THE ‘SHORT’ SIDE STORY: WITH DHEERAJ JINDAL

Dheeraj made his debut short feature ‘The School Bag’ at a time when jingoism was not yet trending hot in India. But yes, the storm clouds were very much growling across the horizons, and liberals were pretty much starting to lose their voices, and sometimes their lives. Free-thinking was definitely not the official mandate.

Within those soggy circumstances, to make a film (from India) about the tragic death of a (Pakistani) child during the infamous 2014 Peshawar School Massacre might not exactly be termed as a populist decision – at least not for a debut film. Today, with the number of trolls on the rise, such an act of digression could even be dubbed anti-national.

But that’s what I liked about the film. It was an attempt beyond being national.

‘The School Bag’ is a simple, linear and touching story, with no unnecessary layering, which makes it so hard hitting.  It’s the story of a mother and child – and I agree with Dheeraj, it could have happened anywhere.

But yes, I would rather like to also believe, that somewhere deep within, this decision to make a film about the death of a Pakistani child in a terrorist attack was a conscious choice. For me, it points out at the universality of pain – and the helplessness of those who are just interested in living a quiet and satisfied life across geographical borders – but who become victims of circumstances that are beyond their control.

Before I go any further, I would really like you to watch the film.

It’s just about 15 minutes long and once it begins, you won’t feel like budging – that much I can promise you. That is, if you haven’t watched it already; then you know.

I do have a soft corner for the film, since I saw it growing.

No, I had nothing to do with the making of the film, apart from a few minor edit suggestions which Dheeraj might have taken or not – I really don’t remember. But yes, since at least four key members of the School Bag Team were my friends and ex-colleagues – I knew the idea almost from its inception and did manage to see quite a few rough cuts of the film.

I knew Dheeraj, the director; Anshul Agarwal, the co-director and the script writer; Neil Seigal, the editor; all three had been my co-workers in Carrot Films. I also know Neeraj Suji, the co-producer of the film, quite well. The entire office of Films Rajendraa was involved, and dedicated. It’s surprising, though, that I never asked none of them about how the film actually started its journey.  

It does seem odd for an Indian team to come up with such an idea.

I know it for sure that Dheeraj had consultants from Pakistan giving him advice about how to go about this creation of a Pakistani interior in India. Some of them are mentioned in the credits. So it wasn’t that simple, for sure.

Dheeraj is a stickler for details. He is reputed for being quite obstinate in his camera placements and set details – at least when it comes to the films he directs. So I do feel he did much more than he claims to have done for the film.

He says he followed the script. That I know he would – after about 50 revisions at least; which is a conservative estimate. He loves to be perfect, my friend Dheeraj.

How do you market a film like ‘The School Bag’?

More importantly, for a project like this, however low-budget it may be, is it at all possible to give the money back to the producer? Or even make a profit?

Dheeraj seems to believe that it might not be a bed of roses – but it’s possible, which is reassuring. As an example, he told me what they did with ‘The School Bag. ‘

I believe, with selections in over 104 Film Festivals around the world, and winning 44 awards at last count – ‘ The School Bag’ has gone quite the distance.

Even otherwise, on this 5^th Anniversary of the Peshawar massacre that took the lives of 150 people including 134 students – the film reminds us of how vicious the consequences of partisan politics could become. Those who divide and rule often tend to forget that divisions kill, and each death has a long term consequence.

134 is just a number on the headlines, but when you pinpoint one of them, the pain becomes real – one mother at a time. It’s this real pain that needs to find a voice, and that’s what, I believe, this film does.

From that perspective, ‘The School Bag’ is a timeless expression; and right on time.

However, I don’t intend this blog to become a forum to vent my angst.

I would rather look forward to many more of such free and unclouded expressions from many more young film-makers. This gives me all the more reason to talk about the new and emerging market of short films with Dheeraj.

He says its good time to make a short; and the market has enough space for everyone.

I sincerely expect the conversation makes you make up your mind about writing and making short films – my young reader.

But like Dheeraj made it quite clear in the interview – do not make it just for the sake of making it. Make it if only you have a story that you are dying to tell, and that story can be told in the short format.

Hope our conversation helps.

Like I have always maintained – hope is a good thing to have.