8 minutes agoAuthor: Ashish Tiwari
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Manoj Bajpayee will soon be seen on the big screen between the audience through the film ‘Jugnuma’. This film of the Magic Realism Genre has the story of the beauty of the mountain, the innocence of the people there and the mysterious ways in the 80s in the 80s. The director of ‘Jugnuma’ is Ram Reddy and the film is produced by academy winners Guneet Monga and Anurag Kashyap.
‘Jugnuma’ is going to release in theater on September 12. Manoj Bajpayee, the main character of the film, says that this film is one of the great films of his life. Also, Dev’s character and they have a lot of similarities.
Manoj, what does ‘Jugnuma’ mean for you?
Firefly means like firefly. This entire film is like Jugnu. As in nature, they look like a magic, however, do not appear in cities. Villages appear in a special season. The place where I come from, used to see a lot of firefly at night. There is a magic and like the same magic, it is a film. There is a story of a family living in the mountain. The family has a lot of garden. What happens to those gardens, which changes their entire life. This film shows that journey.
The film was working for 6-7 years. Writing, rehearsal and complete set up. Now the film is being released here. Earlier, the film became part of the world’s big festival and received appreciation there.
‘Jugnuma’ has been highly appreciated at different film festivals.
I would say that Ram Reddy’s seven years of hard work has paid off. Ram Reddy is currently 35 years old. Think, when he made his first film and when he engaged in the preparations for the firefly, how young. A very young man, which has amazing talent. I am very proud to bring their work on the big screen. ‘Jugnuma’ is one of some great films in my life.
When Ram Reddy brought the story to you for the first time, what was your reaction and what was the reason for choosing this film?
The reason for choosing this film is Ram Reddy’s talent. The way Rama has written its story is a great script in itself. I don’t think I could never speak this film. When I first read the script, I told Ram that I want to be a part of this film. That moment and today when I am talking about this film, there was never a moment when I have not thought about this film. Many times it seemed that there is a very big blessing, which I got a chance to be a part of this film. I think this journey is long. Especially with this film.
I do not watch my films but I have seen this film twice. Rama forced me for the first time in Berlin. Seeing the reaction of the audience, I could not get up from there. Ram has created such a world that you will be forced to join it as audience. You will not feel that you are watching a film. I think the audience gets this experience very little.
How difficult it was for you to leave the character of ‘Jugnuma’ Dev?
I want Dev’s character never come out from inside me. Dev is very spiritual. He is looking for answers to many of his questions about nature. Want to know about its existence. I think these questions are very good. Life can be done with these questions.
Do Dev’s character and Manoj Bajpayee have similarities?
Yes… too much. Especially, I got this film when I was surrounded by many similar questions. While doing this film, I also got answers to many of my questions. Some questions were not answered.
What is the most complex question for you?
Why am I? This is the most complex question for any human being. A person is born and dies… So does a person just come to complete this cycle? This is a big question in itself. People spent their entire lives to understand this. Even many births took place.
Ram Reddy has previously made a film called ‘Date’. The film has received the National Award for the Best Kannada feature film.
The performance for you is like a penance. Do you get the answer to those questions through acting?
The performance is not limited to me just acting. I also experience it. Whatever character I play, I become a part of the journey of that character through acting. I try to feel it in the character’s mind, in his system, by entering her rago. I do not enjoy until I do this. When I get completely lost in the character, then I think I have lived another person besides Manoj Bajpayee. I enjoy understanding another person.
The film is supported by Guneet Monga, Anurag Kashyap and 15 big names of the industry. How do you see it?
First, I thank everyone from the whole team. My favorite filmmakers have seen my film. My favorite filmmakers have seen the film not only from this industry but also from South Industry. Everyone has praised the film in unison. ‘Jugnuma’ has affected them all very much. They all not only watched the film but are supporting it by moving forward. This is a great power.
I imagine the industry like this. I came in a similar industry where everyone appreciates each other’s work. They complain not to the back. Or burns with each other’s success. Or want to see the front person down. I had never envisaged such an industry.
I envisaged a similar industry, where all the filmmakers, all the creators, actors came together on one stage. Clap for each other. Give each other encourage and share experiences. This is the biggest thing. Finally, the firefly is bringing everyone on one platform. I am very happy about this.
‘Jugnuma’ and the same innocence is seen in your life. What were the things related to the role of Dev while playing the role of Dev?
The mentality of my and Dev was almost the same. This helped me a lot in playing and understanding this character. The rest of Dev’s things do not match my real life. Dev comes from a large family, which has such a large garden. But now he wants to get rid of all these things. There is a full family, with which he is or not. He has both situations with him. Such situations are not with me.
In such a situation, many things were not common despite being common. What was not common in my life, I wanted to live it. I want the audience to come and see Dev’s magical, miraculous world. In my view, this film is going to live in the minds of the audience for many years.
Apart from Manoj Bajpayee, the film will feature actors like Deepak Dobriyal, Tilottama Shom, Priyanka Bose.
Nowadays many actors are doing any work on every platform. While you are very choked about the project. Where does this courage to filter come from?
I am an artist and I find art. I get satisfaction by working in projects like ‘Jugnuma’, ‘Dispatch’ and ‘Zoram’. The artist inside me develops. I feel very rich as a person. It becomes my need to connect with what you are doing well at such a level. This is my need. I am probably not the need of Ram Reddy, Kanu Bahl, Anurag Kashyap, Devashish Makhija. But all these are my need.
I join such films to do justice to my inner artist. I will hold the hand of these filmmakers and push them forward. This is a very good thing for me. It will also be a good thing for India’s cinema to promote such films.
What challenges come in doing films like ‘Jugnuma’, ‘Zoram’?
There are all kinds of difficulties. The first thing is that money is not there at all. You are just taking favor. This was not the case with firefly. Ram Reddy’s father stood behind him for 24 hours. He wanted to see his son’s dream to be fulfilled. Then we were also. I am still with Ram. I have been with him at every turn. Especially about this film. Because Ram is a very unique filmmaker.
I want the country and the world to know more and more about them through this film. I can say that this film can be compared with any best film in the world. Whether it is technology, direction or story… can be compared in every way.
What is the unique point of ‘Jugnuma’? Be it the International Film Festival or the industry filmmaker, everyone is liked.
Its story. According to me, unique point is the vision of Ram Reddy. The magical world that he thought of creative about the real people is the unique point of this film.