Nats and my first movie

Illustration/Uday Mohite

Saw your movie trailer, Rahul bruh," Natasha, aka Nats my Gen Z neighbour, said, nonchalantly.

‘What did you think of it?' I asked, a tad nervous but trying to be equally nonchalant

"It was not bad, exceeded expectations…"

"Meaning…?"

"Well uhm, seems like a cool trailer, quite trippy. See bruh, when you said you're making a movie, this late in your life…who makes a first film, in their 60s dude…I'm thinking what kind film will it be, what genre, crime thriller, murder whodunnit-whydunnit, bromance, also you're such a SoBo dude - this side of sea link kinda guy, can you reach out to the common man - also, seems like its in Hindi…"

"Yeah, of course, it's in

Hindi…we don't have an English film market yet."

"Dude, did you write it also? Your Hindi is atrocious (eye roll and twinkle)."

"Well, Bugs Bhargava and I wrote it in English, and then got it translated. Listen, most Bollywood peeps, even Farhan, Zoya, Dibakar write their first draft in English. Everyone basically thinks in English."

Nats jumped topics, her mind was racing.

"I'm excited by your cast, dude. Jim Sarbh and Amit Sadh, together. I love bromance, they're so hot, hot, hot, those two guys, do they take off their shirts, on the highway…?"

"Listen, Nats. Pune Highway isn't some extended music video…it's a movie about…?"

"Kidding dude, chillax! (mischievous smile) Man, you're releasing in the cinema, crazeee man…huge risk…isn't it?"

"Yeah kiddo, three years of work, finally down to one weekend - screenplay to screen, storytelling, songs, stitching the edit together, choosing your stars, screenings, soundtrack, the score, streaming platforms as an option, showcasing, show timings, single screen vs multiplex, smaller city releases, it's down to one weekend, one Friday. In the hope that some biggie, some sequel, some South film, some SRK-starrer, doesn't release same time, same day. I need enough bums on seats to see me through the first weekend. Oh man, the days that Sholay could pull off five years of housefulls in one cinema house. Three years of work to determine one weekend, Nat; the odds are crazy."

"Dude, why should Gen Z watch it in the cinema, what's in it for us? There's so much to else to do in Mumbai city, why spend 400 bucks for a ticket and popcorn to see your Pune Highway…?" she asked.

"Our tagline is ‘Dead Body Jhooth Nahi Bolti', so you get mystery, murder, suspense…." I began.

"Dude… I have a sixth sense about movies…I knew that Sinners, The Last of Us would all be successful… I'm an influencer, 4.5 million followers and growing, dude. Let me tell you - your teaser, your songs, your trailer, and your theme, man, Rahul… dosti and a dead body with some laughs….killer combo. You will create curiosity. But then again, to drag someone off their couch to the cinemas, tough task dude, two weeks to go - but proud of you."

And she was out the door.

Rahul daCunha is an adman, theatre director/playwright, photographer and traveller. Reach him at rahul.dacunha@mid-day.com