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'Deham will not appeal to the masses'

Priyanka Bhattacharya

Hey, you are looking quite cute..."

The smile that lit Joy Sengupta's face resembled a 100-watt bulb, "Hey, thanks man," said the ganji-lungi clad actor. "You're the first one who's been complimentary. Otherwise, these guys here have called me everything from a fisherman to a butcher to a beggar!"

Sengupta was on a small, hot, crowded set at Rajkamal Kalamandir Studio, Parel, Bombay, preparing for the muhurat shot of director Govind Nihalani's new film, Deham.

Nihalani does not seem the least bit dampened by the failure of Thakshak, his first attempt at commercial cinema. He is back in his element -- off-beat cinema. "Deham is inspired by Manjula Padmanabhan's award-winning play, Harvest," says the chubby Nihalani, who has written the screenplay as well. Deham, which is the Sanskrit word for body, revolves around the horrifying business of selling human organs.

The basic plot revolves around Om (Joy Sengupta), a middle-class man married to Jaya (Kitu Gidwani). The other members of the family include his brother, Jeetu (Aly Khan), and mother (Surekha Sikri). "The theme is slightly futuristic," explains Nihalani. "It's set somewhere in the 2020s. An important aspect of the film is the merging of the futuristic setting with the present day characters."

Nihalani was clear that he was looking for actors primarily known for their talent and their work in theatre. "I am not really interested in their commercial value," says Nihalani. "Deham is meant strictly for the elite, it will not appeal to the masses."

Most of the film will be shot at Rajkamal and Nihalani, whose credits for the film also include producer and cinematographer, expects to wrap it up by the end of August.

At the moment, though, the final preparations for the muhurat shot are complete. Sengupta was comfortably snuggled in bed with Gidwani, who had a look of mock askance on her face. "Look," she laughed, "at the kind of scene I've got for a muhurat shot."

The set -- a recreation of a chawl, complete with the characteristic yellow light -- was so crowded that the lead actors refused to get out of bed even for the breaking of the customary coconut. Then, at the sound of the clapper board and, "Deham, scene 1, muhurat shot," Sengupta leaned over Gidwani and started kissing her passionately. Kitu's response was equally passionate. Until the camera froze on them and Nihalani yelled, "Cut." A quick distangle of arms and emotions and a perfect muhurat shot was in the cans.

Jubilation, mithai, and the cast was back in business -- they had two more scenes to film before they could call it a day!