Sandalwood film-maker Poornima Mohan finds her ticket to Bollywood

I want to make a film that’s a reflection of the problems, lifestyles and issues of today’s teenagers,” says film-maker Poornima Mohan, whose latest directorial venture School Days is readying up for release. “I wanted to make a subject that will appeal to children everywhere in India, which is why I’m releasing the film in five languages,” she adds.

Poornima plans to release all five versions of her film — Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi — on the same day. “Currently, I’m done with the Kannada and Hindi versions of my film, which are straight versions. We’re now working on the Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam versions, which will all be dubbed. Realistically, I’m looking at a Diwali release, when every version will release on the same day,” she says.

The film’s got different titles for each version. While the Kannada and Malayalam versions will be called School Days, the Telugu and Hindi versions will be called Gurukul and the Tamil film will be titled Kalluri Salai. “We initially wanted to call the film Gurukul across all versions, but had problems with the title and rules,” says Poornima.

It was her own children’s’ lives that played inspiration to Poornima. “I have two daughters. Seeing them through their teenage years, their problems, their peers and reading about their pressures made me take on this subject. I wanted to grow beyond Sandalwood and ensure I get a chance to be noticed in Bollywood too. This is why I have cast new faces, neutral to any location,” says Poornima.

The film-maker claims that her film will be a lot different from the regular teenage flicks like Jolly Days. “Those films didn’t have any message. My film is based in a school, showcasing the issues that standard 12 students face. It will be a film that all parents and teachers will laud,” ends Poornima