Sathyu plans new feature film on reservation policy

BANGALORE, JAN 3: Good intentions can go drastically wrong but sometimes, it takes a long time -- almost 50 to 51 years -- to find that o...

BANGALORE, JAN 3: Good intentions can go drastically wrong but sometimes, it takes a long time 8212; almost 50 to 51 years 8212; to find that out. That is why noted film maker M S Sathyu is making a full-length feature film, his venture for the New Year, on the country8217;s reservation policy. And he has based the film on a real-life incident that occurred in Bangalore a few years ago.

8220;My film deals with the problems a well-educated, upper-caste girl faced at a 8220;very reputed8221; scientific institution in the city merely because she was married of her own choice to a Dalit,8221; he said.

The film explores the protagonist8217;s identity crisis 8212; was she to go by her husband8217;s Dalit identity or had she to demand the recognition she deserved on her own merits.

8220;I want to show how discriminatory people can be, because no policy could be effective unless peoples8217; minds were ready to accept it,8221; he said.

Sathyu pointed out that the reservation policy was formulated with an idealistic aim in mind, ie, provideopportunities to the underprivileged, traditionally backward people and bring about an 8220;economic and social levelling so that they could be treated as equal to every one else.8221;

8220;But though the benefits of reservation reached some, the policy-makers8217; rose-tinted vision did not take into account the social acceptance8217; factor,8221; he said.

8220;Class differences will disappear only when the rich and upper classes do not mind mixing with their not-so-fortunate brethren, so my film questions the disparity in peoples8217; minds about the reservation policy,8221; he explained.

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8220;Perhaps the root of the problem was that the advanced classes were unprepared to accept the poorer ones on equal footing,8221; he surmised.

Sathyu wants big8217; names for his new film. 8220;I don8217;t want too glamourous a star, at the same time, I don8217;t want a novice either,8221; he said.

Taking new people had not been a good experience for him, besides which 8220;people look for names when they go to the theatre8221;.

But why a full-length feature filmthis time? Smaller films did not give the same satisfaction, he explained. And when did he plan to start filming? His script, he said, had already been worked out last year in fact so he was merely waiting for the right financier to come along.

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8220;Shooting will start, as soon as somebody puts in the Rs 50 or Rs 60 lakh that I think I will need,8221; he said.

As for his New Year resolution, 8220;What can resolutions do,8221; he queried at first. Then he added, a little doubtfully, 8220;Work hard perhaps8230;?8221;.