Young theatre enthusiasts from Mysore pool in their resources and make Spaces for Rent, a feature film based on one of Maxim Gorky's plays
Young theatre enthusiasts from Mysore pool in their resources and make Spaces for Rent, a feature film based on one of Maxim Gorky's plays Director's cut: N S Islahuddin
If mafia movies and recycled love stories bore you to tears, there's something exciting on offer. Spaces for Rent, a two-hour film made by young theatre people from Mysore, will be screened at Suchitra Film Society, in Banashankari 2nd Stage, on June 21.u00a0u00a0
Based on Maxim Gorky's play, The Lower Depths, Spaces for Rent is directed by N S Islahuddin, who has acted in over 25 plays.u00a0
Why did you choose Gorky's play for your first film?
I chose it because of its relevance. The Lower Depths has been adapted to screen in French, Japanese and Hindi. It has a universal and timeless appeal. It's about how one house is quickly split up into 10 different bedrooms during hard times. I wanted to dramatise the story and that's why I decided on the feature film format.
Your title, Spaces for Rent, sounds like a classified ad!
Yeah (laughs). Would you believe me if I told you I once saw a board, which had 'Bed for Rent' in front of a house in Mysore? I was struck by how everyone wants to convert what they have however meagre into money-minting propositions. Even the space in human relationships is up for negotiation!
Tell us, did you have producers queueing up at your door...
I wish that were true! In reality, not one producer was ready to finance this kind of film. That's when we, at Gangways Productions, decided to pool in our pocket money to cover the production cost. To me, Spaces for Rent is the perfect example of a co-operative film.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
Is our audience, which is fed on a steady diet of masti and masala, ready to accept such experimental fare?
I hope so. I know glamour, love and action is hard to beat, but even if a discerning few appreciate the film, I would be thrilled.
How did you shoot this realistic film?
We used a teleserial camera and two lights for the entire shoot. All actors are newcomers. Since we have in-house technical expertise, we were able to complete the film in just 18 days at a single location in Mysore.
You held a special screening of the film at the Mysore. University Senate Hall. What was the response?
M S Sathyu said kind words about the screenplay and the performances. He had valuable suggestions about some technical aspects. We have reworked the sound part since the special show.u00a0 We will take our movie to the people through the Gangways touring theatre. We plan to screen it in schools and colleges, and at film festivals.
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