EXCLUSIVE | Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra: 'Mass cinema in India is like Donald Trump winning elections, people are watching South Indian films because...'

Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra always brings something unique and fresh with the stories that he tells and his show Tanaav 2 on OTT is one of them. And in an exclusive interview with Firstpost, he spoke about it.

What are your expectations from Tanaav 2 and what can we expect?

Audiences will get to go through the real lives of the characters and relate to them emotionally as well. Also, simultaneously they will experience a thriller at its peak. I think people will develop an understanding of the situation there.

Is OTT more liberating for you as a filmmaker since there’s no pressure of box-office?

Tomorrow if it doesn’t work out for me, if I don’t have much of a future remaining to look forward to as a director then yes, I do think OTT is more liberating.

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During the pandemic when we were watching content from all over the world, there was a discussion that cinema and content will change, but when cinemas reopened, people said we can watch such content on OTT, we only want mass cinema in theatres. How do you see this irony?

Well! Mass cinema in India is like Donald Trump winning elections in America. Huge, right? Because the mass-moving audiences in India was ignored by most filmmakers, including the popular ones. So, whether we as Hindi filmmakers should cater to them or not is not the question, right? Then the audiences gravitated towards the popular South Indian cinema as they were making marquee films with big budgets, and actors. So, there is no irony in this!

How would you describe your journey in cinema so far?

I have never asked for much. Whenever I have approached someone and asked them to do what I want to do, keeping aside the rejection, often people have come to me and said, “Why don’t you do this? And then we eventually met at a mutual point. Also, I think the industry has been very kind to me so far. I can still direct better, and my life has been filled with half regret and half reward. The glass is half full.

What were the discussions that happened during the casting of Tanaav?

I mean initially in the first season we had decided that Kabir Farooqui is the character we are planning to sustain for a long time, and we zeroed down on Manav Vij for it. And we had to decide a compelling antagonist Gaurav for it. In this season also, we had to do a lot of tests and auditions and arrive at the right cast.

Kareena in Chameli, Kay Kay in Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Irrfan in Yeh Saali Zindagi. What are your memories of creating these characters and working with these actors?

I still feel the best is yet to come. My best memories would be that Kareena in Chameli works not just because of her but, the character is such. Kay Kay Menon in Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi is yet another complex character, but my love for cinema was reflected in it. I loved his performance in it as well. Irrfan in Yeh Saali Zindagi not only did his best but also added his own extra elements in the role. I learnt from him as a director too.