SHILLONG: Meghalaya, which has become a favoured destination of filmmakers after ‘Rock On 2’, will feature in another Bollywood movie.
‘Brunie’, a film that explores the relationship between dogs and humans from a dog’s point of view, is being shot in the State. The crew members are here for a month now.
The film will show the indigenous culture of Meghalaya, its beauty and hospitality of the people here.
Director Suraj Chitre spoke to reporters on Sunday after wrapping up shooting at Sohra.
“We are making the movie in the heavenly place called Shillong. More than 80 percent of the film will be shot here because of the lovely locations and lovely people around,” he said, adding that it was only after someone showed him pictures of Shillong that he made up his mind to shoot here.
“First we were trying to shoot the film in foreign countries but after seeing the pictures, we couldn’t imagine that a beautiful place is in India as well. From the day I saw the pictures, I fell in love with Shillong,” Chitre said.
Not only the place but a local music band, Summersalt, and local actors from Shillong and Guwahati will also work in the film.
“We started with the music first with Summersalt because we heard the songs from Rock On 2 in Mumbai and we wanted to meet him (Kitkupar Shangpliang, vocalist). We wanted countryside music and we got him on board and he made a lovely music,” said the director who was impressed by the rich Khasi culture.
“We are using local people because we got to know about Khasi culture and it is so wonderful and we wanted them to be involved in our film and there are so many scenes where we have used Khasi people, culture, locations.”
There are two Khasi songs, one of which is the title song when the protagonist and the dog travel from Shillong to Cherrapunjee.
He added that the second song is with the rock band that talks about the culture of the Khasi people, living styles and the food.
Chitre said instead of spending crores on travelling abroad, films can be shot in the beautiful places in India.
However, he felt that the North East is far away from the mainland ad felt the need for connecting the region through films.
“This is our people and our land, so spend here. Through films we want to give more employment to people,” he said.
The shooting will be for three more days and the film will be released sometime in August-September.
“We are having no problems here.
The people are cooperative and helping us with everything. We never felt that we are not in Mumbai and that’s the best part,” Chitre said and added that he has planned another film that will be shot in Shillong.
The lead actors are Raayo S. Bakhirta of Pyaar Ka Punchnama fame and Manasi U. Athavale, a theatre artiste who has acted as lead in Marathi films. Dushyant Wagh of Three Idiots fame will play the role Rahul and veteran actor Tiku Talsania will also be part of the movie.
When asked about the expectations of the film, Chitre said, “We are exploring Meghalaya and the story is beautiful and we are expecting high. It is really connected to humans and it is a very emotional film.”
‘Azaming experience’
Athavale said, “We have been shooting here for almost a month and it was an amazing experience. The people here are very cooperative.”
Bakhirta assured that the place will be projected in an attractive way.
“We are exploring the whole place and we are taking the drone shots and we are ensuring that justice is done to the place and I am sure after watching, more people will come here,” he said.
When asked on what they would take from Shillong, Bakhirta said he would take a duitara with him. He even met Helen Giri, who is enthusiastic in promoting traditional Khasi music.
On the other hand, Athavale said, “I think I should adopt their nature… they are calm, supportive, friendly. We should learn these from them.”
On the cuisine of the State, both the actors expressed their love for momos and Bakhirta said people are lucky as the food is locally available.
‘Misconception’
Alan West Kharkongor, a facilitator for the film project aiming to promote the State, told reporters that filmmakers making a beeline to shoot here are set to remove the veil of negative thinking that mainland people have about the region.
“There is a misconception in mainland India. When projects like these come, it is an opportunity for us to show mainland India that it is not like what they think,” he added.
Stating that it is a win-win situation for filmmakers and the people of the state, he said, “Any project willing to promote my place, I think it is my duty to give my 100 hundred.”
“My role here is to guide them in terms of location, logistic and show the best place to shoot,” he said.
According to him, at any place where a movie has been shot, it has seen a rise in footfall.
He is hopeful that the movie will do justice in promoting the place.
