Srinivas Sunderrajan’s Top Indie Film Picks
The independent filmmaker and bassist of Mumbai hardcore band Scribe lists his favorite indie films in the last five years
Jun 09, 2015
Srinivas_Sunderrajan Photo: Prashin Jagger
When Srinivas Sunderrajan is not playing bass with hardcore metal band Scribe, he pursues his other passion – filmmaking. With two acclaimed indie films The Untitled Kartik Krishnan Project and Greater Elephant to his credit, he is currently working on his third venture titled Heartless Ramesh. Sunderrajan spoke to ROLLING STONE INDIA about some his favourite indie films made in the last five years.
Peddlers (Dir: Vasan Bala / Unreleased) Â :
The film is a meditative look at three individuals, each with their own set of issues, beautifully pictured against the backdrop of a sleepy Mumbai. Vasan’s acute direction of the actors and the pace at which the underlying layers of the film unravel – make this a very interesting independent film to have been made in India. The film has some great moments between the underrated, Gulshan Devaiah (Hunter) and Nimrat Kaur (before she became Mrs. Lunchbox and Homeland)!
Kshay (Dir: Karan Gour / Released) :Â
A true blue indie in complete spirit and making, Kshay introduced us to the madness that resides in the head of its protagonist Chayya, played by the talented Rasika Dugal (seen recently in Qissa). The film’s making process itself is remarkable – a motley crew making a film over a span of five years; inspiring and motivating all others that with the correct amount of focus, one can truly move mountains. The low budget notwithstanding, the technical finesse and the performances in the film makes it one of the standout releases in the past five years.
Hola Venky (Dir: Sandeep Mohan / Released) :
I like this film more for its director, Sandeep Mohan, than for the story. The director broke the conventional film distribution system (theaters/TV etc.) and traveled with the film (with a portable Blu ray player and a projector) all over the globe, showing it at cafes, residences, colleges etc. If this is not indie, then what is? The film itself was made by a three-member crew, shot in San Francisco and tells the story of a hapless, naive software guy who is trying to solve a rather peculiar ‘private disorder.’ Crisp dialogues and performances make this film a wholesome entertainer!
Tasher Desh (Dir: Q / Released) :
Though funded by Q’s own Overdose Films and a whole lot of biggies like Anurag Kashyap Films, Sikhya, NFDC, what made me enjoy this film was the way a popular literature was ‘rehashed’ into a visual masterpiece. Unlike with his previous indie Gandu, this film focused mostly on the hidden metaphors and the political undertones. Q is definitely one of the most interesting, indie filmmakers to have emerged in the past five years (despite being active even before that!) and his work is always something to look forward to!
Vihir (Dir: Umesh Kulkarni / Released) :
Made by one of my favorite Indian directors (a rarity in itself), I saw Vihir at a time when I was finding a purpose for my own life. And the film also deals with such existential questions asked through the mind of a school boy. The film takes you on an introspective, philosophical journey with a melancholic soundtrack, and the control the director shows over his technical departments (camera/edit/sound design etc.) makes this into my all time favorite movie lists!
