It's not about how many movies Shawn Arranha has directed before Tukkaa Fitt that questions his abilities as a director, it's his experience as an assistant director in more than dozen odd movies over the past decade and a half that counts and that makes him a perfectionist. One look at his debut movie Hide N Seek and you know the man knows his art and craft well. The edits, the shot taking ability and the most important thing: that edge of the seat eagerness of what's going to happen next. I'd rate Shawn Arranha as one of the most technically sound directors who, in his second outing, wants to prove that 'change' has to be the most crucial ingredient in making good movies. He accepts the profit motive thriving in the industry where there is little patience for artistic flourishes and overblown expenses but yet he knows the word 'control'. Shawn is an unapologetic auteur, committed to using every element of film - from evocative lighting to digital composition - to edgy editing - to overwhelm our senses and redefine how we perceive the future and the present. UK's Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent brings you a filmmaker fit to make a hit on his terms, his style: Shawn Arranha. "Mahaakshay and Vaishali jodi is worth a wait to watch" Mahaakshay actually was already a part of Tukkaa Fitt before I entered the movie as a director. The decision was taken by the producers (AAP Entertainment - Amitabh Parekh and Premal Goragandhi) who gave me the entire script. I came on board and then the decision to cast Vaishali Desai, a fresh face, opposite Mahaakshay was taken. We wanted both our actors to be a film or two old and to have that edginess and newness in them. This jodi is worth a wait to watch. "I am looking forward to direct a love story soon" I don't want to be known as a specific genre director and that's precisely the reason why I directed by second outing called Tukkaa Fitt which is a small budget comedy. Maybe my third direction could be a drama, action or a love story. I am looking forward to direct a love story to be honest. So I'm looking out for one good script. "I was savvy enough to understand where to cut corners and still make the film look big" I feel that by doing all these big budget movies you tend to learn so much from the production point of view. I have assisted Apoorva Lakhia in all his movies and have directed my first movie that was produced by him too. So yes, I put in my proficiency in how to control the budget, control the crew and the cast that's crucial. Technically, I had to be really savvy and understand where I had to cut corners and make the film still look big and making sure that it's still shaped up the way it is in the script. "We changed the dialect from Haryanvi to the more Metro urban types" The most important change I brought in as a director was that I changed the dialect. Originally it had a very 'Haryanvi' accent that the characters spoke but I thought to alter it and cater it to a more urban audiences based in metros. Ajay Khamosh was brought in to make the changes too. "Hiten Paintal came out pretty strong in doing comedy and so did Mahaakshay" In an ensemble cast and a comedy like Tukkaa Fitt, it's difficult to decide who is the funniest amongst the lot. But I have to say this that I really enjoyed working with Rajpal Yadav and Mukesh Tiwari as they were actually funny off screen too. I mean, if you trace their previous work you'll know what I am talking about. For them, comedy was not a problem. Even Hiten Paintal came out pretty strong in comedy. It's his best work I should say. Mahaakshay too has surprised me by doing insane comedy. "Vaishali Desai was pampered on the sets and that's a rarity" Vaishali Desai was the misfit in Tukkaa Fitt, you're right (laughs). But having said that, she was the only girl from the dozen men around her. But I have to say this - Vaishali Desai was pampered on the sets and that's a rarity. She had a lot of attention. She brings in the romance in the movie and brings the softness in Tukkaa Fitt. The film goes in a very rapid pace and she slows the film down by adding the romantic touch. "I want to make Tukkaa Fitt edgy in its edit and humour" You don't get to experiment too much in big budget movies but in Tukkaa Fitt, the advantage is that we can. As a director, I am going to make sure that I bring that much needed change for good on the table in the form of edit cuts. It's the most important treatment in a comic genre that no one has done. I want to make Tukkaa Fitt edgy in its edit and humour. Like how the British movies brings out their humour and edit. This is going to be our future cinema with more experiments on movies in Bollywood. We need to get away from the clichés. Delhi Belly, Shaitan, etc. proved that. "Like father like Son, is what Mahaakshay is. He is much disciplined" Mahaakshay is one of the most disciplined actors I've worked with in our industry. It's 'Like Father Like Son' story. He commands respect like his father Mithunda. If he is required at seven in the morning, he'd turn up at half past six in the morning and get busy with his make-up. Such was his dedication. Mithunda hasn't done any cameo in Tukkaa Fitt. "I'd call Tukkaa Fitt a crazy comic caper" Every movie for a director is a big test in itself. He has to prove that he is ten times better than his previous efforts. Whether the previous efforts have or haven't worked, it has to surpass his earlier movie. For me, Tukkaa Fitt is challenge - challenge to prove that I am here to make movies given any kind of genres, a challenge that I can grow as a director. I want to give more to my audiences each time I direct. I'd call Tukkaa Fitt a crazy comic caper.
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