Interview
with K. RAJ SRIVASTAVA (WRITER & DIRECTOR OF ANOKHA)
WRITER & DIRECTOR OF ANOKHA
K. RAJ SRIVASTAVA
Tell about your self, did anyone inspired you ?
RAJ
Well I am currently working at Cendent Mortgage as a Escrow
Analysis, I am like super man, he is a reporter in the
day and super man by night. I am a white color worker
in day and film director and actor by night. I
am hoping to take my real superman job to full time. I
am also a very good Charcoal artist and a painter Since
both my parents and both my grand parents where also artist.
In the art world I didn't need any inspiration, I play
street basketball Which is my third passion.
Tell about your interset in Films.
RAJ
in the movie world the inspiration camera from watching
behind the scenes footage in Spielberg & Shyamalan
films and seeing how much fun there were having and how
much control they had on the project. I wanted to be an
actor first but knowing that bad directors and writers
can screw up my image and movie I decided to take control
of my film life, also Push from my uncle Dhar vyas and
grand dad Dushant Kumar who told me there is more power
behind the camera then in front of the camera. Actors
like Tom Cruise, Orson Wells also inspired me and showed
me what
it takes to be a good actor and an a creative artist.
Yet if I wasn't a film maker I would be working for NASA
or as an Astronomer. I am very passionate to know about
the unknown.
Tell about ANOKHA PROJECT.
RAJ
Anokha may be the first SI-FI psychological drama
to come out of Indian American film industry, Which doesn't
deal with any of the previous issues. Even though it may
sound like a chick flick from the synopsis it goes much
deeper then that. I just couldn't wait for a big budget
to show up at my door steps so i can start filming. I
just gathered what ever money i had and had a family friend
and business partner Suresh Chandna help me out with the
budget. If i wait for a budget, i know there is some one
else who is working on his own and getting ready to kick
my ass.
How did you come upon the idea of ANOKHA?
K.RAJ
So far in United States all the India American movies
had the name Desi in there and all the movie were dealing
with culture clash of between Indo Americans. Its like
no one had anything better to make. American Desi was
ok but everything else after that was just a follow
up of one beaten up subject among American Indians.
So I decided to do something different. I took a Indian
family in US and had them deal with a situation totally
different then Culture differences. Since I am more
into super natural and sci-fi flicks I made the story
kind of super natural. I wrote the script in 2002 March
and finished it by January 2003. So far in India there
hasn’t been a movie about an Angel, I mean an
actual angle with super natural powers. The only thing
I hope is that people don’t follow this idea like
American Desi and start making movies on Angel one after
an other.
but Indian don't believe in angels, how do
you explain that?
K.RAJ
Indian (hindu's) don't have to believe in angels to
relate to the film. The angle's character is a Universal
figure and symbol for saying that "there is always
some one looking after you". It doesn't matter
if that person comes directly through God, or as a friend,
co worker, enemy, or may be a pet animal. God always
looks after us in more ways then one. We get help by
some one in ever step of the way and in our language
we thank that person as if he was an angel in their
life. Basically this movie is for open minded people
who find a greater meaning in this than just a religious
character. This movie has nothing to do with a particular
religion. These kind of people come in various shapes
and sizes and religions. Even if you don't believe in
them, i am sure god is still looking out for you in
lots of other ways, this movie is just an example of
on of the ways he looks after us. Hindu's believe in
20 different gods. I don't (omg) i committed a sin i
am suppose to be an Hindu. I believe in one god which
is the Universe it self, it creates us and it destroys
us. There is no good or bad in this statement i just
made, actually there is no such thing as "good"
or "bad" (J. Krishinamurti). As you can see
the question can be augured both ways.
The critics might not like this relation?
K.RAJ
The day I start caring about the critics, is the day
I retire from this business. I am in this business as
a fan and for the fans who love movies.
Why are you interseted in Desi Movies.
RAJ
The only reason that got me instred in Desi
movies was how 95% of the movies coming out of bollywood
were complete trash, and looking at all this talent
going into waste because of bad directing and writing.
Also here in United States how all the indo American
movies are working with just one subject, "A Indian's
Struggle in American", either with his American
born kids or just by his new surroundings. I may sound
arrogant right now but as an artist when u see people
wasting 250K to a million dollar in a movie that speaks
of just one subject over and over, well it just makes
you mad. That's when I decided to pick the Torch and
show people that there are other issues and subject
we can film here in United States.
Kapil tell me whether story is important or the script
is important.
K.RAJ
The script is important, you can have a good
story but if you can't put it into script and lay down
a plan to convert it into a film then its useless. Story
writing and script writing is two different things.
In a story you can keep on writing without any rules.
In a script you have know when and where and why are
you bringing a certain situation or tention.
What are you doing on the sound track and the music
of ANOKHA?
K.RAJ
The soundtrack is being done by Brain Storm A.KA Vivek
Malothra, an up & coming hip hop artist from LA.
Its the first time they will be doing an emotional soundtrack
for a movie but its worth listening.
What about Pritpal Singh?
K.RAJ
The more you say about Pripal, well its not enough.
The man is genius at what he does, which is writing
songs and shayaree. I am not a big fan of shayaree but
when I listed to one of his Gazales I fell in love with
it right away. I actually had to beg Pritpal to write
lyrics for Anokha since he is such a busy man doing
shows and writing songs for other people professionally.
I met Pritpal at my sister's wedding.
How are you shooting this movie?
K.RAJ
I am shooting it Digitally with a very expensive camera.
and then I will convert it into a film type quality.
I will be editing and putting effects in the film at
my own production house. So I have all the time and
freedom. I can shoot in film but you have to move on
with the age. You don’t need to waste 100,000
dollars on a film role any more, you can have the look
of the film just by a click of a button. Just ask George
Lucas. Also this cuts the production cost by 85%.
You are also acting in the movie is that right?
K.RAJ
Yes I am. Besides writing and directing I am also passionate
about acting. It just comes natural to me. I use to
imitate Dhritshatra character from Ramayana series in
India. Specially the scene where he is dieing. I use
to Performer it in front of my late fathers late older
brother. The encouragement I got from them was enough
for me to push my self to be a better actor my whole
life. I will only act in the movies that I write, because
I know my self better then any one else can know me...so
the character is some what a personality of me and my
thoughts.
I have seen your movies and even though they
are amateur you still seem like you can easily take
place of Shah Rukh khan and Amitabh Bachchan?
K.RAJ
we'll see about that, i am not the one who can judge
that, only audience can.
What are you plans after filming Anokha?
K.RAJ
start filming another movie, then another movie, as
a passionate and artistic person I don't want to stop
no matter what happens to Anokha, people tell me that
carriers get ruined if your first film flop's. All I
have to say is this, those people who's carrier got
ruined in this business were either week, or not passionate
about what they were doing, they had bad stories to
work with or simply They must have been in this business
for the money. My next movie is again a super natural
thriller.
what is the name of your next movie?
you'll find out by March 05.
Is Bollywood your main street?
Absolutely not. I have only plan to do 3 movies in
India if they allow me to. Other wise I want to be all
the way with Hollywood. I grew up watching English movies
and English movies is what gave me the motivation to
be a film maker.
Does that mean M.Night Shyamalan might have a competition?
K.RAJ
I would rather be a coffee guy in his production than
go against him. I have no Ego nor will I ever have Ego
no matter how much money I have or how much respect
I get. I will always be the skinny kid from Lake Forest
Orange County who day dreams all day lol.
Tell about u r experience in your last project
what are the results.
RAJ
Last project I did was Losing Orbit, it was a black
and white film that tells a story about a catastrophic
even that can end the life on earth. I have done over
28 short films and each film I became better and better
before I decided to do a feature length film ANOKHA.
Losing orbit was 60 minutes which gave me a glimpse
of what it will be like to film a 2 hour movie, which
is not a problem for me any more.
Tell us about U r Upcoming Movies
RAJ
I have couple of ideas for my next film, They are again
super natural thrillers. Yet more deeper and bigger.
you will be the first one to know which one it is.
Thank you so much for giving us a chance to
talk to you and we hope you make it and make it big
in Film industry all over the world.
K.RAJ
oh no, Thank you!
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