Log In & Act Out

Skumars Online Limited has been working on the portal for two years now,with Extentia Pune as the technology partner. The first film which will make its casting calls through the portal is Jagmohan Mundhra’s Kissa Kutte Ka. The film is based on a real life incident which occurred a few years back in Madhya Pradesh where a dog belonging to a person of a higher caste ate food made by a lower caste woman and thus the animal was subsequently excommunicated from the village. “The incident made me laugh but also made me angry,” says the film-maker,“Thus I decided on making a film which will pick up from the incident and throw light on the absurdities of life.” Mundhra is looking for an ensemble cast of 75. “Each character will be described on the portal and people can submit their applications accordingly. Depending on their theatre/acting experience,they will be shortlisted,” he says.

The husband and wife duo believes that not all films need big names. “So,this is a great way to reach out to and discover talented people. In the US,there is Breakdown Services and the UK has Spotlight.com. But India,even with such a flourishing industry,doesn’t have a similar web portal for casting,” says Mundhra. Chandra adds,“Usually,the only way that someone gets work is if he/she knows somebody or literally begs for work.”

The portal will be open for films and television serials. Even others in the film industry have realised the benefits of using the web as a platform for new talent. Ashish Patil of Yash Raj Productions,who was in town to promote Luv Ka The End,had said,“There is so much talent out there just waiting for a chance. I make sure to read every script or synopsis that is submitted on our website and if good,we get the person on board.” Similarly,one of the music directors of the film I Am was found on Facebook.

The Mundhras acknowledge that the industry is organising its casting approach. Chandra hopes that the portal will become the Google of Bollywood. Her hubby says,“It’s all about harnessing the power of the internet and such portals and websites are gateways to accessing that power.”