Director Vivek Anchalia and actor Amit Sial answered a few queries as their film "Tikdam” just premiered on Jio Cinema. The film is appealing both to adults and children, a clean family film that can be watched by people of all age groups, sitting in the same room.
On the intriguing story of “Tikdam”
Amit Sial: Tikdam is a story about a loving father who has two small kids and his parents, all living in a very quaint little town. Shot in Uttarakhand, the film deals with emotional turbulence of the father in leaving behind his kids and parents, to migrate to a bigger city in search of a livelihood. The hotel in which he used to work is shut down due to havoc wreaked by climate change. The intriguing story depicts the whole pain and how the kids apply tikdam with all the tricks in their bag.
The film reminds of real-life situation in the wake of dearth of jobs. So how do you look at this situation in the film?
Director Vivek Anchalia: We look at it in a very realistic point of view. What are those salaries? There’s no end to them. But there is some point of salary that would take care of the family, what is that - is he struggling for a lakh? No, he’s not, he’s struggling for the basics - if the kid wants a shoe so he can buy that, if a daughter wants a dress, he can buy that those are the basic things. So we are looking at livelihood from the very basics of what a family needs. Sometimes it’s got to do with climate, sometimes with socioeconomic structures, your skillset, a lot of all that was combined and put into the film. A lot of people have no option but to come to the city. This is the story of people who do not have big dreams. Like, I came to the city to be a filmmaker, that’s a different thing. A lot of people travel because they have no choice.
Tell us about your journey and also about your stint in OTT
Amit Sial: Sometimes, I do act for OTT, but that is also very subjective. I get paid well. I think I am an expensive actor. My life can be divided into two parts, before being an actor and after establishing as an actor. Earlier, I was just scrounging for survival tactics. It has been a rollercoaster life, but very fruitful, very satisfying, really magical journey. I like feeling that magic all the time in my life. I would like to answer in a nutshell, I think all of us know life is not going to be easy. I have no regrets.
Director Vivek Anchalia: One thing that I think is great about our jobs is it is different every day. We meet so many people, we hear so many stories. I mean, listening to stories and getting paid for it is a great job. Telling stories and getting paid for it is a great job. So, I truly believe that our industry is one of the most privileged industries. We have that kind of a privilege that we are getting to do what we want to do and we are getting paid for it also.
On the parting note, what do you want to tell the audience?
Amit Sial: I would only want to say this is a very special film. It is releasing on August 23 on Jio Cinema. Please do watch it. After a long time, this is a film which you can sit with your entire family, friends and watch it. You can show the movie to even your extended family and neighbours. Sadak se bhi pakad ke dikha sakte ho. It is a clean, simple, family-oriented film.
Director Vivek Anchalia: About the love between fathers and their kids and family. I think it will make you cry, laugh, and think. So please tune into Jio Cienma on August 23. When we went to a film festival, one of the comments every third person passed was: “Now, we have to choose what film we have to see with our parents and kids. It is a very clean film. All of you sit together on the sofa. Like how we used to do in the olden days and watch our film on August 23.”
