Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 11, 2015)

Chandan Roy Sanyal is ready with a 27-minute short, 35 mm, inspired by one of his favourite films, the 1959 Kaagaz Ke Phool. There are plans to spin the beautiful love story inspired by Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman's reel life romance, into a full-length feature film.

"Neeraj Kabi plays a filmmaker named Guru and like in the original, falls in love with his protegee, played by Priyanka Bose. I have given the film my own twist," informs Chandan, admitting to being inspired by Guru Dutt, Bimal Roy and Raj Kapoor. "That was the golden era of Hindi cinema and our film is a homage to them."

The idea has been with him for a while but the logistics weren't working out. Then, one night, while enjoying a drink with his actor-friend Vikrant Massey he discussed the story with him and he agreed to produce it with Nivedita Basu. "It's a great script and I love good stories. So when Chandan shared it with me I instantly came on board," says Vikrant.

Chandan initially wanted to cast Adil Hussain and Raima Sen in the lead but due to date issues that didn't work out. "Then I approached Neeraj who loved the script. He had seen my earlier short, Hiroshima, and liked the way I narrated a story. We shot in Varanasi and Mumbai in July during the rains, he has done a fabulous job," beams the writer-director, who has already begun scripting the feature film and hopes to finish by January end. "Neeraj and Priyanka will star in that one too, and I want a score like those of Rajnigandha and Chhoti Si Baat."

Meanwhile, the short will do the festival rounds before releasing online late next year.