Paathshaala is about problems in schools - Milind Ukey
He has directed the acclaimed Marathi film Devki which won 27 awards, he is also the director of India's most successful animation film Hanuman and now he is all set to make his mainstream Bollywood directorial debut with the Shahid Kapoor, Ayesha Takia, Nana Patekar starrer Paathshaala. He is none other than Milind Ukey. Milind was live to interact with his fans. For all those who missed this fun-filled session, here are the excerpts:
Milind Ukey: Hi. This is Milind Ukey
R
A
J
E
:
so
how
was
it
making
the
film?
Milind
Ukey:
it
was
a
great
experience.
To
make
a
film
based
on
real
issues
and
social
issues
though
not
easy
on
a
commercial
setup,
but
nevertheless
we
were
well
prepared
to
make
this
film
and
what
we
thought
we
captured
on
screen...
Hope
people
like
it.
Mrbean
:
kaise
hain
aap
milind
jee?
Milind
Ukey:
I
am
fine
thank
you
angle
:
so
whats
Paathshaala
like?
Milind
Ukey:
Paathshaala
is
about
the
problems
that
are
happening
right
now
in
schools,
that
the
students
and
parents
are
facing,
problems
that
the
teachers
are
facing.
WE
have
a
lot
of
shortcomings
in
the
education
system
which
we
are
trying
to
point
out
in
this
film.
Mrbean
:
how
was
it
working
with
Shahid?
Milind
Ukey:
Mrbean...it
was
an
absolutely
wonderful
experience.
Shahid
is
a
very
intelligent
and
creative
actor.
His
inputs
to
the
film
are
invaluable.
When
you
watch
him
in
the
film,
you
will
never
see
him
as
Shahid
Kapoor
but
the
character
Rahul
Prakash
Udyawar.
HANDSOME
:
what
inspired
u
to
make
a
film
like
Paathshaala?
Milind
Ukey:
Ahmed
has
originally
thought
of
the
idea
and
we
got
in
touch
through
a
common
friend.
He
narrated
it
to
me
and
I
liked
the
idea
immediately.
As
I
was
also
doing
research
on
the
similar
problems
in
the
education
system
Mrbean
:
tell
us
bout
ur
experience
shooting
the
film?
Milind
Ukey:
shooting
this
film
was
a
bit
hectic
becos
we
had
to
erect
a
huge
set
at
Film
city
and
we
had
to
finish
the
film
within
minimum
days.
Secondly
we
had
to
shoot
with
almost
100
kids
everyday
and
some
days
there
were
even
500
children.
Another
thing
was
the
availability
of
limited
dates
of
Shahid
,
Nana
and
Ayesha.
So
it
was
indeed
a
big
challenge
to
finish
such
a
high
quality
film
within
36
days.
we
were
well
prepared
on
the
papers
before
the
shoot
began
and
at
times
we
shot
with
2
-
3
cameras,
so
though
it
was
a
hectic
affair
we
are
satisfied
with
the
outcome.
faizan
ali
:
sir
will
ur
film
be
releasing
here
in
Pakistan?
Milind
Ukey:
thats
yet
not
decided
faizan
but
I
hope
that
it
releases
there
too
Mrbean
:
and
what
about
ayesha
takia
sir
Milind
Ukey:
ayesha
is
a
very
natural
actress.
She
needs
minimum
brief
to
portray
her
character.
She
is
a
very
sensitive
human
being
so
for
me
it
was
very
easy
to
work
with
her.
As
a
teacher
Anjali
Mathur,
Ayesha
comes
across
as
a
very
lovable
character
on
screen
faizan
ali
:
the
songs
of
ur
movie
is
fab
Milind
Ukey:
ya...they
are
doing
very
well
right
now.
Aye
Khuda
is
hitting
the
top
of
the
charts
both
sales
wise
and
in
terms
of
ringtone
downloads.
Though
Hanif
is
a
new
music
director,
his
quality
of
music
is
at
par
with
any
established
music
director
at
present.
The
tone
is
very
modern
and
melodious,
it
cant
escape
any
musical
ears.
Mrbean
:
ohh
great
sir
aapka
agala
movie
kounsa
hain?
Milind
Ukey:
i
am
still
writing
a
script
and
waiting
for
Paathshaala
to
release
so
that
I
can
create
a
right
set
up
for
my
new
screenplay
Mrbean
:
who
do
u
think
is
the
best
in
the
industry
as
of
now?
Milind
Ukey:
there
are
many
but
one
person
I
deeply
admire
is
Aamir
Khan.
I
find
him
not
only
a
great
actor
but
a
complete
filmmaker.
A
visionary
and
a
lot
to
learn
from.
malika
:
what
bout
shooting
with
the
kids
did
u
screen
test
them
all?
how
did
u
select
them
if
not?
Milind
Ukey:
malika...we
screen
tested
all
the
kids
and
we
had
a
wonderful
time
during
the
audition.
Few
kids
like
Swini
Khara,
Ali
Haji,
and
Dwij
didnt
need
to
go
through
the
auditions
as
they
are
already
established
actors
Mrbean
:
where
did
u
shoot
for
the
film?
Milind
Ukey:
we
constructed
a
huge
20000
sq
feet
set
in
Film
City.
Entire
film
was
shot
in
one
set.
sania:::))
:
what
made
u
choose
shahid
and
ayesha?
Milind
Ukey:
shahid
and
ayesha
are
childhood
friends
of
ahmed
khan
and
when
ahmed
wanted
to
make
his
first
production
along
with
his
wife
Shaira
Khan,
the
old
friendship
came
forward
to
give
the
shoulders.
leolo
:
sir
what
do
u
think
is
going
to
be
the
audience
reaction
to
the
film?
Milind
Ukey:
leolo...this
film
speaks
the
genuine
and
real
life
problems
of
parents,
teachers
and
students.
And
the
way
we
have
picturised
it
,
Paathshaala
will
hit
straight
to
the
hearts
of
people
and
I
am
sure
its
going
to
be
a
memorable
film
for
years
to
come.
faizan
ali
:
will
you
make
an
sequel
of
pattshalla?
Milind
Ukey:
that's
an
interesting
qtn
faizan...probably
college
ha
ha
ha...
it
all
depends
on
the
success
of
this
film
****
Mike
****
:
who
would
u
like
to
cast
in
ur
next
film?
Milind
Ukey:
Aamir
Khan
amirah
khan
:
How
is
Nana
Patekar
to
work
with...is
he
temperamental?
Milind
Ukey:
Nana
Patekar
is
a
very
methodical
actor,
a
seniormost
actor.
So
you
have
to
be
very
well
prepared
and
your
home
work
has
to
be
thorough.
his
creative
levels
are
of
very
high
standards
which
we
have
to
match
up
to.
so
if
any
shortcomings
are
there,
he
would
naturally
question
in
his
own
way.
What
people
call
tantrums
but
I
call
it
his
right
as
an
actor.
I
WANT
NOBODY
:
WHAT
WILL
BE
YOUR
NEXT
MOVIE
NAME
Milind
Ukey:
The
War
Of
Panipat
leolo
:
ur
a
writer
too?
any
film
written
yet?
Milind
Ukey:
no
I
have
not
written
any
film
but
I
would
be
writing
new
script
Ankush
:
why
did
it
take
so
long
to
release??
Milind
Ukey:
Ankush...any
big
film
takes
its
own
time
to
complete
so
one
and
half
years
for
completion
is
a
good
time.
It
also
took
a
little
extra
time
to
find
a
suitable
release
period
which
had
to
be
the
summer
vacations
bhavi
:
how
is
avika
gor
in
film
Milind
Ukey:
when
avika
gor
started
to
act
in
the
film,
she
had
not
done
Balika
vadhu.
She
was
relatively
new
and
thats
why
her
role
is
smaller
in
the
film
but
very
nice
and
impt.
leolo
:
If
not
a
writer
director
then
what?
Milind
Ukey:
leolo...thats
a
good
question...hmmmm
I
would
be
lost.
I
WANT
NOBODY
:
sir
do
u
read?
what
are
ur
hobbies?
Milind
Ukey:
I
read
a
lot
particularly
on
socio-political
issues,
philosophy,
listening
to
music.
In
short,
anything
and
everything
related
to
the
films.
Mike
:
Would
you
ever
venture
into
horror
films?
Milind
Ukey:
I
wont
call
them
horror
films
but
maybe
I'd
make
a
supernatural
thriller
to
depict
the
forbidden
truths
about
life
and
death.
sam24
:
sir,
which
is
ur
best
film
till
date?
Milind
Ukey:
Paathshaala
Mike
:
you
made
an
animation
film...but
really
our
animation
is
still
way
behind
hollywood
...why?
Milind
Ukey:
we
dont
have
the
budgets
and
enough
creative
ideas.
sam24
:
Do
you
think
this
film
is
a
breakthrough
for
you
as
a
director
as
well?
Milind
Ukey:
Certainly
Yes
Sam
becos
it
creates
for
me
a
big
platform
in
the
commercial
film
industry
Arun
:
whats
your
favourite
hollywood
film
and
why?
Milind
Ukey:
Arun...so
many
of
them
but
I
would
say
The
Hurt
Locker
moved
me
deeply
for
last
so
many
days.
IMwhatIM
:
Sir....Whoz
that
cute
kid
nr
U?
Milind
Ukey:
ha
ha
thats
my
son
Krishng
Deepali
:
whose
your
favourite
bollywood
actress...
Milind
Ukey:
Deepali...all
time
fav
is
Madhubala
faizan
ali
:
can
you
make
a
movie
on
MUGHAL
EMPIRE??
Milind
Ukey:
in
fact
The
War
of
Panipat
would
be
somewhere
near
portraying
the
Mughal
culture
Arun
:
i
did
watch
hurt
locker
and
didnt
see
anything
moving
in
it...
i
think
waltz
with
bashir
is
better...
ur
coments?
Milind
Ukey:
I
have
yet
not
seen
it
IMwhatIM
:
Whch
s
ur
fav
song?
Milind
Ukey:
so
many
of
them
yaar
but
I
like
Zara
Zara
from
RHTDM
Praful
:
considering
your
experinece
pathshaala
is
abig
film
for
you...r
u
nervous?
Milind
Ukey:
yes
a
bit
Praful.
How
much
ever
hard
work
you
do
but
its
peoples
verdict
that
finally
matters
and
thats
what
makes
us
nervous
I
WANT
NOBODY
:
if
he
is
grown
up
for
example
would
u
like
your
son
to
be
an
actor
Milind
Ukey:
rather
i
would
like
him
to
be
a
director
becos
he
already
asks
me
questions
which
are
more
like
a
director
Kooool
:
Hi
milind
first
of
best
of
Luck
for
your
Upcoming
movie...!
can
i
ask
that
why
you
have
titled
it
as
"Paathshaala" like
a
typical
hindi???
Milind
Ukey:
the
film
deals
so
much
with
the
inherent
issues
of
education
system
and
they
are
so
much
Indian
in
their
nature
that
the
name
should
immediately
reflect
ingenuity
of
the
subject
matter
leolo
:
are
you
on
any
networking
site?
what
do
you
use
it
for?
Milind
Ukey:
facebook
SANIA.....:)
:
sir
wht
do
you
think
about
shahrukhkhan
Milind
Ukey:
he
is
a
great
showman
I
WANT
NOBODY
:
which
grade
is
your
son
studying,sir?
Milind
Ukey:
he
is
in
1st
std
Arun
:
Do
you
think
celebs
talking
abt
their
movies
and
the
details
before
release
on
social
networking
sites
is
a
good
idea?
Milind
Ukey:
todays
media
interaction
is
completely
changed
compared
to
the
earlier
times.
Now
there
are
too
many
options
for
entertainment
than
films,
hence
film
cast
and
crew
need
to
create
a
direct
communication
with
their
audiences
which
will
help
enough
grounds
to
receive
the
film
in
the
correct
light.
IMwhatIM
:
Howz
d
Promotion
f
Paathshala
gng?
Milind
Ukey:
as
you
see
on
the
television,
its
all
over
the
place
and
we
have
wonderful
hoarding
displays
in
Mumbai
plus
our
music
is
a
hit
on
the
radio
so
in
all
we
have
top
class
promotions
carried
out
by
EROS
Intl
and
PaperDoll
Productions
I
WANT
NOBODY
:
i
thik
your
next
film
will
be
superhit
all
the
best
Milind
Ukey:
thank
you
very
much..so
sweet
of
you
I
WANT
NOBODY
:
has
he
watched
the
film
yet?
Milind
Ukey:
yes
he
has
just
seen
the
film
and
he
cried
in
the
film
and
he
said
he
loved
the
film
and
would
love
to
show
all
his
friends.
He
asked
me
one
qtn-
How
do
I
know
about
the
dreams
of
the
characters
in
the
film
and
how
do
I
take
that
scenes
of
that
dreams
onto
the
screen?
If
you
can
answer
that
qtn
pls
let
me
knw
IMwhatIM
:
what
are
ur
plans
post
the
release
of
the
film?
will
u
go
on
a
vacation?
Milind
Ukey:
I
need
a
vacation
very
badly
but
lets
see
sam24
:
if
u
have
to
remake
any
movie
from
hollywood
which
one
it
wud
be
?
Milind
Ukey:
i
dont
believe
in
remakes
IMwhatIM
:
DO
you
think
we
should
do
away
with
lip
sync...its
so
yesterday...
Milind
Ukey:
no
not
yet.
Our
Indian
films
are
still
has
its
unique
form
and
we
still
have
a
strong
musical
culture
which
should
be
preserved
inform
of
lip
sync
songs
Milind Ukey: guys it was great fun chatting live with all of you....will come back after the film is released and share more. Do catch Paathshaala at a theatre near you this friday april 16th...love...Milind