Vimukth
Vimukta (विमुक्त) [Also spelled vimukt]:—(a) acquitted, released; exempted; emancipated, delivered, liberated; ~[kti] acquittal, release; exemption; emancipation, deliverance, liberation; •[vādī] a liberationist.
As the title suggests, this film depicts the story of a young mischievous boy, who lands himself in trouble at school. He’s forced to spend the day in confinement to reflect upon his behaviour, and the ordeal eventually helps him understand the value of freedom..
INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR RIYAN SHETTY
What is the story behind your film?
Vimukth (विमुक्त) translates to acquitted, released, liberated and as the title suggests, the film depicts a story of a young boy and his journey of discovering of the true value of freedom..
What should people take away, gain, realize after watching your film?
The general crux of the story emphasises the importance of freedom, and more importantly to help every living with a certain sense of empathy...
Do you think that films can change people for the better or for the worse?
Absolutely, Cinema as a medium has the ability to invoke changes in people.. I believe each of us are a sum total of the books we read and the movies we watch, and as filmmaker's I believe it's import to understand that our imagination comes with a certain sense of responsibility, hence it's important for me personally to be a little weary of the message I put out with every story I take
on..
How was the creation of your project at the time of COVID-19?
It most definitely wasn't easy, I had to shoot the film with a limited crew, budgets ran higher, work was indefinitely delayed, but It most definitely was a learning experience..
What creation style did you use in the production of your project? What cameraman elements did you use?
So for one I shot on anamorphic lenses, So I could get a squeezed image and create a sense of claustrophobia which is the general mood of the film..
How was the creation of your project at the time of COVID-19?
It most definitely wasn't easy, I had to shoot the film with a limited crew, budgets ran higher, work was indefinitely delayed, but It most definitely was a learning experience..
What creation style did you use in the production of your project? What cameraman elements did you use?
So for one I shot on anamorphic lenses, So I could get a squeezed image and create a sense of claustrophobia which is the general mood of the film..
How did you select the actors for your project?
I've actually worked with all my actors in the past on a project titled Simmba which I was assisting on, and besides being brilliant performers they seemed like they were the perfect fit for the parts, and I just spoke to them during that process and it all fell into place,
Why do you think your film should appeal to distributors?
Quite honestly mine is a story, everyone can resonate with, it's a simple short film, that gets straight to the point and leaves the viewer with a smile if nothing, and since it's a silent film it connects with people regardless of the language they speak..
At which festival has your film been screened?
By the time this interview is out my film would've been screened at the Atlanta Indian Film Festival, The Greece International Film Festival, and The Austin Under The Stars Film Festival..
How did your acquaintances react when they first saw the film?
Everyone was extremely kind, I think I've been more critical than all my acquaintances, but everyone seems to have liked it..
If you could change something in your film, what would it be?
Oh So Much! We're all the lead characters of our story, I've always believed that the day I'd make my first film, I'd knock it right out of the park, this film destroyed that delusion, I felt like a mortal, There is so much I would do differently, I'd treat the opening of the movie differently, I'd probably do the same with a dream sequence in the middle and add a little more buildup before My climax, Quite honestly I don't know what I'd do the day I'm happy with something I write or create because my motivation comes from me telling myself that I have space and will to grow from where I am today..
Which movies are your favorites and why?
I grew up watching movies from all over the world, there's a few that have stayed with me I can't explain why, Rush by Ron Howard, The Lion King, Rang de Basanti by Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, Mother by Bong Joon Ho, Munna Bhai MBBS By Rajkumar Hirani, Simmba by My mentor and teacher Mr Rohit Shetty and this list would be incomplete if I didn't put a Kurosawa Film in here and Seven Samurai would be that film..
What topics do you like to address in your stories?
Any Story that helps us look within and challenge our belief system is one that resonates with me..
What is your motivation in making films?
I've been working on Film sets since I was 17 years old, I've been writing since I was 12 I believe it's the only thing that I know to do, It's the only thing that interests me and it's the only thing that makes me feel alive.
Which contemporary filmmakers motivate you the most?
My Teacher My Mentor, Mr Rohit Shetty. Who's not only a phenomenal technician, but a greater human being, his work ethic, his passion and love for the craft, the way he treats his crew, These are all values and Ideals that I can only look up to..
I strive everyday to be ten percent of the man and technician he is, and If I succeed, I know I've achieved something far beyond my inherent capability..
What projects do you plan to shoot in the future?
As of now I'm working on piecing together a documentary, that'll act as a pitch deck of sort for a show I aspire to make in the future, one that highlights the contribution of my people during the Second World War, and the atrocities we endured by our colonists..
LEARN MORE ABOUT Riyan Shetty https://m.imdb.com/name/nm5195309/