Indian National Award-winning filmmaker Dibakar Banerjee, who has directed one of the four short films as part of Netflix’s anthology Lust Stories, is feeling the pre-release jitters. He says he has always had to find a way to survive in the competitive business as his works have an alternate voice.
Lust Stories, which is out on Netflix India, is an anthology film with contribution from Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap, Karan Johar and Banerjee, who had earlier created Bombay Talkies. This time, they have told four stories revolving around love and lust.
Banerjee, known for movies like Khosla Ka Ghosla and Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, said: “My films are different. They never set the box office on fire. I have always had to find a way to survive in the business, facing competition.
“So whether a film is releasing on a digital platform or in a theatre, it does not ease the pressure or that pre-release anxiety because here also I am competing with three other iconic directors of our film business.”
Pointing out the basic difference between filmmaking and any other art forms like writing a novel, music and painting, Banerjee said: “A movie takes a lot of money to make. It takes not only money, but people and logistics.
“I have come from an extremely middle-class family, and I am told that if you have used someone’s money, you better repay it before celebrating your success with the single malt. So whenever I took money from anyone, like a studio, producer or a Netflix, I try to find a way to justify the financial outlet.
“Therefore, I am always under the pressure.... Also, because I have a different or alternative voice in my films, I always kind of survived on the edges. If people will not praise my film enough, I will be heartbroken.”
In Lust Stories, the narrative of Banerjee’s story features Sanjay Kapoor, Manisha Koirala and Jaideep Ahlawat. It revolves around the love story of a middle-aged couple.
“A middle-aged love story is more complex because that is when the real companionship starts with the person who is living with you for a long time. The excitement and passion of early days goes away by then and then starts the real deep, insightful conversation,” he added.
