I have been there in the creative medium. I am an interfering director and Aniruddha is a friend and he accepted that in a healthy way," added the filmmaker, known for movies like "Yahaan", "Vicky Donor" and "Madras Cafe".

"Pink" stars megastar Amitabh Bachchan, with whom Sircar had earlier worked with in "Shoebite" -- a movie which is yet to see the light of the day. So, casting Big B in "Pink" was like "penance" for the filmmaker.

"'Shoebite' didn't release, so casting Mr. Bachchan is like a penance for me. Mr. Bachchan was not in the radar while working on the story of 'Pink', but one day I sent him a text and gave him a five-minute narration and he said 'yes' to it. He had blind trust on us and that gives me honour and makes me feel privileged."

"Pink", a courtroom drama-thriler film, also features Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, Andrea Tariang, Piyush Mishra, Angad Bedi, Dhritiman Chatterjee in pivotal roles. It is scheduled for release on September 16, and has Amitabh in the role of a lawyer.

Sircar said they were first contemplating casting more known faces for the film.

"There were discussions to cast known faces and I would not deny that, but I suggested Aniruddha that let's go with Taapsee. Taapsee was perfect for this role. She was also from Delhi and this story is also placed in Delhi. She is young and talented," he said.

He is hopeful that returns on this "medium budget film" will be "encouraging" as the response to the film's gritty and gripping trailer looks promising.

For "Pink", two Pakistani singers have lent their voice for different songs. One is "Kaari kaari" by Quratulain Balouch, while another is "Jeene De Mujhay" by Faiza Mujahid.

Praising Balouch's intense track, Sircar said: "She is a terrific singer and she has done a fabulous job. I personally feel art does not have any boundary or any disparity. Art is an art. Wherever there is an art, if it's good for engaging the society and if it talks about good human behaviour, I am open to collaborating with anyone."

(Uma Ramasubramanian can be contacted at uma.r@ians.in)

--IANS

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