New Delhi, Jan 17: All major OTT platforms rejected “Three of Us” that was released in theatres without any promotions before being finally bought by Netflix, says director Avinash Arun of his ode to childhood, relationships and memories.
Arun, whose film is winning plaudits for its loving portrayal of childhood and connections, says the story about a woman slowly descending into dementia, her husband and her school sweetheart is deeply personal for him and he lived with it for more than five years.
“All these years, I had this idea about building a film around a person whose memory is fading. My childhood was very close to me and I still visit those lanes, the village and the town. I keep wondering about the lives my friends are leading because these are important memories of your life,” Arun told PTI.
“The cinematographer-director, Arun, a film graduate, is counted among the most interesting voices to have emerged in cinema in recent times.
Childhood is a recurring theme in the filmmaker’s work. His streaming show, “School of Lies,” is set in a boarding school, while his 2015 Marathi debut, “Ishq,” is a story told through the eyes of a young boy.
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“Three of Us” revolves around Shaila, who returns to her childhood home in Maharashtra’s picturesque Vengurla town. Accompanied by her husband, the journey also leads her to her old school, classmates, and dance teacher.
Arun, who directed the first season of the massively popular series “School of Lies” as well as its upcoming second season, said there is a reason why he keeps returning to this theme.
“There is an emotional high you feel in childhood because your mind and senses are like a sponge. That’s why the experience is so intensified.”
“We don’t understand it at that time, but these moments shape us throughout our life. We try to reach out to that level of excitement, experience, and feeling. That’s why we get so nostalgic about the past because the intensity of memory is directly proportional to the intensity of an experience,” he said.
“Three of Us” was released in theaters in November before making its way to the streaming service Netflix. Arun, who was concerned about how the movie would be received, went through a period of struggle during its release.
“All major OTT platforms rejected the film. I was quite heartbroken. I knew that it would do well on OTT as it was dubbed as an arthouse film. In my opinion, it wasn’t because I knew that the audience is evolved, and they will appreciate a film like this,” he said.
The director said he is not new to such a struggle.
“‘Killa’ was also in the same space. I had to wait for the film’s release for a long time. ‘School of Lies’ helped me mount this film. You have to repeat yourself with success; then the probability of your next work happening increases,” he said, praising producers Matchbox Shots for trusting his vision with “Three of Us.”
Actor Shefali Shah was the first to board the movie. She had worked with Jaideep Ahlawat, her senior in “Paatal Lok,” but his name didn’t immediately click.” (PTI)
