"A Diwali release has to cater to the audience"
Taapsee describes releasing her upcoming film, Saand Ki Aankh (2019) on Diwali, as a “bold and progressive move”.
The actress plays one of the two protagonists in the biographical film alongside her co-star Bhumi Pednekar.
The story revolves around the lives of sharpshooters Prakashi Tomar (Taapsee) and Chandro Tomar (Bhumi) who are both over 60 years of age.
According to a media interaction with IANS at the 21stJio MAMI Mumbai Festival with Star, Taapsee revealed the reasons behind choosing a Diwali release date. She explained:
“Female-led films are doing great these days because the audience has responded positively to that kind of cinema. But this (Saand Ki Aankh) is the story of two elderly women (sharpshooters Chandro and Prakahi Tomar).
“This has rarely happened on a Diwali, which is mainly dominated by Bollywood’s male stars. It is a strong move by the producers to release a film like Saand Ki Aankh on Diwali. This is a bold and progressive move.”
Taapsee continues to explain why a Diwali release is a big deal. She said:
“The film is releasing on one of the biggest dates of the year, and a Diwali release has to cater to the audience.
“Although the lines are blurring and the audience is celebrating all kinds of cinema, Diwali is a festival and we have to give something to our audience that sets the mood of festivity.
“Our film has the potential to cater to the audience that way.”
Saand Ki Aankh will be screened at the film festival for critics. Taapsee explained how this makes her feel:
“As an actress, I am always excited to show my film to the critics and the audience. I am fortunate that most of the time critics have loved my work.”
For the Jio MAMI Festival, Taapsee leads the jury for the ‘Dimensions Mumbai’ category. Alongside the actress was writer Kanika Dhillon, filmmakers Karan Anushman and Rishi Chandna and actor Avinash Tiwary.
This section of the competition will showcase the work of promising filmmakers. Their films are set in the city of Mumbai.
Taapsee went on to share her experience of watching these films. She stated:
“This is my first experience of watching so many films for a competition section and I am amazed by the brilliance of storytelling these young filmmakers have.
“We are constantly talking about the logistics of filmmaking and what it requires to tell a story, and then I look at these films by some of the budding filmmakers.”
The actress added:
“It clearly shows that when you have a great story idea, nothing can stop you from telling a story.”
“It is not always that the resource of filmmaking makes a great story, it is the power of an idea as well.
“This is my great takeaway from the whole process of watching these films under the ‘Dimensions Mumbai’ category.”
Taapsee, being a Delhi girl got the chance to learn new elements about Mumbai during her time as a jury member. She went on to share some of the things she learnt:
“There is a bridge in Vashi where so many people commit suicide and I had no idea of that. I got to know about it through one of the films that I watched as part of the competition.
“Also, there are people who are singing bhajans (devotional songs) in the local trains for years. These things add to the life of the city of Mumbai. I would say that watching these films brought me a step closer to the city I live in, Mumbai.”
Overall, thirteen films were selected for the ‘Dimensions Mumbai’ category. The results will be announced on October 24, 2019, which will be the last day of the festival.
Saand Ki Aankh will be viewed by critics at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival on October 24 before being released theatrically on October 25, 2019.
We wish Taapsee and the whole team good luck and hope their “bold” move works in their favour.
Watch the trailer to Saand Ki Aankh here
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