“Today, The Making Of A Film Is Very Easy But Marketing It Is Tough”- Shantanu Tambe

Jyothi Venkatesh

Gunwali Dulhyaniya is your fourth film as a director!

Yes. Gunwali Dulhaniya is actually my fourth film as a director. Earlier I had directed two films in Marathi, my mother tongue- Yaari Dosti and Maajhi Shaala , besides Bhootwali Love Story which marked my debut as a director in Hindi last year.

Did you assist any filmmaker before you decided to make your debut as a director with Maajhi Shaala?

I assisted actor-director Deepak Tijori for twelve years in direction in all his TV serials, besides his film Oops. Believe it or not, before embarking upon my career as a director with the Marathi film Majhi Shaala, I worked as a light man and have observed how films are being made at close quarters since 1992. Arun Nalawade who played the central lead in the film Shwaas with Sandeep Kulkarni played the central character in Majhi Shaala.

What did you learn from Deepak Tijori?

I learnt how to be a patient producer by observing Deepak Tijori at work. Whatever I have learnt till today as far as direction is concerned, has been definitely thanks to Deepak Tijori.

How would you describe yourself as a producer today?

All that I can say without any hesitation is that today my banner may not be as big as say that of Karan Johar or Sanjay Leela Bhansali, but I am really proud that I produce a film like any other producer, with a lot of passion and involvement from my side.

Coming back to your latest film Gunwali Dulhaniya, can you tell me what exactly is it about?

If my earlier film Bhootwali Love Story was the love story of a female ghost, my latest film Gunwali Dulhaniya is about a bride who has a gun on one hand and a garland on the other. It is basically a comedy, because I like to make feel good entertaining films at least in Hindi though I made meaningful films like Majhi Shaala and Yaari Dosti in Marathi earlier.

Why did your last film Bhootwali Love Story lag behind at the box office though it was a good film?

I confess that it was because of lack of proper promotions that Bhootwali Love Story failed to click at the box office when I released the film last year, though it had a very out of the box and different subject. The film just did not manage to reach the audiences and I have still not recovered my budget after the release of that film but then I console myself that it is just a business and I will recover my money sooner or later.

What did you learn from the fate of the film?

I learnt that making of a film is very easy but marketing it is tough. But I have absolutely no regrets, because I am not just a hard core businessman who invests his money in films but also a passionate and what’s more hands on involved filmmaker.

Like in Bhootwali Love Story, you have cast new comers in your Gunwali Dulhaniya too. Aren’t you scared of gambling with newcomers instead of playing with a safe star cast?

If I keep on thinking about whether my film clicks at the box office because it has new comers, I can never make a film. Today it is already tough to make a film. The financier wants you to make a film with stars while the corporate also refuse to touch a film if it does not have known stars. What can independent filmmakers do? I try to make my film safer by seeing to it that the budget does not cross 5 crores.

Please go on!

Didn’t Luv Ranjan set out to make a film like Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety with newcomers which turned out to be a super duper hit? Kanchan Awasthi is not longer a new comer. After acting in films like Ankur Murder Case, Gaalib. Main Khudiram Bose Hoon, Jai Jawaan Jai Kisaan, Chapekar Brothers, Bhootwali Love Story and Gunwali Dulhaniya, she is today a bankable star. Her plus point is that she gives her 100% to acting. I am also confident that Mayur Kumar, who is also my discovery and Elvis Chaturvedi , who is making his debut with Gunwali Dulhaniyaan, like Mayur will prove to be milestones in acting

What next?

I will continue to make films in Hindi as well as Marathi. In fact, right now, I am planning to, launch two films. If Gunwali Dulhaniya clicks, I will certainly cast Kanchan, Mayur and Elvis in my next film or else take stars from the market.

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