Click to play videoChennai: 2006's Paris Je t'aime was a compilation of 18 short films about Paris directed by 21 filmmakers, and if actor Kamal Hassan has his way, then soon you will get to see a series of films based on Chennai.
"This is about 30 short films on a city called Chennai. We began with Chennai, but we will go to other cities as well," says Kamal Hassan.
Simply titled Chennai, this collection of 30 short films will be produced by Kamal Hassan himself and it will be scripted by participants of his screenwriting workshop organised earlier this month along with French screenwriter Jean Claude Carrier.
"It's about the fictional world of writers as they look at Chennai. Fiction, as Jean Claude Carrier said, can delve more deeply into reality. So that's what we plan to do. We hope to get 30 films out next year," says Kamal Hassan.
While Kamal Hassan has already zeroed in on some known filmmakers to direct some of the short films, the search for others is still on and fresh talent is welcome.
"I have only a promise from Rituparno Ghosh and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. Probably Shekar Kapur would pitch in, I will be there as will Hariharan. We will also talk to other directors who are willing. They must also understand what the thrust is all about and help," says he.
And there's a reason why the actor-director settled for short films over a feature film for his ode Chennai.
"I think the logistics of a feature film kills most of the aesthetics, even ours. We suffer because of that. A short film gives a little more freedom, but business will always dominate the output. But we are trying to train them into it slowly," says he.
The films will be funded by Kamal Hassan himself and he is already looking at theatres and television to launch his films. And if the formula is successful, you can expect short films on other cities too.
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