Ollywood actor Siddhant speaking with odishatoday.com correspondent
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Bhubaneswar: Oriya film industry's chocolate boy Siddhant Mohapatra is now trying his luck as a director. With a career spanning more than fifteen years in the Oriya film industry and more than a hundred films, he now wants to direct a film.
In an Exclusive Interview with Odishatoday.com's Kautuk Mitra at his residence in Bhubaneswar Siddhant shares some of his plans for the film and also about the film industry in total.
Here are the excerpts of the interview.
Odishatoday.com: First of all Congratulations for winning the best cine actor award 2008.
Siddhant: Thank you very much.
Odishatoday.com: After acting in more than 100 films in a career that spans long 15 years, now you are ready for a directorial debut. How do you feel?
Siddhant: I am feeling very happy, it's like my dreams come true. I always love taking new challenges. After working with numbers talented directors of Oriya film industry, I have learnt a lot of things and now I feel that I can direct a good movie.
Odishatoday.com: : What prompted you to try your hand in Direction? How it came to your mind?
Siddhant: This movie "Kahara Kete Dum" is not an over-night project. For the last seven years I was planning to direct this movie and from the last one year I worked on its script. Now only the script part is over and lots of other things are left to do.
Odishatoday.com: How direction is different from acting?
Siddhant: Yes, direction is totally different from acting. The roll of a director is 1000 times more responsible than the actor. While acting in any movie, I first see my character, script of the movie, the production house, and who is the director and I act accordingly.
However, the roll of the director is more responsible and it needs good management skills. An actor has to focus on his character but a director has to do lots of research work during pre-production, work hard during production and post-production.
The director is the only person who visualizes the film well before real shooting starts which is very challenging task and more or less the film's success depends on the director's skill and visualization.
Odishatoday.com: You have no prior experience. How would you cope yourself to this new role?
Siddhant: I don't have any experience in film direction but, yes I spend maximum time with my director and from there I learnt a lot of things which I think will make me a good director.
Odishatoday.com: As you have taken the responsibility of a director would you continue to act in films or would you focus only on direction?
Siddhant:I will act till the last breath of my life. So far as direction is concerned right now I am focusing only on 'Kahara Kete Dum'.
Odishatoday.com: It is believed that Siddhant can make any film a big hit. How this brand name would help you to make Kahara Kete Dum a big hit?
Siddhant: (Smiles) No no it is not like that. A film becomes hit, super hit or flop depending upon its story, music, and the way the director presents it. See a film is a medium of communication. If the audience gets the message that we give them and if they like our message then the film is super hit and if not then the film is a flop.
If a film lacks good story line and the characters do not have much hold of it, no body can make the film hit. Even if you bring any Bollywood or Hollywood star in place of me, the film won't work if it has a weak story line.
More or less it is a collective efforts rather than one man's charisma, which make a film hit
Odishatoday.com: After turning your career towards direction, do you think it might hamper your acting career?
Siddhant:No this film is just like any other movie that I am doing and we will take some of the best professionals of the industry for this film who will assist me. So, I don't think it will be harmful for my acting career.
Odishatoday.com: Siddhant is the busiest star of Oriya film industry. How do you manage time for Kahara Kete Dum and the films you are now working on?
Siddhant: For completing a film it hardly takes 45 to 60 days. As I am the actor of this film it is like acting in any other films. I don't think there will be any problem to my other films that I am doing now.
Odishatoday.com: You have been fulfilling the expectations of the Oriya audience for a long time now. Today, the audience is expecting the same from you as a director. Do you feel any extra pressure for it?
Siddhant: Yes, I know that my fans and Oriya film industry always wanted something more from me and that makes me more responsible. I know people have high expectations from me and I promise I will not disappoint them. Through this movie "Kahara Kete Dum", I will try to give them something new.
Odishatoday.com: "Kahara Kete Dum", the name itself shows an action packed film. So, this time Siddhant targets only the young mass? Could you please throw some light on it?
Siddhant:No no it is not totally an action oriented film. This film has a "social message" blended in comedy, romance, drama, suspense, action and good music. According to the script I think 'Kahara Keta Dum' is the suitable line for my film's title and that's why I kept it. It will also show my 'Dum' as a director.
Odishatoday.com: Very often we see non-Oriya actresses in Oriya films. Why So? Is there dearth of talent or directors prefer non-Oriya actresses in Oriya films?
Siddhant: When a director finishes his script, he starts looking for the actor or actress according to the script and the available dates of that actor or actress. Our actresses also have lots of talent. But, according to the story of Kahara Kete Dum, Delhi-based actress Namrata is best suited for the heroine's character. She will be my co-star.
Odishatoday.com: Are you going to bring any new faces in this movie?
Siddhant:Yes, in Orissa lots of talented boys and girls are there, but they need a platform to show their acting talent. That's why from the end of this month, we will launch a talent hunt programme throughout the state to select the artistes for our movie.
We have divided Orissa into seven zones for our talent hunt programme. The selected actors and actresses will join a one-month workshop where some renowned personalities of Oriya film industry will teach them A to Z of acting. After that they will be acting in the movie.
Odishatoday.com: As a director how would you rate Oriya audience?
Siddhant: Oriya audiences are equally good when compared to any other film audiences. Oriya audiences are more emotionally attached to the films. The best thing is that now-a-days a large number of young mass are coming to theatres to watch Oriya films. Taking youth masses' liking, preferences, we are adding action, comedy, outdoor shooting and we making films more glamorous these days.
Odishatoday.com: As a director what would you suggest to take the Oriya Film industry to new heights?
Siddhant: Today, if you compare Oriya film with any other regional language film you hardly find any difference. Story wise, acting wise, direction wise and technology wise our films are equally good.
However, the reason behind our films not becoming much successful is lack of marketing. Our producers do not give much attention to promotion or publicity of films. That I think is the biggest problem of our industry. We have also less number of theaters to show our films.
Take for example, Tamil and Telugu films are released in 500 theaters at once, whereas Oriya films are released in 70 theaters only. If we could look in to these small things, it could yield big positive results for Ollywood.
Odishatoday.com: You are in the Oriya film industry for over 15 years now. What is the most memorable moment of your acting life?
Siddhant: In Oriya film industry, I enjoyed each and every moment. Every moment I learn something from others, so every moment is memorable for me. You may say that this is the most diplomatic answer but it's true.
Odishatoday.com: What message would you give to young actors/actresses/directors?
Siddhant: I am also new to this direction line. I am going for my directorial debut film "Kahara Kete Dum". So, I need the good wishes and blessings from all the people who are directly or indirectly attached to Oriya film industry.
Odishatoday.com: : Thank You for this valuable interaction with us and wish you all the best for all of your ventures
Siddhant: : Many thanks to Odishatoday.com. I hope this News Website would reach to millions of people living across the globe. I congratulate all the team members of Odishatoday.com.
