Sathak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Oct 30: Shooting of feature film “Andaman Diaries” is about to start in the islands from February 2016 under the banner of ‘Acharya Samhita Productions’. Most of the artists will be taken from the islands for which the cast is going to conduct their first phase of audition at RGT Public Vidhyalaya on 1st November.
The feature film is proposed to be shot in the Islands which would be released in the islands as well as several selected cities in India and plans to reach out to several International film festivals across the globe.
The filmmaker is Viplav Subhash Shinde, from Whistling Woods International, Mr. Shinde has worked with ace filmmakers of the Mumbai Film Industry and has been visiting the islands since 2013.
He is of the opinion that the pristine and virgin beauty of the islands needs to be showcased and that the world needs to see what a wonderful world we have within our islands.
The film will be produced by Samhita Veda Acharya, who is an islander and popularly known as Koyal.
The feature film is being backed by Canadian Filmmaker Joe Khera, who is also the Artistic Director of Washington DC South Asian Film Festival.
The project is also being supported by Ravi Kambhoj, Director of 7seas Films, an Australian Production House making it India’s first co production with Canada and Australia, which will add a boost to Andaman’s economy and encourage Andaman Film makers to produce more local content.
The project has already been selected at the Washington DC South Asian Film Festival and will be screened after its completion next year.
The film will be shot extensively in the Andamans and all actors would be taken from the islands. To facilitate the project the first round of auditions (for lead roles, males and females, aged between 18 to 25 years and for supporting roles, males and females, aged between 30 to 60 years) is being called for on Sunday 1st November 2015 at RGT Public Vidyalaya, RGT Road.
Mr. Shinde’s first short film was selected at the Short Film Corner at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival and since 2008, he has worked extensively with high profile production houses like Dharma Productions, Mukta Arts, Moserbaer, and 7 Seas Films.
In 2014, Mr. Shinde, executive produced the hit American TV Show ‘Under the Sun’. He has worked with the International filmmaker Mira Nair who made films like ‘Salaam Bombay’ that was nominated for the Oscars. Her other works include films like Monsoon Wedding, The Reluctant Fundamentalist etc. Mr. Viplav, has recently worked with yesteryear Bollywood actress, Zeenat Aman on her debut production ‘Bankster’ that is set to release this year.
During the conference organised today at Hotel Drift Wood, the film makers have appealed for support for Accommodation, Big house/hotel (10 rooms) for two months, office setup, Air tickets, Inter island logistics, Property, Vehicle support (for transportation and in film shots). The film makers have also sought for involvement of media to conduct mass scale audition; Media support for Pre-production and Post production for publicity.
