Anurag Kashyap could well be the biggest trendsetter in India. For his collection of short films with Tumbhi titled Shorts, soon to release in the theatres on July 12 seems a new crop of young directors, supported by able actors touching the silver screen.
Interestingly, it is the interest of the actors in promoting and participating in such films that makes the difference to differential entertainment hitting the marquee.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Huma Qureshi, Richa Chadda and Vineet Singh have all gone out of their way to be present at the promotions of Shorts, knowing that it is a limited PVR-Cinemax release.
“It is important that such talent be given the opportunity” says Nawaz simply. Adds Huma, “we knew these films may be hitting the festival circuits only but we wanted to very much be a part of it.”
Adds Richa, “my film is a silent film and there was so much scope for me to act. I loved every moment.” Most of these actors have all won awards for these films at various Festival across the globe, thus strengthening their faith in Anurag’s movement, with dynamic maker Guneet Monga’s support.
While on one hand Anurag seems to be spearheading the movement for such films to hit the marquee, there is an influx of fresh talent that is hitting Bollywood, thanks to these festival films.
There is young Hemwant Tiwari who may not have a godfather like Anurag but is yet talked about as “waiting to be discovered”, having made his mark with Bobby Pushkarna’s Zindagi Bahut Khoobsoorat Hai at Cannes, and there is Nimrat Kaur who shone amid talents like Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin in Lunchbox to name just two.
Says Hemwant, “my film sees my journey from negativity to positivity where I do not utter a word. It wasn’t easy to play a character like that. Full credits to my director Bobby Pushkarna for bringing out the best in me. And when you get lauded in a platform like Cannes, it is much more than just a morale booster.”
While the youngsters are excited and the actors are supportive, Anurag Kashyap simply moves on as though this is simply what should have been done. If only there were others his ilk. India would see many more such talent waiting in the wings soar and touch the skies!
