Conscious decision to make debut with 'Shortcut Safari': Dir

As a cinematographer and producer, Amitabha Singh has worked on critically acclaimed movies like "The Good Road", "Yahaan" and "Khosla Ka Ghosla" but the filmmaker says he chose "Shortcut Safari" for his directorial debut because the issue of environment is close to his heart.
Starring Jimmy Shergil and seven talented child artistes, "Shortcut Safari" revolves around a group of urban children who get trapped in a dense forest during their school outing.
"It has been a very conscious decision to debut like this, with this story because this issue is dearest and closest to my heart. I feel when it comes about our concerns for our children and environment though there is a lot of things which are going on, there is also a sense of sensibility ," Singh told PTI.

The director has tried to make the film an immersive experience for the audience so that they get entertainment along with the social message.
"'Shortcut Safari' is an experience-oriented film. I want people to get immersed in the world of those kids, who get lost in the jungle. I want them to experience the adventure of the kids."
Another children film, "The Jungle Book", has been doing exceptionally well at the Indian box office but Singh hopes his film will get accepted and won't suffer due to the similar forest backdrop.

"I do believe that there is room for everything. There is a room for us as well because sensibilities that we are talking about in our film are completely different from 'The Jungle Book'.

"It's not based on any epic or not it's a part of any history. It does not underline drama and other ingredients which were important in 'Yhe Jungle Book'. Here, we are talking about concerns of today and through this story we are looking into the future," he said.
A FTII graduate, Singh started his career with ad films and later turned cinematographer and producer. The filmmaker finds himself lucky to have been part of good quality cinema and he wants to push the boundaries with his new role of a director.
"I have been blessed that since the beginning I have been part of films, which have been turning points in modern Indian cinema. Now, that I have chosen to be a director, I want to do the same and bring a change in our films. I want 'Shortcut Safari' to be a turning point for kids films. I will direct more such movies in future."

"Shortcut Safari" releases tomorrow.