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Making the final cut
Refreshing, innocent, youthful and delightfully romantic: that’s how most critics described Ayan Mukerji’s directorial debut Wake Up Sid, the simple story of a directionless young man, told in an interesting, contemporary way.
Film director: Ayan Mukherji
Refreshing, innocent, youthful and delightfully romantic: that’s how most critics described Ayan Mukerji’s directorial debut Wake Up Sid, the simple story of a directionless young man, told in an interesting, contemporary way. Twenty five-year-old Ayan worked on two films as an assistant director (Swades and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna) before writing and directing Wake Up Sid.
Ayan says he always aspired to be a film director. “I had the sort of life where I was watching and talking and romancing movies from a very young age,” he says. “Movies as a profession were more real to me than anything else. Becoming a director seemed like a natural organic transition... becoming a banker, now that would have been ambitious!” he laughs. But he did join an engineering college – only to drop out very soon.
He didn’t have to go through the usual struggle to get a break (it helps if you’re from a film family; Rani Mukherji and Kajol are first cousins). Once Ayan wrote the script of Wake Up Sid, he pitched it to Karan Johar, who liked it and decided to produce it.
Now, basking in the success of the movie and all the critical acclaim that has come his way, Ayan says he wants to be able to do his dream project one day. “Something with a hint of fantasy in it,” he muses. “I have a deep love for trashy fantasy fiction novels. Maybe Peter Pan. That would be fun!”
Ask him about his directorial technique and he says that it’s still too early for him to talk about that. “But I do want to make intimate, personal films about the way in which I see and experience the world around me,” he says. A minute later, he asks tentatively, “Does that sound horribly pompous and pretentious?”
Ayan identified with Ranbir Kapoor’s character in Wake Up Sid. The good news is that so did much of his audience.
But he’s quite sure that he will write all his films. “It has to start with a script. The script has to have a quality that makes you ‘feel’ enough, to not mind giving up two years of your life hanging out with it,” he says.
How does he feel being voted as the director to watch out for in 2010? “Great to hear that, makes me feel chuffed!” he grins. “Keeps one eager and excited about the future. Let’s see how it goes.”
What of the future? “Don’t know yet. Looking, searching, thinking...” He signs off.
Our judges
Tushar Dhingra COO, BIG Cinemas
Ayan Mukherji: For his narration and vision
Zoya Akhtar: Talented, will get a strong response
Dibakar Banerjee: Real, unique and witty cinema
Vikas Bahl COO, UTV Motion Pictures
Rajkumar Gupta: Made a fine film, Aamir
Ayan Mukherji: Told a simple story so well
Tarun Mansukhani (Dostana): Gave comedies a new lease of life
Sandeep Bhargava Chief, Indian Film Company
Dibakar Banerjee: New-age, cutting-edge cinema
Neeraj Pandey (A Wednesday): Takes chances with themes
Ayan Mukherji: Young, contemporary cinema
