Catch a special screening of director Hemant Gaba's Shuttlecock Boys, one of 2012's most popular independent films
Shuttlecock Boys, special screening, Hemant Gaba, 2012 independent films, Mumbai Guide
Based on the entrepreneurial journey of four friends, brought together by their love for badminton and a desire to do something of their own, Indie filmmaker’s Hemant Gaba’s Shuttlecock Boys, is back in the city for a private screening at The Hive, this Friday.
Cast of the film, Shuttlecock Boys
The film, released in 2012 and opened to very positive reviews, and till today, it’s still quite popular among film clubs and film lovers across the country.
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Director Hemant Gaba
Director Gaba, who left his 9-to-5 job as a software engineer to make the film, says that the film taught him many things, including a few entrepreneurship skills — a topic that the film touches upon as well. “Shuttlecock Boys was a learning experience; I made many mistakes that I realised only after seeing the film. I would not like to repeat the same ones again, but I am ready to make new mistakes,” admits Gaba.
Produced under a small budget of just Rs 35 lakhs, and shot in 19 different locations within 22 days, the director adds that Shuttlecock Boys was inspired from real-life characters and real-life situations. In fact the entire cast included non-actors without any experience of facing the camera.
“The young faces added a charm that you don’t find in commercial cinema,” maintains Gaba, however, he adds that he may not want to work with non-actors again, especially when it comes to those playing minor characters. “The minor characters are crucial; this I realised after the film was completed. Your lead characters may do an awesome job in front of the camera, but if the minor characters are not impressive, they will bring down not just the scene but the entire film,” he adds.
The filmmaker says that the popularity of Shuttlecock Boys has made it easier for him and his team to receive funding for new projects. Gaba is currently working on three projects — a children’s short film titled, Super Girl, which is currently with the Censor Board; an experimental film featuring 11 directors, titled X produced by Manish Mundra; and a documentary on Japanese Underground Culture in Nagaland titled, Japan in Nagaland.
On the last, Gaba says, “Japan in Nagaland, looks into the popularity of Japanese anime in Nagaland. It follows the organisers of a costume festival, where young people dress up like their favourite animation characters. It’s interesting how a Japanese sub-culture has found such popularity in a north-eastern state. It’s under post-production and will release soon.”
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