'Independent filmmakers should think big'

MUMBAI: Independent filmmakers should think big by being innovative in how they handle their resources, feels Yugander V V, debutante director of the soon to be released 'The Goodbye Trip'.
       
Yungander said he put together multiple investors and arranged for the finances all by himself.
       
"Due to the large number of investors, the investment and risk of individuals is not much. The risk gets spread out. If you have a good idea and are courageous enough to pursue it, people do come forward to help you out," said the debutante filmmaker.
       
He said his film "The Goodbye Trip" is about young people of 21 years of age.
       
"It is a coming of age film revolving around 21 characters depicting what is to be at the crossroads of life and on the verge of adulthood," he added.
       
The film is extensively shot on the Krabi island,south of Thailand. "Though the location is not of consequence to the script. Krabi was chosen because the script demanded an island. It was a  beautiful and raw shooting location," he added.
       
Yugander said it was very different for independent filmmakers to break into Mumbai film industry where big banners rule the roost.
       
"But, I want to prove that it is not difficult for independent filmmakers with limited resources at their disposal to make a film on their own," he said.
       
He said he decided to produce the film on his own, as he did not want to compromise on his script.
       
The filmmaker agreed that times were changing in film production with availability of lot of avenues.
       
According to Yugander, he wanted to make an authentic film about young people.
       
" My film is a true portrait of 21 year olds of today's generation. It captures the milieu, aspirations of a new India," he explained.
       
"I did not want to compromise on my script. The final casting  was a process of extensive workshops for over 2 months with more than 150 people being auditioned before finalising  21 faces," he added.
       
Replying to questions, Yungander said he was aware of the risks involved in films featuring newcomers.
       
"It is after all the film that holds the audience. publicity has to be as imaginative as our film. Word of mouth is the strongest means of publicity," he added.
       
Speaking about the cast, Yugander said majority of them are fresh faces who have never faced the camera. But, other actors who have worked in few movies are Karan Sharma, Neha Sharma, Chandan Sanyal and Ashima Sawhney.