A Little Cocky
Why did the rooster cross the road? The Bharde family can’t answer that question. But the family patriarch knows why he bought one as a pet. He wanted a toy for the household’s two cats, he says in Rishi Chandna’s delightful documentary short, Tungrus. Slated for a world premiere at Visions du Reel Festival in Nyon, Switzerland, on April 17 and then a screening at the HotDocs Festival in Canada, Tungrus centres on the rooster—whose lack of a name hints that he’s not quite “a full-fledged pet”, the director says. “There is affection for him but he is also a nuisance,” says Chandna.
One son is convinced the rooster hates him, and the two cats, Ginger and Garlic, have learned to stay out of its path. Through the course of 13 minutes, Chandna captures the sardonic wit of the family as they share their thoughts about the creature, which is seen flying, pecking, crowing and pooping. The film’s title comes from Naseeruddin Shah’s character in Mandi who is seen helplessly chasing a rooster much like Bharde does in the apartment to his wife’s bemusement.
Chandna came to know of the Bharde family through a friend and was interested in their unusual situation. During the course of his interactions with the family in 2016, he learned that Bharde had a far different take on the significance of the rooster than his family. “He grew up in a village so his idea of what a pet is always going to be different from that of his children, who have an urban sentimentality,” says Chandna.
“Different people can have different relations with pets and we need to accept that. What I’d like the viewer to take is the message of tolerance,” adds Chandna, who has directed corporate films and branded content under his banner Shoot Up Pictures.
Chandna and cinematographer Deepak Nambiar work well in the limited space as they follow the rooster’s movements and capture the family’s routine. “Our patience was put to test,” says Chandna. “With animals you have to be careful, intuitive and be very sensitive, otherwise they will freeze.”