Thaindian News

Aamras is a coming of age youth film about friendship among four young 17-18 year old urban schoolgirls- Jiya, Pari, Rakhi and Sanya. In an interview with the director of the film- Rupali Guha, we find out Aamras promises to be beyond the run-of-the-mill chick lit drama…
Is the film based on your personal experiences?
There are two kinds of people on this earth– One who are blessed to have that special friend (or friends) since childhood in their lives– and the other who are without friends. I belong to the latter.
So, where did you draw inspiration to make a film on friends?
My daughter who is all of 12 has this group of friends for the past few years and it is interesting to watch her handle and balance the eleven girls who are part of the group.”Aamras” took birth thanks to Jona, my daughter, and her group.
Why did you choose this subject?
Having been a loner during most of my formative years– I have always yearned to be a part of a group and envy all those who have been friends since childhood. But by the time the realization seeped in, it was too late. Friendship formed during childhood and teenage years are the most pure, innocent and innocuous. Within a nuclear family, parents can help a child imbibe culture, values, ethics, morality but the feelings of attachment, bonding, sharing, trust– comes through friends. Or that’s how I see it.
Tell us something about the story of the film.
“Aamras” the coming-of-age film is the story of four friends- Jiya, Pari, Rakhi and Sanya. They all come from varied background but attend one of the most prestigious schools in Mumbai. Uniform, discipline, order allows an atmosphere of equality that harbors friendship. The four would anything for one another. But a small misunderstanding creates a rift. The social and economic difference in their background adds to the rift. How the 4 solve their differences and get back to being friends forms the story.
As a director, what did you keep in mind while shooting for the film?
The film is shot mainly in actual locations. An attempt has also been made to use artists (for the 4 main protagonist roles) who are within the age of 20. Their slight lack of confidence, their edginess lends support to the imagery. The lyrics of the four songs have been written keeping the teenager in mind. Their angst, their cravings for freedom, has been an intrinsic part.
Are you targeting a specific group of audience for your film to strike a chord with?
The subject would (hopefully) ensure an audience among the urban youth- who remain the maximum viewers in the recently increasing multiplexes. The film would also find an audience internationally, as youth going through teenage problems is a universal subject. The faces differ, the language differs but emotions and situations remain global in nature.
Among the four girls in the film, whose character do you identify with, and why?
Jiya, Pari, Rakhi, Sanya- found happiness in friendship- found joy in togetherness, and discovered themselves, when they were apart. Friends inadvertently help one another in growing up. I identify with all of them, as there is a little bit of me in all the characters.
-Sampurn Media