Exclusive : Chand Mohammad On Short Film Paatr, Challenges Independent Filmmakers Face & More

Paatr, Chand Mohammad's latest short film, is currently generating buzz. The short film stars Sahil Anand in the lead role and is based on actors' struggles when they immerse themselves in their movie characters. The 13-minute short film is now available on Pocket Films YouTube channels, and the viewers seems to appreciate it.

The National Bulletin spoke with Chand about the inspiration behind Paatr and the challenges he faced in getting it online. The director has bared his emotions in the honest interview. Read the interview below:

What made you venture into filmmaking?

I've always been a movie enthusiast. When I was in college, I saw David Fincher's film Fight Club, among others, and I decided to make similar films for India.

How did you come up with the idea of Paatr?

The idea of Paatr came from worldwide cinema.  I've heard numerous stories from around the world about how many actors have gotten into difficulties after playing a role, particularly Heath Ledger, who died in his character. Thus the concept was pure emotion for me. I just wanted to share what goes into method acting with the rest of the world.

It's a topic that could have gone if you had overdramatised the situation. How did you make sure you stayed in control of how you present the story?

Yes, for fans of their favourite actor, the subject is quite sensitive. And it was indeed challenging to pull off, but I would not have done it if it had not been difficult. I wanted to put myself to the test and see if I could make something like this. As a director, it can sometimes get difficult with people who have a different vision; my duty was to make others grasp my vision. It didn't appear to be easy at first, but happily, I persuaded everyone to support my idea.

Any difficulties you faced while filming the short film?

My DOP was having a hard time understanding what I wanted to shoot on the sets, so we had some creative disagreements. But I requested him to do it my way just once, and I told him you'd be happy once the movie is finished. We didn't have a large crew. Because there were only four of us on set, I was responsible for everything from set design to supporting my actor, continuity, lighting, and even acting as a runner. But it was worthwhile to go through all of this. My team has been outstanding, and the DOP did a brilliant job.

It's not easy for independent filmmakers to get their work released on a good platform. How much did you struggle to get your short film out on a known YouTube channel?

Yes, it took a lot of effort to have this film released. We attempted to call everyone, but due to the current COVID-19 situation, every office is closed. We were unable to contact the appropriate individuals. But, owing to my friend Ritam, the owner of IFP, we were able to get it out to the audience.

What's next?

I have finalised my next project. Can’t reveal it now because it’s in the process. But I want to tell you that this next thing will be the best thing for Indian cinema.

Watch Paatr Short Film Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrD_AXIoWDE