If the content of your Marathi film are good, you can easily recover the costs in a Marathi film”

Producer-Distributor ROHANDEEP SINGH, whose latest Marathi film Oh My Ghost is slated for release on February 12 tells JYOTHI VENKATESH in this exclusive interview for bollyy.com and Mayapuri.

Your latest film as a producer- Oh My God is all set to release on February 12. Tell me something about the film?

Oh My Ghost is a unique horror comedy. I can say proudly that it is the first ever Marathi film which has been produced with technical brilliance hitherto not seen.

The film stars the youngest heart throb Prathamesh Parab along with Kajal Sharma, Pankaj Vishnu and Someshwari in the leads.

Incidentally, after Peter which was also released in January, Oh My Ghost is the second film in Marathi to be released this year

You are also distributing your film besides producing it. In what way is your marketing going to be different from that of the other producers and distributors?

At a time when centers which see the release of Marathi films all over Maharashtra are still remaining closed, I am opening some especially in places like Solapur and Kolhapur and parts of Pune.

I am also releasing my film in some of the single screens which were remaining closed till date.

In spite of being a Punjabi, what drew you to produce and distribute Marathi films?

Basically, I am an engineer who hails from Uttarakhand. Frankly, I never thought I’d ever dabble in distribution of films in Marathi too.

Besides Hindi and Hollywood films as my ancestors have a 65 years old concern which distributes films in Hindi.

I decided to try my hand at distribution as well as production of films in Marathi too.

My banner is known as Jumping Tomato Marketing Private Limited. It is a fact that Marathi films these days boast of brilliant content and also I cannot forget that it is Mumbai and Maharashtra that have made me what I am today, whether as a producer or for that matter a distributor

Which are the films that you have produced in Marathi till date?

I have made six films till date. They are Whatsapp Love, Miss U Miss, Dome, Berij Vajabaki, Peter and my latest Oh My Ghost

What is the USP of your film Oh My Ghost?

The USP of my film is that it is not only commercially entertaining but also sets out to drive home a subtle message and advocates that no one on earth should ever make an attempt to commit suicide however life provokes him to her.

Peter and Oh My Ghost are very close to my heart.

What is sad is the fact that we do not picturize the content property in general in Marathi films and at times the trailers are very good but the movies do not turn out to be good.

Which are the films that you have produced in Hindi earlier?

I have produced films like Thodisi Manmaaniyaan and ShortCut Romeo. I have distributed films like Khap. Bumboo, What the Fish, Listen Ameya, Fukrey, Toilet Ek Prem Katha,NotebookThe Legend of Michael Mishra, Love Sonio, Rajdhani Express, Troy The Odyssey, Raees etc besides Hollywood films like Death Wish, Final Exit, Godzilla 2 and Welcome to The Jungle.

What do you think about Marathi films today?

There are several actors in Marathi films whose faces draw the audiences to the theatres.

Like Prathamesh Parab who plays the lead in my film Oh My Ghost, though I agree that since the Marathi film industry does not have the Page 3 culture like Hindi film industry has.

They do not have the massive following that a star in Hindi like say Salman Khan or for that matter Ranveer Singh has.

You do not take up the rights of a film in Marathi unless and until you set out to produce it. Why?

Look here. It is not a viable business if you do not produce and distribute your own film in Marathi.

My film Oh My Ghost cost me around 2.3 cr and I will plough in around a crore on marketing the film.

It has gone a little bit over budget but I am confident that, like Peter, Oh My Ghost also will be able to reap good dividends at the box OFFICE.

You have dabbled in production as well as distribution of films in both Hindi and Marathi.

Do you have a desire to take up acting as well in the near future?

Let me tell you frankly that I do not know the A B C of acting and hence I can categorically state that I would not be taking up acting,

Though I can proudly state that I have a good and keen ear for music and whatever film I have produced till date has turned out to be a musical film.

What is the difference between marketing films in Hindi and Marathi?

The canvas of a Hindi film is very huge. Whereas you can easily plough in a lot of money when you set out to produce a film in Hindi.

you have to be cautious before you pump in money to make a film in Marathi because you do not get the returns like you get when you make films in Hindi.

Marathi films reach only around 500 centers whereas Hindi films reach over 5000 centers.

If you go out of budget, you would not be able to recover the money you invest in your Marathi films.

The cost of making a film in Marathi ought to be limited. If you want to recover the cost, you should see to it that the cost of releasing it is also limited.

If the content as well as the reviews are good, you can easily re over your costs of making a film in Marathi.

What about plunging into the scene as a director?

I think that direction is something which you should take up only if you are confident about your job, not otherwise.

I would not take up direction unless and until I stumble upon a good set up.

In how many days did you complete the shooting of your film Oh My Ghost?

I completed my film in just about 40 days in and around Nagpur and Aurangabad.

Wasim Khan had already started the film and hence I have produced the film with Sana Wasim Khan. Wasim Khan has directed the film.