Anubhav Sinha, Ketan Mehta, Sudhir Mishra, Hansal Mehta, Subhash Kapoor join hands for an anthology on COVID-19

Filmmakers Anubhav Sinha, Ketan Mehta, Sudhir Mishra, Hansal Mehta and Subhash Kapoor are joining hands to tell stories of the COVID-19 pandemic with an anthology. The short films will be produced by Sinha’s production company Benares Mediaworks.

Sinha told the daily Mumbai Mirror that the idea to make a film struck him when he was helping Mishra find a bed for his driver who had COVID-19.

"Uss raat mere dimaag mein aaya ki humein usko document karna chahiye [That night it occurred to me that we should document this]," Sinha said to the daily. "And what better way to do it than different filmmakers looking at different things? Sudhir bhai ke pitaji ki death hui COVID period mein [Sudhir's father died during this period]. We lost Irrfan – aur hum Irrfan ke janaaze par bhi nahi jaa paye [and we couldn't even go to his funeral during the lockdown]. Nikloon ki nahi nikloon… [Should I go out or not?] Tigmanshu ko police se jhagda karna pada – he said main toh jaaonga, bhai hai mera! [Tigmanshu fought with the police. He said, I will go, he is my brother]"

"Yeh saari cheezein disturbing thi [All these things were disturbing]. Mujhe laga inko record karna chahiye [I thought these should be recorded]. Maine phir baat kari sab doston se [I spoke to all my friends] – and they all said haan yaar karte hain [yes, let's do it]. And that's how the idea behind it began to formalise. This seemed like a good collaboration for all of us. There's one story by Subhash, one by Hansal, one by Sudhir bhai, one probably by Ketan. These are the filmmakers that I believe the so-called 'Bollywood' has largely ignored," he continued.

The filmmaker also wanted Anurag Kashyap to be a part of this anthology but he is already starting another big project. Sinha said the shorts will tell the stories from the pandemic which began in the country in March.

"Hansal's story is quite comic and quite tragic," the Thappad (2020) director said of the stories that will make up the anthology. "Sudhir bhai's is political, quite political. Subhash's is also political, but in a different way. I am still struggling with my story – I want to tell an atmospheric story, which is about fear. I live on the 20th floor and I can see a very large expanse of Mumbai from my window. It has suddenly started looking like a deserted, dead city. And Ketan is saying 'main dekh ke batata hoon' [I will see and tell you] (laughs)."

Mehta added, ""We have been meeting virtually very often during this lockdown. In one of our virtual parties, Anubhav came up with this idea of chronicling this extraordinary time in history through this anthology of short films. I jumped at the idea. I think I was the first among our entire group to submit a script! I'm ready to begin shooting next week. It will be exciting to have like minded directors with diverse styles tell their stories."

Meanwhile, Kapoor felt sharing stories from the lockdown was important. "The world has not seen anything like this ever before, it’s crucial to chronicle this period and explore stories around, I look forward to this journey with like minded friends," he said.

"We will all hopefully be able to start shooting by November," Mishra said. "If someone has to shoot indoors, then that is easier. But if the story demands outdoor shots, crowds – which you assume a political story will – then we have to see till what time that becomes possible."