Subhash K Jha (DNA; June 12, 2016)
Chaitanya Tamhane, director of the Marathi film Court, one of the most acclaimed Indian films in recent times, is all set to spend six months with celebrated Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron of Gravity and Children Of Men fame.Says Chaitanya, “It’s an initiative by Rolex, the Swiss watch makers, in their Mentor & Protégé Arts endeavour. I will be joining Cuaron in October to observe and assist him on his next feature film.”
Chaitanya says he is not at liberty to reveal more about Alfonso’s next film or its location. “All I can tell you is that I’ll be with Mr Cuaron from October on location for three months. And I am truly looking forward to it. He is a master filmmaker and I am sure he has plenty to teach me.”
The 29-year-old says he was pleasantly surprised to be selected for this honour. “It was Cuaron who personally selected me from filmmakers across the world. I met him for two hours in London after I was selected. It was an amazing experience to just speak to him. He has travelled to India. He knows so much about us and about Indian cinema.”
Cuaron had seen Court. Says the Indian director, “I was bowled over by his understanding of the film. He is familiar with Marathi cinema and literature. He has read the entire Dnyaneshwari! I was deeply impressed and embarrassed. I have not read the Dnyaneshwari.”
Meanwhile, Tamhane will also be scripting and preparing for his next directorial venture. “Court fetched me immense recognition. When it was selected as India’s entry to the Oscars, my producer and I went to Los Angeles and spent months lobbying. Though Court did not make it into the nominees’ list for Best Foreign Film, I got to learn a lot about the way the West perceives Indian cinema.”