NEZ Moving Pixels � a boon for bold filmmakers

By Goutam Shankar
One may call it the parallel cinema or the genre of new wave film makers who have or have wanted to give it a try in expressing thoughts and concepts in a different light on celluloid. Each such filmmaker who dares to think differently will vouch that a majority of producers and production houses are like punters who prefer to shoo away such �flea-riddled horses� whose racecourses swerve clear of the jingle and clamor of box office turnstiles.

It is not that big-banner-big-star films are having heartening runs in movie theatres; neither are such films thought teasers or pure entertainers. Some of these productions may have scooped in a bit of lucre but none of these can boast of being run away hits. Some �off beat� films have been noticed by critics and film fanatics but did not gather enough steam to pep the confidence of producers and film makers. Yet, producers are willing to go along with big names while the filmmakers with new concepts are consigned to the rudderless boat to destination hope.

However, all is not lost. There is spring in the air for the daring lot of filmmakers who are undeterred and nurture the fortitude to make it towards the end of the tunnel where a ray of hope is now very much perceptible. NEZ Moving Pixels is determined to better the fate of this latter lot of filmmakers by providing them the financial and morale boosting platform to push their ideas on the format of celluloid reality.

Chartered accountant and an accomplished pianist Rita Jhawar who insists that �the risk factor is a part and parcel of her profession� has joined hands with Dr Sudeep Ranjan Sarkar, himself a psychologist by profession and poet, painter, story writer and filmmaker by �addiction�, to form NEZ Moving Pixels. It is a production house that has been providing the manna for a whole new crop of short, docu-feature and tele-filmmakers in Bengali, Hindi and English languages. Since the past two years since its inception, many of the vehicles coming out of the NEZ stable have aroused intrinsic interest at national and international film fests.

Says Rita, �Our prime objective is to remove the cloud of disillusionment and introduce ample sunshine in the world of filmmakers who dare to think differently. They are being and will be provided the impetus to express their dreams and justify their thoughts on celluloid, without any fetters.�

Dr Sarkar, whose short film, �Neti-Neti�, written and directed by him for the NEZ banner and which is continuing to garner critical acclaim on the international plane contends, �After all, how long can you withhold healthy thoughts from being translated into a refreshingly new form of celluloid reality? We do not challenge the reign of commercial cinema.

But with moral and financial support, a different class of film and filmmakers who prefer to paint narratives sans the frills of frivolity, need to come and spruce the simple dishes of rice and curry which the connoisseurs and film buffs will lap as never before. Rita and I will go ahead and promote such determined minds.�

Sudeep has himself written and is directing the Hindi feature film, �Ungformung � The Transformation,� featuring popular South Indian actor Akshaya in the pivotal role. The crux of the story is the ultimate realization that the quest for material yearnings is an exercise in futility.

Internationally acclaimed and award winning film director and actor Ashoke Viswanathan too is filming a short feature film, �1+1=3� in Bengali with the sensitive June Maliah, Debdut Ghosh and Ashoke himself in the lead. Like his other film ventures that have made people sit up and think, �1+1=3� too is a philosophical treatise on a breathtaking analysis revolving on a triangular relationship among a revolutionary on the run, Sadhan, homemaker Riya and her husband Bidhan a high ranking police official. Director Ashoke Viswanathan is tight-lipped about this production that is nearing completion. But he did say, �NEZ Moving Pixels is producing this film. Rita and Dr Sarkar felt the poignancy and dramatic elements in my story �1+1=3� (screenplay and dialogues by Ashoke and Suchandra Chowdhury) and backed me. �