Shanghai is about politics & not politicians: Dibakar

Filmmaker Dibakar Banerjee is no stranger to thinking out of the box. And judging by all the critical acclaim, dabbling with the unconventional seems to be his forté.

Hits like Khosla Ka Ghosla, Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! and the more recent Love Sex aur Dhokha only serve to cement his reputation as an intelligent director.

And with Love Sex aur Dhoka just doing the rounds, the filmmaker's at it again.

Dibakar has joined hands with PVR Pictures to make a political thriller which is tentatively titled Shanghai.

Dibakar, who'd been evasive about the project in an interview with ilovekolkata, has finally opened up on his latest venture.

His movie is about politics and not politicians, says the young director. "The story dwells on how people are at the receiving end of politics of violence ....emotion, feeling of it," he adds.

When asked if the title Shanghai had anything to do with "making Mumbai into Shanghai" debate, Dibakar replies, "I will not say that you are entirely wrong".

"I come from Delhi where I feel politics is confined to the corridors of power while Mumbai is a more lively city and I feel that politics affects my daily life," he says. "Shanghai is more about the uncertainty of our fate. The story is about a violent incident and the search that follows."

Ajay Bijli, Chairman and MD of PVR Group said the PVR Pictures would finance and distribute the film worldwide. "Dibakar is one of the finest among the new breed of Indian filmmakers and we will offer him every support to help him realise his vision," he added.

The film will go on floors in March next year, the filmmaker states. "I am in the process of scripting at the moment," he says.

Kamal Gianchandani, President of PVR Pictures said the cast was almost finalised and would be announced at a later date.

Though Shanghai is still a work in progress, if his earlier works are anything to go by, the movie can only be expected to validate his reputation.


(PTI)