After the international success of I Am Kalam winning over 30 awards from all over the world, followed by the critically-acclaimed Jalpari — The Desert Mermaid last year, filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda is now working on a Canadian coproduction, which is a social satire-black comedy based close to his roots back in Odisha. His last film love Is Not Mathematics is deferred towards the end of this year because of his new production.
Initially titled Uncha Gaon Neecha Gaon, Panda’s new film is a dark but humorous take on the issues surrounding water scarcity and sanitation with the backdrop of two fictional villages that have been neighbours and rivals for generations.
Panda remarks, “They say it’s tough to make people laugh. I’d say it’s even tougher to make them laugh at themselves. That’s what makes satire a challenging genre, but I’m enjoying every bit of it. This is brand new territory for me as a filmmaker. I know these characters because I’ve been them and lived that life, back in my village.”
The feel of the film, even the music and choreography, would carry heavy folk elements from Odisha, from its folk music, colours, costumes, characters to its tones. Panda says, “We are telling the tale from a small, fictitious region in contemporary rural India, but the premise is such that it is global in its reach and reliability. This would be my biggest commercial film. My inspiration of satire is Jane Bhi Do Yaro, which I grow up with and I must have watched 100 times.”
Panda has roped in a stellar ensemble cast for the venture, with the dashing Kunal Kapoor paired opposite the talented Radhika Apte, clubbed with veteran actors Anupam Kher and Gulshan Grover. Panda is also featuring some lead Odia actors and actresses. The main photography is slated to begin by the end of this month. The shooting will span across six States in India.