Episodes

  • On the season 2 finale of Anything but Bollywood Neha is in the studio with filmmaker, actor, and screenwriter Pushpendra Singh whose films have traveled to the Venice and Berlin international film festivals, and whose directorial venture 'Ashwathama' was screened at the19th Mumbai International film festival. Listen in as he talks about breaking the traditional 3 act structure of a story, how his acting process influenced his filmmaking, adapting folk tales for screen and much more.

    00:34 Pushpendra intro
    01:04 Starting in Filmmaking/Film screenings at hostel/Barry John & FTII
    03:22 Dealing with parents
    07:05 Working & assisting Amit Datta
    09:33 Assisting Anup Singh
    11:23 How acting experiences shape filmmaking
    14:07 Lajwanti
    17:22 Screenwriting
    21:49 Ashwathama/ choosing the protagonist/growing up in a religious atmosphere/
    25:21 Chambal
    28:54 Portraying with authenticity
    31:45 Adapting folk tales, equating art with classical music
    34:34 Translating from page to screen
    37:41 Working with non-actors
    39:21 Creating the look of the film with the DOP
    41:15 Approach to sound
    42:25 Barometer for success
    46:23 Life and filmmaking co-existing
    47:22 Distribution/Crowdfunding
    50:08 Shift to documentary
    52:19 Learning from teaching acting
    54:24 Acting exercises
    56:04 Advice for actors and directors
    57:03 Upcoming projects
    59:15 Recommendation

    Watch the trailer for Lajwanti here: https://youtu.be/k0BDGVF1874

    Watch the trailer for Ashwathama here: https://youtu.be/dvsiLhpaXcw

    Recommendations:

    Neha - Zama (2017, Dir. Lucrecia Martel): https://youtu.be/K8dW6YHINAA

    Pushpendra - Nainsukh (2010, Dir. Amit Dutta): https://youtu.be/HueU_YnFwfg

    Listen to the Anup Singh episode here: https://bit.ly/2I7iAB7

    For any questions or comments find Neha on twitter @neharthak

    You can listen to this show and other amazing shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5

    You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

  • On this episode of Anything But Bollywood Neha is in the studio with actor Shahnawaz Bhat who starred in the film 'Half Widow' which was screened at the 19th Mumbai International Film Festival. Listen in as Shahnawaz talks about growing up in Kashmir, the lack of opportunities for artists there, and range of experiences working on indies like 'Harud' to a mainstream Bollywood film like 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan'.

    00:48 Shanawaaz Intro
    01:24 How did acting happen?
    02:43 Preparation for 'Harud'
    05:10 Growing up in Kashmir
    08:18 Learning from Aamir Bashir
    09:49 Festival experience
    11:39 Kashmiri language/audience
    16:02 Experience on 'Half-widow'
    18:32 Acting & relatability
    19:50 Experience on 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan'
    22:20 Biding time between roles
    24:26 State of filmmaking in Kashmir
    26:14 The story of 'disappeared men'
    30:01 Has perspective changed?
    34:32 Role of art & creativity in Kashmir
    35:40 Dealing with fear in a conflict zone
    38:40 Ideal roles
    40:00 Pointers for directors & actors
    42:46 Recommendation

    Check out Shahnawaz's body of work here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3919952/

    Here's the trailer for 'Half Widow' : https://youtu.be/k_ITMZMsdwU

    You can watch 'Harud' on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/70153553

    Shahnawaz's film recommedation: Underground (1995, Dir: Emir Kusturica) https://youtu.be/iKdl5r7_ZPc

    (Note: This episode was recorded before the horrific incidents that took place in Kathua in J & K)

    For any questions or comments find Neha on twitter @neharthak

    You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5

    You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

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  • This week Neha is in the studio with documentary film maker Surabhi Sharma whose film 'Phir Se Samm Pe Aana (Returning to the First Beat)' was screened at the 19th Mumbai film festival. Listen in as Surabhi breaks down how to pursue subjects and premises for a documentary, what are the pros and cons of documentary film vs a fictional film and how her last film 'Bidesiya in Bambai' about bhojpuri music and 'Phir se...' about classical musicians took shape.

    00:44 Intro/ accolades for Surabhi's films
    01:39 Parentage/pursuing cinema
    03:34 Transition to documentary/Jari mari
    06:41 Making the 1st film and learning
    11:25 Development of "Phir Se Samm Pa Aana"
    17:10 Film time vs Real time
    21:14 Time to film & edit
    22:29 Video art
    25:39 How shoots are structured?
    29:31 'Bideshiya in Bambai'/Bhojpuri music/finding musicians
    38:45 Funding
    42:26 Who is the audience?
    45:57 Spaces and platforms for documentaries
    50:47 Learning about audiences
    53:16 Identity as a feminist flmmaker
    55:40 Negotiating with a privileged background
    56:47 Deciding on an idea
    57:49 Looking back at earlier work
    59:24 Frustrations as a documentary filmmaker
    1:01:25 Learning from students
    1:02:22 Advice for filmmmakers
    1:03:47 Next film
    1:05:07 Relationship with collaborators
    1:06:51 Recommendations

    Read more about 'Phir Se Samm Pe Aana' here:https://www.mumbaifilmfestival.com/programmeDetail/248

    Surabhi's film recommendations:

    A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings (2017, Dir: Prateek Vats)https://vimeo.com/208656271

    Kho ki pa lü / Up Down and Sideways (2017): https://youtu.be/zJsCbJfICoY

    Also listen to the episode with the filmmakers of this film Anushka Meenakshi and Ashwin Srikumar here: https://bit.ly/2Hx7Ewm

    For any questions or comments find Neha on twitter @neharthak

    You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5

    You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

  • In this episode Neha talks to filmmaker Anup Singh, whose film 'Song of Scorpions' starring Irrfan Khan and Golshifteh Farahani was screened at the 19th Mumbai Film Festival. Listen in as he talks about his inspirations to make film, his method of working with actors, his childhood as a refugee, and his previous film, the much acclaimed 'Qissa'.

    01:17 Intro
    02:06 Life as a refugee/Watching film at sea
    06:28 Cinema as an art form
    08:27 Experiences from first film 'Ekti Nadir Naam'
    12:37 The crux of 'Qissa'
    14:55 Personal history that inspired 'Qissa'
    19:32 Making the film in Punjabi/Producer demands/Getting the project off the ground
    23:40 Authenticity vs. Experience in fiction
    26:18 The importance of being an outsider
    29:58 Writing routine
    34:09 Preparation for a shoot
    35:35 Working with actors/Workshopping
    40:29 Collaborations and ego conflicts
    41:56 Seeking feedback
    42:50 Dealing with failure
    43:43 Learning from students
    46:36 Next project
    47:53 Relationship with Irrfan Khan
    49:48 Approach to casting
    54:55 Role of music
    57:24 Recommendation

    Watch the trailer for 'Qissa' here: https://youtu.be/ORO6Zp0oHDU

    Watch the trailer for 'The Song of Scorpions' here: https://youtu.be/nBNRAiUcxco

    Anup's film recommendation - Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2011, Dir: Nuri Bilge Ceylan): https://youtu.be/4jKgHqU1jrs

    For any questions or comments find Neha on twitter @neharthak

    You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5

    You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

  • This week on Anything But Bollywood, Neha talks to the Ektara Collective, which is an independent, autonomous, non-funded group. They open up about how they collaborate with trained and untrained people to make films that are content-wise and aesthetically located in people’s subjective, contextual realities and experiences. They also discuss why art needs to be political, especially with the growing right wing fascism in the country.

    For any questions or comments find Neha on twitter @neharthak(https://twitter.com/neharthak)

    You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5

    You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

  • Neha talks to filmmaker Karma Takapa from Sikkim, who is creating waves with his film Ralang Road. He talks about how the film's setting played a key role in the plot and how he strives for authenticity.

    For any questions or comments find Neha on twitter @neharthak(https://twitter.com/neharthak)

    You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5

    You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

  • In this episode Neha talks to documentary filmmakers Anushka Meenakshi and Ashwin Srikumar about their film 'Kho ki pa lü' or 'Up Down and Sideways' which was shot in Phek, Nagaland and explores the musical tradition of the Müle community. It was screened at the 19th Mumbai festival in the 'India Gold' section.

    00:25 - Intro: Up, Down and Sideways
    01:41 - Starting out in film making
    04:17 - Root of the film/House hunting/The gift
    08:34 - Learning from travelling
    10:50 - Overview of the Müle community
    12:31 - Meaning of songs/Translations
    16:25 - The 10 minute shot
    19:56 - Research process/Anushka's MA in music
    22:28 - Ethics
    24:18 - Politics of the film & Nagaland
    28:36 - Sound design process
    31:52 - Finding context in everyday working
    34:17 - Larger context of the film
    37:04 - Maintaining traditions
    39:21 - Dealing with uncertainty
    41:48 - Personal challenges
    46:41 - Nature of collaboration
    48:35 - Choice to be independent filmmakers
    50:14 - Archive/Pad.ma
    53:47 - Next project
    54:10 - Advice for creators
    55:30 - Recommendations

    Watch the trailer for Kho ki pa lü / Up Down and Sideways here:https://youtu.be/zJsCbJfICoY

    Anushka and Ishwar's film recommendation: Rubber Coated Steelhttps://vimeo.com/157655639

    Find out about and watch the Padma archives here: https://pad.ma/grid/title

    For any questions or comments find Neha on twitter @neharthak(https://twitter.com/neharthak)

    You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5

    You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

  • On the first episode of the second season of Anything but Bollywood, Neha talks to filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan whose film 'Sexy Durga' got rave reviews at festivals but ran into controversy when it's title was changed to 'S Durga' in India.

    01:33 - Intro
    02:35 - Getting into filmmaking/Law school/Short films
    10:24 - Kazcha film society
    13:53 - Shooting without a script
    18:15 - Casting process
    19:38 - Narrative choices
    20:38 - Time to shoot/Shot selection
    23:01 - "Looped" narrative structure
    24:42 - Shoot preparation
    25:48 - Power equation
    29:24 - Story vs. Film
    31:12 - Title censorship
    34:11 - Dealing with pressure
    35:57 - Re-shoots
    37:12 - Role of artists
    38:45 - Film recommendation

    Watch the trailer for 'Sexy Durga' here - https://youtu.be/gTLnpit1VcA

    Get more details about the Kazcha film society here: http://www.kazhcha.in/index.html

    Sanal's film recommendation: Western (2017, Dir: Valeska Grisebach) - https://youtu.be/p8f8zHDwv_c

    For any questions or comments find Neha on twitter @neharthak

    You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5

    You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

  • In the Final episode of the first season of Anything But Bollywood, Neha RT will be talking to director Ashim Ahluwalia, popular for his films "John and Jane", "Miss Lovely" and the upcoming gangster biopic "Daddy".

    01:45 - Early Days
    07:55 - On "John and Jane"
    13:41 - On Form and "Miss Lovely"
    20:49 - On Improvising
    33:03 - Making "Miss Lovely"
    38:14 - Shooting On Film
    42:31 - On "Daddy"
    56:10 - On being a filmmaker
    1:06:03 - Film Recommendations

    Trailers
    - Daddy
    - Miss Lovely
    - John and Jane

    Film Recommendations
    - "Faces" (1968, Dir. John Cassavetes)
    - "Drawing Restraint 9" (2005, Dir. Matthew Barney)

    For any questions or comments find me on twitter
    - @neharthak

    You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5

    You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

  • In the ninth episode of Anything But Bollywood, Neha RT will be talking to film programmer Deepti D'Cunha, who has programmed and consulted for festivals such as MAMI, Venice International Film Festival and Locarno International Film Festival to name a few.

    01:46 - Intro
    02:29 - Early Days
    11:28 - Osian's Cinefan Film Festival + Mani Kaul
    20:32 - On being a Film Programmer
    24:34 - On Mentors
    29:02 - On selecting an Indian film for Venice International Film Festival
    38:51 - On Form vs Narrative
    48:44 - On Negotiating with Filmmakers
    56:00 - On Distribution
    1:07:05 - 'Haider' at Rome
    1:12:38 - Advice for Filmmakers
    1:17:27 - Final Recommendation

    Film Recommendations
    - The Battle For Banaras (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXu3XcTwkDM)

    For any questions or comments find me on twitter
    - @neharthak (https://twitter.com/neharthak)

    You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5

    You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

  • In the Eighth episode of Anything But Bollywood, Neha RT will be talking to producer Guneet Monga, who's brought out the films "Gangs Of Wasseypur", "Shaitan", "The Lunchbox" and "Once UponA Time In Mumbai" to name a few.

    01:04 - Intro
    01:32 - Early Days
    07:12 - "Say Salaam India"
    11:50 - Working With Anurag Kashyap
    17:27 - Film Festivals
    20:02 - "The Lunchbox"
    25:05 - Marketing
    37:46 - "Trishna" + Cost Cutting
    41:31 - "Kavi"
    47:59 - On her Parents
    55:10 - Film Recommendations

    Film Recommendations
    - Mukti Bhawan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A1Sp6-GcmI)
    - Captain Fantastic (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1kH4OMIOMc)

    For any questions or comments find me on twitter
    - @neharthak (https://twitter.com/neharthak)

    You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5

    You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

  • In the Seventh episode of Anything But Bollywood, Neha RT will be talking to filmmaker Kamal Swaroop, the director behind the cult classic "Om Dar-Ba-Dar" as well as the documentaries "Rangbhoomi" and "The Battle of Banaras'.

    01:19 - Intro
    02:07 - Early Influences
    08:10 - Working On 'Gandhi'
    12:19 - 'Om Dar-b-dar'
    22:59 - Sound for 'Om Dar-b-dar'
    29:26 - Being a Cult Hit
    35:16 - 'Tracing Phalke'
    42:33 - 'The Battle of Banaras' and Documentary Filmmaking
    56:27 - Film Recommendations

    LINKS
    - Crowds and Power

    Film Recommendations
    - Nazarin (1958)
    - Ran (1985)
    - Le Quattro Volte (2010)

    For any questions or comments find me on twitter
    - @neharthak

    You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5

    You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

  • In the Sixth episode of Anything But Bollywood, Neha RT will be talking to experimental documentary filmmaker Shaina Anand, whose works have been exhibited at the Tate and the Sharjah Biennale (to name a few). She is a founding member of the collaborative artist studio CAMP and the founder of the ongoing pad.ma and indiancine.ma film archives.

    01:31 - Intro
    01:57 - Early Days
    08:10 - Assisting Saeed Mirza
    13:34 - "KhirkeeYaan"
    22:44 - "The Neighbour Before The House"
    31:54 - On Film Distribution
    37:18 - On Funding
    39:08 - The Pad.ma and Indiancine.ma Film Archives
    41:41 - On the Rules of Cinema vs. Measuring Success
    52:11 - The Gulf Labor Artist Coalition
    59:00 - On the Future of Film and Technology

    LINKS

    Public access digital media archive IndianCine.ma Film Archive CAMP website Gulf Labor Artist Coalition "From Gulf to Gulf to gulf" trailer

    Film Recommendations

    Lipstick Under my Burka

    For any questions or comments find me on twitter
    - @neharthak

  • In the Fifth episode of Anything But Bollywood, Neha RT will be talking to actor Kalki Koechlin popular for her roles in films such as “Dev D’, “Shanghai”, “Margarita With A Straw”.and most recently in Konkana Sen Sharma’s “A Death in the Gunj”.

    00:32 - Intro, How to Pronounce "Koechlin"
    02:18 - Early days, Landing "Dev D"
    07:11 - On Theatre, On Identity
    09:53 - After Dev D
    12:18 - Working on Margarita With A Straw
    16:33 - Working with Directors
    29:48 - Commercial vs Independent Cinema
    32:31 - Being an actor
    39:10 - On Success and Growth
    46:27 - Future Projects & Film Recommendations

    Trailers

    A Death In the Gunj Margarita With A Straw Shanghai Dev D

    Film Recommendations

    Manchester By The Sea A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence

    You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5

    You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

  • In the Fourth episode of Anything But Bollywood, Neha RT will be talking to Ad filmmaker and entrepreneur Prahlad Kakkar founder of Genesis Film Production Pvt Ltd and popular for his ad campaigns for Maggi sauce (It's Different) and Pepsi (Yehi hai right choice baby).

    01:52 - Early Days
    08:31 - Maggi Sauce Campaign
    22:35 - Pepsi Campaign
    28:16 - Working with A-List actors
    31:49 - On Advertising
    36:58 - On Being an Entrepreneur
    45:29 - Film Recommendations

    Check out Prahlad Kakkar's work and Influences....

    Pepsi Commercial Maggi Commercial Bombay Dyeing Ad
    -The Art Of War by Sun Tzu Murphy's Law

    Film Recommendations (trailers)

    The Salesman Blade Runner The Duellists

    You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5

    You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

  • In the third episode of Anything But Bollywood, Neha RT will be talking to indie filmmaker and activist Shonali Bose popular for her films "Amu", "Chittagong" and "Margarita with a Straw".

    01:30 - "Amu"
    08:45 - "Margarita With A Straw"
    21:26 - On Censorship
    33:51 - On Film Distribution and Test Screenings
    47:41 - On Grief
    58:16 - On Politics and Art
    1:01:58 - Film Recommendations

    Film Recommendations (trailers)
    - Mukti Bhawan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A1Sp6-GcmI)
    - Beast Of No Nation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xb9Ty-1frw)

    You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5

    You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

  • In the second episode of Anything But Bollywood, Neha RT will be talking to indie documentary filmmaker and founder of Parodevi Pictures, Paromita Vohra. She is the force behind Agents of Ishq, and has directed films "Unlimited Girls", "Q2P" "Partners In Crime' and "Cosmopolis' to name a few.

    02:47 - Early Days + Influences
    08:25 - Working with Anand Patwardhan
    12:24 - Working in Bombay, Channel V, Soaps, Different Forms
    14:09 - "Annapurna"
    16:45 - On interviewing for documentary
    22:41 - On Feminism, "Unlimited Girls"
    39:25 - "Morality TV and The Loving Jihad"
    46:43 - On Copyright, "Partners In crime", On Love
    53:02 - "Q2P"
    1:02:16 - "Cosmopolis", "Forgotten City"
    1:05:58 - Funding
    1:12:08 - "Connected Hum Tum"
    1:21:47 - Moments of Failure
    1:28:58 - "Agents Of Ishq"
    1:49:21 - Future Projects, Film Recommendations

    LINKS
    - Follow Paromita Vohra on TWITTER!
    - Check out Paromita's FILMS!
    - Check out AGENST OF ISHQ!

    Film Recommendations (trailers)
    - Something Like A War by Deepa Dhanraj
    - In The Mood For Love by Wong Kar Wai
    - Chronicle Of A Summer by Jean Rouche
    - Titli by Yash Raj Films

    You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5

    You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

  • In this first episode of Anything But Bollywood, Neha RT will be talking to indie director and producer Q, renowned for his films "Gandu", "Tasher Desh" and "Brahman Naman".

    01.25 - Early days / Major influences
    12.37 - Pitching / "Le Pocha" + "Love In India"
    16.24 - "Gandu"
    25.54 - "Tasher Desh"
    31.58 - Artist and Identity / CBFC
    42.06 - Distribution / Technology and Art / Shock in Art
    56.24 - "Ludo" / Horror films
    1.02.55 - "Brahman Naman"
    1.11.34 - Financial Risks / Collaborators

    You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcast App on Android: https://goo.gl/tGYdU1 or iOS: https://goo.gl/sZSTU5

    You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

  • Every week, Neha RT sits down to talk to some of India’s best creators and filmmakers about art, cinema, inspiration and pretty much anything but Bollywood!