Aashish Dubey doesn’t hide the fact that he eagerly wants to enter the mainstream film industry. Director of Aisa Hota Hai, an 11 minute crime-comedy, his heart has always been in the movie biz despite the mechanical engineering degree he holds. We get him to share a few tit-bits about his life and his film, which will be showcased at the upcoming film festival, Kashish in Mumbai.
What is Aisa Hota Hai about?
Aisa Hota Hai tells the story of five pickpockets who one day meet by chance. The story revolves around a situation they face outside the law and how they try to take advantage of it for their own good.
11 minutes is a really short time to relate a story which comprises of five characters. How did you manage to do that?
I have concentrated more on the story and the situation that these characters face rather than talking about each character in depth. They come into the story one by one in the first few minutes. The film then proceeds to show how they try to take advantage of a situation faced by them.
As a short film director, what do you have to say about the popularity of short films in India?
The popularity of the short film concept is almost none. There are a few websites which feature short films but financially, there is not a single penny earned in the short film business. Unlike conventional mainstream films, short films get almost no promotions, due to which people often aren’t even aware about a film.
What then, is your incentive to direct a short film?
Frankly, I have always been interested in mainstream films. And I feel that directing short films is one way to get my work noticed. While it might not benefit me financially, I hope that it will help me to catch the attention of big production houses — which is the first step in my dream to direct films.
Mechanical engineering to directing films. Why the switch?
I have been a fan of film making all my life. Although I did a degree course in mechanical engineering, my heart was always in the movie business. I did a summer course in film appreciation from FTII in Pune and have read and studied a lot about movies.
You can catch Aisa Hota Hai at the Kashish Film Festival which is on from May 23 to 27. Log on to www.mumbaiqueerfest.com