First Look of hindi film Life Express

July 14, 2010 - PRLog -- The Film:
“Life Express” is a film based on the dilemmas faced by two women from two different strata of society. It is a passionate and encapsulating story of an urban educated couple, Tanvi (Rituparna Sengupta) and Nikhil (Kiran Janjani), and their successful fast-paced life and their need for parenthood and it is also a story of Gouri (Divya Dutta) and Mohan(Yashpal Sharma), who live a life far from the din and bustle of the city, far from the one lived by Tanvi and Nikhil, and their need for wealth.

With ease the story moves from the busy streets of urban city to the desolate red-soiled dusty lanes of a rural India and brings to the fore-front the cross currents of human emotions and sentiments. It helps one understand motherhood in a way Indian films haven't showcased before. The film narrates a story never told in Hindi films. It sheds light on those mothers who have always remain in the dilemma of the cross road between materialistic aspirations and motherhood. “Life Express” is really an experience, a journey and challenges there in.

This story weaves a captivating soul searching story of woman’s need for motherhood and materialistic aspirations. This film also touches upon various facets of life in the real sense i.e. of love, hatred, relationships, responsibilities, defiance and greed. Will the Tanvi and Gouri achieve what they strive for? Or will the desire for materialistic needs overshadow even the greatest gift of motherhood…

The Director:
Anup Das created quite a flutter when he made Rickshawwalla, a 30 minute documentary feature on the lives of people who made their living through hand-pulled rickshaws in Kolkata. It was screened at a number of film festivals in India and abroad.  

Starting out his career as an account executive at a Kolkata based manufacturing unit, Anup was passionate about films and undertook training at the Calcutta University Film Study Centre. He joined Raja Sen, three times National award winning director from Bengal. Anup assisted Mr. Sen in a number of films. Anup has also directed Bengali tele-serials and documentaries with success.


Directors Note:
The idea of “Life Express” struck me when I was working for a business house in Kolkata. The work was a typical 10 to 5, far away from the glitz and charms of the arc lights of Bollywood. It also gave me enough time to delve in creative thinking and pursue my subdued aspiration i.e. making films. My routine was pretty much the same every day — Return home by 10 pm at night and share a few thoughts with my father and when the entire neighborhood slept I used to take note of my thoughts in my laptop.
At my office amidst the monotonous struggle of monthly targets, debits, credits and profit statements, I enjoyed my talks of the world with an elderly colleague. He mentioned of the growing middle class in India and how sections of our society have created an elite niche that was new to India. Many were women whose careers demanded constant adjustments in their personal lives. Even motherhood had to contend with career choices. He actually mentioned of a couple in his family, who had been married for over four years and were both extremely well placed in their careers, however, parenting had to wait for its right moment.

These sow the seed of thought in my mind for a concept and I began doing serious research work on the life of the elite middle class urban professionals. My efforts were directed to keeping a close tab on trends of work life balance, motherhood, medical innovation for parenthood and on surrogacy. One day I heard of Dr Patel in Anand, Gujarat, sharing his ideas on surrogacy. I was amazed to learn how surrogacy has been adopted in present day, both in India and abroad. It may sound clichéd but that was when I first began thinking of “Life Express”. Through all those hours of research work and many a re-writing, I was able to the plot a story titled “Life Express”, highlighting an issue that is of ever growing interest in the urban middleclass and in rural areas.

Driven by the success of my short film, Rickshawwalla, and motivation from mother I initiated the direction and filming the story.

“Life Express” is my debut feature film in Hindi.  I am very thankful to many of my friends and family members, who supported me in shaping a concept into reality.  I must also thank them for the patience and tolerance they exhibited as I struggled through the project. I hope the audience will find it both enjoyable and thought provoking.

The Maker:
Young, energetic and dynamic, Sanjay Kalate is a Pune based businessman with business interests in real estate, manufacturing of automobile parts and financial sector. Sky motion picture is not only his latest ventures, but also very close to his heart.

A film buff, Sanjay met Anup Das, the director of “Life Express”, through a common friend. He liked the story and offered to produce it. Thereafter, he set up Sky Motion Pictures with a plan to produce films on a regular basis under this banner. Sanjay has got together a group of talented and skilful people to manage and oversee his interests in film production.  Sky Motion Pictures will also produce films in other regional languages.

An avid reader and movie buff, Sanjay loves traveling. He stays in Pune with his architect wife and four and a half year old daughter.