Drawing From Reality

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Aditya Suhas, film director Aditya Suhas, feature film of Adiya Suhas, Indian panorama at IFFI, Indian Express — A still from Kharvas.

What made you opt for a career in filmmaking. You dont have any formal training in the subject.

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Before I graduated from Goa Engineering College in 2014, I was engaged with theatre for eight years. I had my own group called GC Drama Circle and was also associated with Hauns Theatre, which was formed in the 60s. While doing theatre, I wanted to act. However, I was not happy with the roles I was getting. So I started writing and later directing. Soon my plays started travelling to Pune and Mumbai. I played the role of a eunuch in the Marathi play titled Are Mansa Mansa. I also wrote for the theatrical production Vande Mataram, which tried to capture the history of India in two hours. While writing it, I worked in the IT sector as an engineer for a year. However, after I received appreciation for the visuals I created for the production, I thought of giving filmmaking a shot.

Can you tell us about the two short films you have made so far?

The first short film I made is Aaba… Aiktaay Na? (2017). It is about an elderly mans obsession with his hearing aid. After finalising the script, I thought of using the Dolby Atmos effect in sound mixing. By the time this movie bagged the National Award for Direction in Non-Feature segment, we were in the process of making Kharvas. In my neighbourhood, I knew someone whose child was stillborn. I realised we are not at ease talking about the trauma a mother undergoes or the complications that follow such deliveries. Kharvas — which is the story of Aasawari withdrawing into her ancestral home in Konkan after losing her child — tries to explore this trauma.

As a filmmaker based in Goa, do you encounter any limitations?

I always told myself that just because I get noticed in Goa, I should not get carried away. We didnt have the facility for DCP mastering in Goa. We dont get good cameras or lighting equipment. We also dont have a reliable colourist in Goa. These things are not available mainly because there is no market for them. Now, we are trying to offer these facilities as well as post-production services in Goa.

What draws you to true stories?

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The authenticity of these stories is a big draw for me. I believe people tend to take these stories seriously. If you can pack in a message, it can have an impact. We wish to make a Hindi-Punjabi feature film set in Amritsar. It is a period film based on a true story that took place in 1947. We have written a feature version of it. However, to get funds for it, we might consider turning it into a short film.

Have you considered making a feature film in Goa?

The most important thing for me is that people should watch the film. Its also a business at the of end of day. I do have an idea for a feature film based in Goa, which is also a period film. It will require a lot of research and that will time.

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