When one passionately believes, cinema as a medium, has the power to bring about a social transformation and one has amassed vast knowledge, by watching the works of the great masters over the years, there comes a time in life, when one seriously starts nurturing ambitions of conceiving a project that, one fondly hopes, would change the cinematic landscape of the world forever. Like Kurosawa’s movies did in Japan. Fellini had pretty much the same effect on the European cinema in the last century.
Such an occasion has indeed arrived, feels Prekshaka Rai – our man at the helm of affairs. But he candidly admits to his present inability to match the Japanese and the Italian competition. Where he has succeeded in putting one over the maestros however, is that he and his friends already have set up their own production house, aptly named Magic Lantern Productions, has written a watertight script based on a reasonably original story, has penned dialogues that fairly crackle with intensity and wit, managed to persuade a robust cast- made up mostly of people who share the man’s enthusiasm and passion for cinema- to affix their names on the dotted line and naturally, he won’t have anybody other than self directing this maiden offering. What also needs to be highlighted here is that he is also the producer of the film, as he feels very strongly about preserving the integrity of his craft by not having to pander to the needless interference – which has been the bane of many a creative person – from the Moneybags .
The epic is tentatively named Cafe Morgan, but the director is understandably tight-lipped and is not forthcoming with further details. The influence of the French new wave cinema though is very apparent, as is borne out by the title of the film. But Director insists the theme is universal in its appeal and the cast is very much Indian, with a strong amateur theatre background. The lead pair of Dheeraj Shetty and Sowmya was handpicked by the director. The cinematographer Shiva Prakash Acharya and Editor Sudarshan Rajan have lent their respectable names to the venture. Alston “Lucas” Lobo has taken up the responsibility of graphic design and the production work will be managed by Loyed Fernandes. Industry grapevine has it that Gerard Depardieu is being approached for a significant cameo role.
The duration of the film is a little under a half hour and Rai hopes to wrap up the film by the end of March 2008.
Knowing the man’s passion for the movies and his grasp over the medium, the answer to the question would have to be a resounding “Oui! Et heureuse affichés”.
