iWorld
Sukesh Motwani on creating ‘The Gone Game’ during the pandemic
MUMBAI: Voot’s upcoming series The Gone Game explores how the spread of Covid2019, besides its health ramifications, has taken an emotional toll on people’s lives. The series is produced by Bodhi Tree Multimedia co-founder Sukesh Motwani, Mautik Tolia and creative producer Persis Siganporia. The series is directed by Nikhil Nagesh. The Gone Game is a thriller based on a family whose morale gets shaken when the main protagonist tests positive for Covid2019. This, in turn, sets the wheel churning for some dramatic and thrilling turn of events for the family.
The thought of a potential crime with the backdrop of the pandemic in a large dysfunctional family is what got Motwani’s imagination running. His biggest priority was to maintain the quality of the show. He adds that the production house was deeply involved in almost all aspects of production and spent hours brainstorming on how to ensure that the audience does not feel that the actors were shooting in their respective homes virtually. He points out that there is not even a single frame when two actors met.
Motwani gives a lot of the credit to director of photography Piyush Puty who was constantly guiding the actors on all technical aspects of the shoot. He also mentions that Puty identified the perfect spots within the house and went on to teach actors on how to create a block, light it and then perform. Puty aesthetically created spaces where the actors could shoot on their phones with minimal lighting.
The team spent a lot of time getting the groundwork done over virtual meetings. Each and every aspect was discussed in detail to avoid unnecessary delays while shooting. Each team member was always connected via video or audio calls.
Motwani says, “Conceptualising and creating The Gone Game is a fine example of a blend of creativity and innovation. A story which propagates humanistic values, engagement and unpredictability will by itself draw audiences’ to itself. We have stayed true to our core of creating a perfect whodunit set against the backdrop of the pandemic.”
He shares that the intrinsic rules of shoot remained the same. The team had invested a lot of time and effort in rehearsals and workshops before finally shooting. However, they were realistically prepared that this time shooting will take longer.
“We knew we were up for a challenge when we set our minds to shooting the entire show remotely. While we equipped ourselves through numerous prep sessions with the actors, this shoot required us to be on our toes constantly. Our efforts were to make all the actors create their own blocks, shoot and yet maintain a sense of continuity and authenticity,” he adds.
Motwani believes storytelling in the times of pandemic is extremely important. He thinks it is essential to entertain and inspire viewers with great content along with the thrilling experience that intrigues with darker aspects of the human psyche. “There is always a perfect story waiting to unfold, we just have to look at it creatively,” he concludes.
iWorld
Subedaar puts Indian original cinema on the global map with record-breaking Prime Video debut
MUMBAI: Prime Video has a runaway hit on its hands. Subedaar, the gritty action drama starring Anil Kapoor, has stormed to become the most-watched Indian original movie on the platform in its opening weekend, cracking the Top 10 across 31 countries and landing in 91 per cent of India’s pin codes within days of its March 5 premiere.
The film, a visceral, emotionally-charged story of a retired soldier, Subedaar Arjun Maurya, wrestling with civilian life amid crime and corruption, has struck a nerve. Directed by Suresh Triveni and co-starring Radhikka Madan, Mona Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, and Khushboo Sundar, the film is already being hailed as a showcase for what Indian original storytelling can achieve on the world stage.
“Subedaar’s success is a reflection of the growing scale and global resonance of Indian storytelling,” said Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India. “The film’s emotional narrative, its rooted portrayal of a soldier confronting his toughest battles beyond the battlefield, has struck a chord. Anil Kapoor delivers an acting masterclass, while Suresh Triveni’s solid direction and great performances from the ensemble cast have resulted in love and appreciation from customers across the world.”
Kapoor, 62, has been here before, but rarely at this altitude. Written by Triveni and Prajwal Chandrashekar, with dialogues by Triveni, Saurabh Dwivedi, and Chandrashekar, the film is a production by Opening Image Films in association with Anil Kapoor Film & Communication Network (AKFCN), produced by Vikram Malhotra, Kapoor, and Triveni.
Subedaar streams exclusively on Prime Video in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu across India, and in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
For Prime Video, the numbers tell the real story: one weekend, one film, a global footprint, and a very loud signal that Indian original cinema is no longer just travelling well. It’s arriving.
