EXC! Jilbi- Anand Pandit On Importance Of Telling Stories In Regional Languages: All We Imagine As Light Is A

Anand Pandit interview: It's always a treat to interact with Mr. Anand Pandit as the veteran filmmaker always shares valuable knowledge and insights about the film industry. As he gears up for the release of his new Marathi film Jilbi, he exclusively interacted with Filmibeat and spoke about his project, emphasizing the need to tell stories in vernacular languages.

Excerpts from the interview-

1. Why is it important to tell stories in regional languages like Marathi?

'All We Imagine As Light' is a confluence of multiple languages and is winning global accolades. That alone should be enough to highlight the importance of linguistic inclusivity in cinema. We are a diverse nation and regional languages are at the heart of India's cultural and artistic richness. With films like 'Jilbi', we too are doing our bit to preserve and celebrate the legacy of Marathi theatre, cinema, literature and music.

2. How do you think Jilbi will connect with audiences both locally and beyond?

Well, we have made a good film and it is my firm belief that the audience always knows which story is worth their time and money. 'Jilbi' is a groundbreaking effort because it introduces a cop universe for the first time to Marathi cinema and the cumulative brilliance of the cast and crew will ensure its success.This is also a very relatable story rooted in the Marathi milieu and will resonate universally.

3. What role do you believe regional films play in promoting cultural diversity in India?

Regional films have always represented the diversity of languages, dialects, milieus and talent pools in the Indian film industry on international platforms. The global success of films like 'RRR', 'Kantara' and the critical acclaim being garnered by 'All We Imagine As Light' which is set in Mumbai but revolves around two Malayali nurses speaks for itself. Audiences know now that there is more to India than just one kind of cinema.

4. How have Marathi films evolved over the years, and what changes have you noticed in audience preferences?

Well, thematically, Marathi films have always been strong. The difference now is in the technique of filmmaking, the details of pre and post production design, sound quality and as well as exploration of new genres. As I mentioned before, 'Jilbi' encompasses a cop universe and there are many recent films that blend comedy and horror elements as well as offer a commentary on social fault lines. 'Sairat' was a universal success and so I guess, audiences today want to experience cinema in refreshingly novel ways. The content has become significantly more versatile and varied.

5. How do you balance traditional storytelling with modern filmmaking techniques?

You cannot make any film today without modern filmmaking techniques, right? 'Jilbi' for instance is a very slick film technically but it also has a deeply emotional core. The modern filmmaking techniques are in perfect harmony with the stirring storytelling.