Digital medium offers convenience: Vikramaditya Motwane

Mumbai, March 19 (IANS) Filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane, who believes the digital view of a film is the future, says the style and treatment of visual storytelling will change with time, keeping the medium in mind.

Motwane, known for directing movies like "Udaan", "Lootera" and "Trapped", told IANS here: "Digital is the future when it comes to watching films. People find it very convenient to watch a film on a laptop or mobile phone.

"Therefore, as a visual storyteller, we also have to think about frames according to the medium. We might have to focus on the character and close-ups rather than long shots, for example. Having said that, I personally prefer the experience of watching film on a big screen."

While the audience is becoming mature enough to celebrate independent cinema in India, it is not translating at the box office.

Analysing the reason behind the situation, Motwane said: "The good thing about multiplexes is that audiences have a choice to watch from a blockbuster and indie film. However, the ticket prices are high... So while competing with a big budget film, an independent film will always suffer.

"An indie film will die out of a theatre in one week. Perhaps, that's why word-of-mouth works as best publicity tool for indie cinema. So, we need more theatres."

He may be a believer in the power of the digital medium, but Motwane says the reach of a film and its business are two different factors.

"A film reaches its audience also from a digital platform, but as a filmmaker, when I am releasing a film theatrically, I want people to come to theatre to watch the film," he said.

Having made his debut as a film director with "Udaan", the story of a young small town boy in 2010, it is interesting to notice how his third film "Trapped" also revolves around the survival story of a young man stuck in an apartment of a high-rise.

Asked if he likes single character-driven stories, Motwane said: "I think I always like these kind of stories revolving around one character in different situations. As a creative person, it gives me a challenge to keep the audience engaged in the story."

Actor Rajkummar Rao, who plays the central character in "Trapped", went through tough preparation for his role.

Asked if he is a tough task master as a director, Motwane said: "No, nothing like that. He had to lose weight according to the demand of the situation of the story. Therefore, when I narrated it to Rajkummar, he knew it from the beginning that it is going to be a tough one.

"See, at the end of the day what matters the most is how it looks on screen."

"Trapped" released on March 17, and has been appreciated for its gripping screenplay and Rajkummar's performance.