Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
This-weekend-release M Cream steps into the realm of postmodern filmmaking and surrealism while trying to reflect the youth culture, which director Agneya Singh terms as the 'new renaissance'. He stands confident to take his art through the final test after it gained international repute in about 30 film festivals and bagged over 10 awards. For Singh, the film is a 'first' in many ways. Apart from being labelled as the first stoner film of India, it is also a unique attempt to blur the gap between two genres of films — a festival film that seeks to cater to western sensibilities and a Bollywood 'dream machine'. When one met the young 26-year-old director in his house, he opened up on his take on the various themes that the movie seems to be centred around.
Where did you gather inspiration from?
M Cream is a true urban legend. A friend decided to go on the quest in search of the mythical drug. But the drug is only a plot device, which drives the story. More central to the theme is the voyage that the friends undertake, a symbol of ultimate rebellion, in a quest to find the ultimate high, and most importantly themselves.
The movie seems to glorify rebel culture. In your sensibilities, what entails liberty and should liberty involve self-harm?
The rebel culture that the film depicts is different from the youth movements of the '70s (Hippie movements), which were very ideologically driven. I strongly believe that today's counter culture is more emotionally balanced, as there is an innate understanding of what is right and wrong. The youth doesn't want to confer to any of the 'isms'. In fact the only 'ism', which might apply to them, is 'humanism' which is inspired by the revolutionary ideals of belief in human intellect. The film portrays the two extremes of the rebel spectrum with Figs (Imaad Shah) typifying escapism where he feels that nothing can change in the world while Jay (Ira Dubey) showcases a confrontationist stand where she is aware of what is going wrong and wishes to raise a voice for the deprived. Maggie (Auritra Ghosh) is a rebel without a cause and Niz (Raghav Chanana) is essentially a conformist with a 'live and let live' attitude. Thus the film nowhere idealises a certain nature of rebellion and it is very nuanced and multi-dimensional. But at the same time it derides apathy. The film strongly stands for personal liberty and freedom. We do not believe that it is any body's business to impose the narrowly defined mainstream ideology on young people. They should be given the right to chalk out their own paths. Self harm should not be used as a defence to curtail liberty. But at the same time, we are not against regulations.
The theatrical and festival trailers show the film in different light. What truly is the film like?
It is a bubbly road movie with comedic elements but at the same time it has pathos, intensity and depth. It's unique because it merges these two together. As a film it is very poetic and philosophical. It is not pure entertainment.
Did you face any tiffs with the CBFC?
We went through the censorship process when we were showcasing the film on the international platform. With the intolerance debate arising, we had gauged the hurdles that we might have to face. We had two versions of the film, one for the international audience and one for the Indian one, former being more intense. We were successful in getting the former certified because the board seemed liberal.
However, I have been told if we were to get the film certified by the current board, the response would not be the same. So we decided to go ahead with the festival version and test how it is perceived. In the trailers, only one shot was cut but the rest was allowed to remain intact. We were very apprehensive but we have been lucky in this respect.
Where does the film stand on the drug debate?
Unlike Udta Punjab, M Cream deals with cannabis drugs. These drugs have been scientifically proven to be not only safe but also therapeutic. Cannabis is totally organic. It was after the UN convention to criminalise cannabis intake that India formulated draconian laws in spite of the traditional pot culture in our society. In fact, the government did import tonnes of drugs from Afghanistan for the Kumbh Mela at one point.
We believe that it is strange and hypocritical of the government to allow spirits and tobacco to be consumed, which actually cause death and ban organic drugs. Today, the western countries are reviewing their policies towards cannabis, its high time that we do the same. But at the same time, as I said, the movie doesn't endorse drug consumption. It uses drugs as a mere plot device.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: The Substance Behind The Smoke
Author: Vrinda Aggarwal
Contact: The Hindu
Photo Credit: Reuters
Website: The Hindu
Where did you gather inspiration from?
M Cream is a true urban legend. A friend decided to go on the quest in search of the mythical drug. But the drug is only a plot device, which drives the story. More central to the theme is the voyage that the friends undertake, a symbol of ultimate rebellion, in a quest to find the ultimate high, and most importantly themselves.
The movie seems to glorify rebel culture. In your sensibilities, what entails liberty and should liberty involve self-harm?
The rebel culture that the film depicts is different from the youth movements of the '70s (Hippie movements), which were very ideologically driven. I strongly believe that today's counter culture is more emotionally balanced, as there is an innate understanding of what is right and wrong. The youth doesn't want to confer to any of the 'isms'. In fact the only 'ism', which might apply to them, is 'humanism' which is inspired by the revolutionary ideals of belief in human intellect. The film portrays the two extremes of the rebel spectrum with Figs (Imaad Shah) typifying escapism where he feels that nothing can change in the world while Jay (Ira Dubey) showcases a confrontationist stand where she is aware of what is going wrong and wishes to raise a voice for the deprived. Maggie (Auritra Ghosh) is a rebel without a cause and Niz (Raghav Chanana) is essentially a conformist with a 'live and let live' attitude. Thus the film nowhere idealises a certain nature of rebellion and it is very nuanced and multi-dimensional. But at the same time it derides apathy. The film strongly stands for personal liberty and freedom. We do not believe that it is any body's business to impose the narrowly defined mainstream ideology on young people. They should be given the right to chalk out their own paths. Self harm should not be used as a defence to curtail liberty. But at the same time, we are not against regulations.
The theatrical and festival trailers show the film in different light. What truly is the film like?
It is a bubbly road movie with comedic elements but at the same time it has pathos, intensity and depth. It's unique because it merges these two together. As a film it is very poetic and philosophical. It is not pure entertainment.
Did you face any tiffs with the CBFC?
We went through the censorship process when we were showcasing the film on the international platform. With the intolerance debate arising, we had gauged the hurdles that we might have to face. We had two versions of the film, one for the international audience and one for the Indian one, former being more intense. We were successful in getting the former certified because the board seemed liberal.
However, I have been told if we were to get the film certified by the current board, the response would not be the same. So we decided to go ahead with the festival version and test how it is perceived. In the trailers, only one shot was cut but the rest was allowed to remain intact. We were very apprehensive but we have been lucky in this respect.
Where does the film stand on the drug debate?
Unlike Udta Punjab, M Cream deals with cannabis drugs. These drugs have been scientifically proven to be not only safe but also therapeutic. Cannabis is totally organic. It was after the UN convention to criminalise cannabis intake that India formulated draconian laws in spite of the traditional pot culture in our society. In fact, the government did import tonnes of drugs from Afghanistan for the Kumbh Mela at one point.
We believe that it is strange and hypocritical of the government to allow spirits and tobacco to be consumed, which actually cause death and ban organic drugs. Today, the western countries are reviewing their policies towards cannabis, its high time that we do the same. But at the same time, as I said, the movie doesn't endorse drug consumption. It uses drugs as a mere plot device.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: The Substance Behind The Smoke
Author: Vrinda Aggarwal
Contact: The Hindu
Photo Credit: Reuters
Website: The Hindu