Ram Kamal Mukherjee on the premiere of ‘Cakewalk’
Critically acclaimed film director, Ram Kamal Mukherjee has been rejoicing after his film ‘Cakewalk’ starring, Esha Deol Takhtani, premiered globally. BizAsiaLive.com caught up with the filmmaker about how he felt with the film’s screening.
How does it feel when your movie gets such a platform?
It wasn’t a cakewalk for sure! (Laughs) I had faith in my film, and I knew that people will like it.
The film received rave reviews from media and Bollywood fraternity. How did you feel?
I think we made an honest film and that’s what people liked. I am grateful to all my media fraternity friends and colleagues for showing love towards it. From Abhishek Bachchan to Sonu Sood, from Vidya Balan to Raveena Tandon, from Arjun Kapoor to Tushar Kapoor everyone had fabulous things to say about this 27 minute film.
It seems that ‘Cakewalk’ is the first short length feature film to get worldwide premiere on television?
Yes, it’s true. In fact I didn’t expect Cakewalk will be so huge, in terms of reach and platform. Rishtey Cineplex is India’s leading movie channel and to showcase a short film on television is a rare stance. I think the last time anyone saw a short film premiered on television was 38 years ago when Satyajit Ray made Sadgati with Smita Patil and Om Puri.
Hema ji loved this new concept of telling a crisp story. She loved my cinematographer Pravatendu Mondol work and praised the way we showed Esha in the film. She even loved Rupali Jagga’s voice and felt that the song leaves an after effect after the film is over. Dharam ji watched the film on Voot, but he watched it on big screen and enjoyed the film thoroughly. He loved Esha’s performance and the subtle message that is conveyed through the narrative. I am honoured as a director that two legends of Bollywood have blessed the film with their comments.
So are you planning to do any feature film?
Yes, I have finished working on the story. Will work on the screenplay and dialogue. Meanwhile I am completing my second short film “A Tribute to Rituparno Ghosh Season’s Greetings” and then I have two more Hindi shorts and one Bengali film. After that I will start my feature film in Hindi.
Have you locked the cast for your feature film?
Not yet! Once I am ready then I shall approach actors.
You think global premiere of ‘Cakewalk’ will open gates for other filmmakers who are trying to make short films and waiting for the platform?
Of course! That’s what I want. I faced a lot of issue after making this film. It was Viacom 18 and Mr Raj Nayak who made this happen. You need people who are willing to take that risk with new content. The idea of showcasing this film on television was completely new for me. But after the premeire people from India UK and USA have written mails on social media asking me how did I manage to achieve the impossible!
Are you working on any book?
Yes, I am in the middle of submitting a biography and also writing a historical fiction. I am also working on an interesting project which will be slightly different from the regular ones.
Who else could be better than you to bring Hema Malini and Esha together on screen?
I would love to work with Hemaji and Esha in a feature film. But I should have a script that would do justice to both their talents. Hopefully, some day I will.
