Arun Kuckreja’s three short films are based on different subjects but each conveys the message of affection. The filmmaker shared details with Divya Kaushik
He usually has a very concise yet interesting way of putting across his thoughts through films that are more about the end message than the characters and the plot. And his films need not be in the typical format that we are used to watching. They present innovative concept and represent the thought that each one of us might ponder at some point of time, but ignore. This time filmmaker Arun Kuckreja has come up with what he calls ‘a cinematic triplex.’ The screening of the three films will happen at Alliance Francaise on October 21 at 6.30 pm. These films are Gourmet, The Demo and Prima Donna.
Though each one is based on distinct idea the director says that the common link connecting them is that they talk about love for humans and humanity.
He explained, “The first film Gourmet is a 21-minute production and is about a man’s love for food. It begins with the birth of child and from the moment the umbilical chord is cut the child needs food, and till the later stages or the time he survives he needs food for living. But there are a few in our society who get to travel around the world and taste the most exotic cuisines in the world, there are some who barely manage a two-time meal and then there are those who do not even get a proper day’s meal.”
This has been explained through the video which features Kuckreja as a man who gets a chance to travel far and wide and eat at the most distinguished places in the world.
Towards the end he is shown at the hospital bed with the food pipe, symbolising that he doesn’t have the privilege to enjoy his food now but he is still dependant on it.
The images of natural food, like mango, apples, are all over the screen and then emerge two children, who clearly seem to be malnutritioned with two pieces of breads in their respective hands.
Kuckreja said that the objective of presenting the two extremes was to inspire and influence the society to serve the poor and needy.
“When a woman like Shobori was able to feed lord Rama with whatever she had, then why some of us having plenty of food can’t share it with the needy and feed them. The film inspires one to think about what is very much visible around us,” he said.
The second film explores the concept of Ashtanayika — a collective name for eight type of nayikas or heroines who represent eight different states in relationship to her nayak or hero.
The 36-minute film uses excerpts from atistes’ works, like Mehboob’s Anmol Ghadi (Noor Jehan), Sohrab Modi’s Mirza Ghalib (Suraiya), Guru Dutt’s Sahib Biwi aur Ghulam (Meena Kumari) and Chaudhvin Ka Chand (Waheeda Rehman), Nitin Bose’s Ganga Jamuna (Vyjayanthimala), to name a few. It features sculptures and works of Indian and international masters, has paintings from the Kangra Group (inspired by Kavi Keshavdas’ poems on Ashta-Nayika) and has ballerina Yamini Krishnamurthy presenting the theme through her art.
“She is the best according to me as she can give 20 different expressions to one thing that the director wants to portray on screen,” said Kuckreja.
The third and the last film is Kuckreja’s tribute to all his leading ladies. “Someone truly said that the still photography is the truth and only a photograph can tell a story like nothing can. But unfortunately I had no record of any of my theatrical works since 1981, so I approached Avinash Pasricha who worked with me for my productions. He took upon himself the tedious task to develop the negatives and get pictures of all my works from 1981 to 2013. So I have chosen photographs that describe the mood, expressions of the leading ladies who have been my favourite. They are presented on screen in the form of a film,” he ended.