There was a time when the team of Chhello Show was not even interested in editing the movie as they feared it would not be released because of the Covid-19 lockdown. But that was not to be, as the film hit screens across India on Friday.
The Gujarati movie, India’s official entry to Oscars 2023, is set in Saurashtra, also known as Kathiyawad, and is focused on a 12-year-old’s aspirations.
Except for a few older stars, none of the actors in Chhello Show are professionals. The child artists were selected after the team did an audition in Mumbai and Ahmedabad, only to find the lead child artist Bhavin Rabari, who portrays Samay, and the rest of the cast from Saurashtra.
From spotting lions to the casting director being beaten up by the villagers, thinking that he is a “child lifter”, the team saw it all.
Director Pan Nalin, whose earlier works too have won high praise, said on Friday that the movie revolves around the death of single-screen cinema. It is also a semi-autobiography of Nalin. He said during one of his visits to Amreli, wanted to see the condition of his childhood friend, who was selling vegetables in carts after single-screen cinema hall closed down in the village. There were thousands of such screens that were closed down.
The director said one thing they had decided was that the movie won’t be released on OTT.
Producer Dheer Momaya said Nalin did not want any big stars and they stuck to their guns. According to him, there is a winner already on hand.
Replying to a question, Momaya said there is certainly a risk to release the movie before Diwali. However, in India there is always some festival or other coming up. “We know that this is not a movie that will open in 3,000 plus theatres. We know there is a lot of buzz around the movie. There is a lot of demand, specifically from Gujarat since it is a Gujarati film. It is a matter of pride,” he said.
The producer said every weekend could be good or bad. Blockbusters could come out even on Diwali day. He said since Gujarat is proud of Chhello Show, it is a good idea to release it before Diwali.