Interviewed by Esha Chaudhuri
An idea that stemmed to bring art and a multitude of artists’ works to the fore, The Intern is a short film, while challenging the norm in many ways, also takes one into layers of thoughts and emotions on love, separation, and societal appendages. According to the makers of the film, “the goal of the film was to create something larger than the story’s storyline. A mood that would prepare the viewer to see separation’s ultimate ceremony.” Based on a melancholic tone, the film is all set to make its premiere at the 11th International Film Festival of South 
Asia-Toronto, the largest South Asian film festival in North America on August 15, 2022. In conversation with the director, Gaurav Kuri (GK) who hails from Shillong making his debut student film, Sunday Shillong delves into his creative process. Excerpts of the interview are as follows –
SS: What is the essence and inspiration behind the idea of the film?
GK: The central idea in making the film was to create something larger than what was written in the paper(screenplay). We wanted to create a mood that would prepare the viewer to see 
separation’s ultimate ceremony; which is the theme of the film.
SS: Which aspect of Shillong and/or Shillong’s way of life influenced the movie script, if it did at all?
GK: I was around churches my entire life because I was born and reared in Shillong. I’d often go inside empty churches so I could experience the silence that surrounds it. Most of the time, it felt certain. I wanted to imitate that setting in this film.
SS: Why do you think this film is a challenge to mental roadblocks about society?
GK: For the story’s purpose, I had to develop an “institution,” in this case, a visual one that served as the school managed by these nuns, where there are rules and repercussions for breaking them. That closely resembles what occurs in our daily lives. Given that these constraints are all around us, we constantly try to transcend them. As a result, we are already aware of the “mental blocks” . This narrative merely serves as an illustration of the pillars that must be questioned along the way.
SS: The film depicts the hierarchy of many stereotypes of age, gender, sexuality and religion. Based on your perception, how accepting is the audience of breaking such norms?
GK: The environment is evolving when it comes to audiences in our society. There were and still are audiences who are behind the times. But I believe that with time, things will gradually begin to change.
SS: What message would you like to convey to the readers through the film?
GK: The film doesn’t have a single message. Like any other film, this one is also a bit cathartic in nature.
It is critical to mention that while film production is still at its infancy with the absence of a film society, the Shillong-based collaboration between the trio of director, Gaurav Kuri, actor, Prerna Sunar and costume manager, Nikita Gadal, hope to encourage more Shillong based creative artists to tell their stories through films and filmmaking.