Tune into new-age films that address relevant issues
We spoke to Vikram Mehra, MD, Saregama India, about Yoodlee Films, a production company that intends to cater different kinds of films for the younger audience. Excerpts...
What genre of films does Yoodlee Films want to produced? Will new and upcoming filmmakers and actors he given a chance?
We don’t limit ourselves to a genre but we do limit ourselves to an aesthetic: our films are deeply rooted in reality, with zero escapism. Moreover, our scripts probe uncompromisingly into themes that are important to audiences today. We stand for fearless filmmaking. In our selection of directors, we are not driven so much by their resume but by their passion. We look for filmmakers who are dying to get their story to the world. For actors, we want to have people who suit the role.
What is the lineup of films for this year?
Yoodlee will release one film every month in theatres. Our intention is to create a community of cinema lovers and then keep them satiated. We launch on September 1 with Brij Mohan Amar Rahe, a satirical comedy about karma. Followed by Abi and Anu — a bilingual Tamil/ Malayalam film.
You have a unique revenue sharing arrangement with your creative team...
We want to create a healthy environment to make such films, and deem it fair to share the upside with the talent. We have set aside a fixed 30% of the profits from each film which is to be shared with the key creative talents in each film. Again, this harkens back to the legacy of Saregama, where we have been regularly paying royalties to musicians and their families.