Filmmaker Suruchi Sharma about his short film Gagan Gaman: ‘I blend tradition with modernity to create heartfelt stories’

Jaipur-based filmmaker Suruchi Sharma’s short film Gagan Gaman, a modern folktale about a woman’s quest in Rajasthan, premiered in Berlin recently. MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024. Suruchi, who also won a National Award for his short film Meen Raag (2020), talks about supporting independent cinema, overcoming budget challenges and more in an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times. Quotes. (Also read: Private | Director Kinshuk Surjan about Marching in The Dark: ‘The film is much more than a narrative’)

Suruchi Sharma depicts folk traditions

When asked about blending the story of a modern woman with a folktale, Suruchi says, “I am a filmmaker from Jaipur and have made many documentaries centered on folk culture. I have documented the various musical traditions of Rajasthan and look forward to learning more to better understand the folk culture. Living in Jaipur, my life is deeply intertwined with these traditions, customs, stories and music. Some of this knowledge came from my career, other aspects are available in my environment; This is how folk culture naturally enters my life. As for the modern aspect of the film, I am a modern woman pursuing a career in the creative arts. “I have access to both worlds, and they are very much a part of who I am.”

Suruchi Sharma talks about the difficulties women face in relationships

In Gagan Gaman, the main character struggles to make his voice heard in his relationship with his partner. When asked if this reflects the current struggles women face finding their own voices in relationships, the filmmaker responds: “Relationships are inherently complex. We need to prioritize communication and a deeper understanding between individuals. This requires conscious effort. When we are unmotivated we feel isolated when we interact.” We feel betrayed, which can cause couples and relationships to break down. There is a significant discussion about loneliness and isolation for both women and men right now. This reflects the times we live in. Maintaining a relationship is a complicated process if we don’t actively choose to engage with it. , we may experience a feeling of isolation.”

Suruchi Sharma on women-centric themes

When asked about the female-centric themes in much of her work, including her music videos, Suruchi explains: “It feels very natural to me. Nothing is forced in my work. I don’t start with an agenda unless it’s a client project with specific requirements. These artistic projects are guided by the concepts themselves. Music also plays a very important role; I pay close attention to the lyrics. I listen to the song over and over to find the right visual. In this process, the idea of ​​the woman’s search often arises. Ultimately, the theme of celebrating and empowering the feminine resonates with me and naturally manifests itself in a variety of projects.”

Suruchi Sharma talks about making independent films more accessible

When asked about the initiatives needed by the film industry to make independent films more accessible to the youth in India, Suruchi says: “We focus on filmmaking but understanding cinema is very important. FTII offers a valuable film appreciation course each year. It would be great to bring this exposure to small towns. “This is starting to happen, but we can do more.”

He further says, “Showing films in communities is vital for the promotion of the arts. In Jaipur, we have active film clubs that share films from across the country. To bring film writers together, I started a program called Rewriting, where they get mentored for their feature scripts .This is an annual event that brings together writers and mentors from across India, highlighting the importance of community-driven initiatives.”

Suruchi Sharma on the underrated role of writers

When asked about why film writers often don’t get paid compared to directors and actors in India, Suruchi says, “Directors and actors tend to get more credit. But I think we should bring writers more into the limelight because they are the ones who seed an idea. At Rewrite, writers are our heroes because We know how much work it takes to write, and the reason I started Rewriting was because I wanted to learn from them; there is something to be learned from the deep understanding of life that writers have.”

Suruchi Sharma plans to expand the reach of independent films

Despite Elephant Whisperers And Everything That Breathes Indian audiences nominated for the 2023 Oscars are not exposed to short films and documentaries. When asked what can be done to provide a more comprehensive presentation of Indian documentaries and short films at the mainstream level, the filmmaker says: “Mainstream, I’m not sure what can be done. I feel like community initiatives have a lot of power. Because, for example, in filmmaking, everyone says the only solution is Mumbai.” But I chose to be in Jaipur and make my films there. So we need to break the mentality that bigger mainstream people will come and save us. If documentaries are not shown in theatres, let’s show them in our own film clubs and community circuses. Once again, people will find out and they will have to jump on the bandwagon, so artists will have to come in and do something about it.”

Suruchi Sharma talks about overcoming budget challenges

When asked how he overcame budget challenges for his films, Suruchi says: “I started with very low-budget projects. My first film, Utsav, was a zero-budget documentary that I shot, directed and edited myself. My goal is I have always made low-budget films to preserve my creativity, not to make money. However, Gagan Gaman required more resources due to its rich production quality, so I partnered with the producers for financing.”

He further says, “I invested a lot of my own money in this project, but I had support from my co-producer Kanika Patawi and J. Himmat Singh, who produced my previous film. They trusted me because they said ‘I’ve done my job. Building relationships takes time and it takes time to commit to a bigger project.’ “When you’re targeting, you need a higher level of co-producers. Film festivals are great for meeting producers and filmmakers from around the world, but meaningful connections often develop over time.”

Suruchi Sharma encourages independent filmmakers

Most popular film festivals feature mainstream stars and their films. When asked what can be done to provide an equal platform to all storytellers, the filmmaker states: “Although my film is an independent short film, our conversation is a good example. Media professionals can amplify emerging voices that lack resources. We also need to help filmmakers.” A support system of independent producers While festivals aim to provide equal opportunities, implementing marketing campaigns to promote these films will add significant value.”