Showing posts with label Richie Mehta interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Richie Mehta interview. Show all posts
Poacher is a non polarizing issue; nobody wants to see an elephant get shot in the head-Richie Mehta
2:27 PM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; June 18, 2024)
Five years after Delhi Crime, Richie Mehta returned with another web series this year – Poacher, a wildlife crime story based on real-life heroes. At the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF), Richie Mehta spoke about why he chose to narrate these stories of real-life heroes.
“Delhi Crime was very important to me, especially as an NRI. It’s a very low-hanging fruit for someone like me to observe a problem in India and then highlight it. I think it’s actually bullsh*t; it’s not my right to do that. I’m benefiting as an NRI, in an environment like Canada, where I can set my sights on something and achieve it. So, for me, it’s like I owe it to give back to this place. If I can take stories where the world has certain prejudices against India and turn them on their head to showcase the best of humanity, then I’ll do that. That’s what Delhi Crime was about and that’s what Poacher was about.”
‘ENTERTAINMENT IS A MEANS TO AN END’
Richie shared that after watching Poacher, people have been calling him to say they were unaware of how their grandmother had that bangle or a piece of decor carved from ivory in their house. Talking about why he decided to make the series, Richie said, “Without getting into controversy, we live in a very polarizing world. Poacher, however, was an issue that was non-polarizing. Nobody wants to see an elephant get shot in the head. I saw this and thought there are people who seem to be working tirelessly (to stop poaching).”
In response to a question on whether crime is his favourite genre, Richie shared, “I’m not much of a true crime person. I don’t watch true crime shows, although there are films that I’ve seen and really loved. I am using true crime as a device to talk about things that might not otherwise be interesting to the audience. So I am using every trick in the entertainment book to reach them.”
He added, “Personally, I believe that entertainment is a means to an end, not the end itself. That is not to say there aren’t wonderful films out there, which I also enjoy watching, but that’s not something I want to do. I would much rather do corporate videos for NGOs than make a film that I don’t like.”
‘AFTER DELHI CRIME I HAD LEVERAGE, AND I DECIDED TO USE IT ON WILDLIFE CRIME’
Richie shared that among the projects he is currently working on there is a tiger trail story. Doesn’t he want to tell human stories, he was asked. “These are human stories; animals are not watching these shows. The amount of human drama involved is astounding. It’s incomprehensible what human beings are capable of, and there are people working to stop those crimes. I’m interested in very big stories that get to the heart of what we are capable of as a species. My journey is taking me to all sorts of places. I’ll be very lucky if I get to keep going.”
Richie shared that after Delhi Crime, he was offered hundreds of crime stories, military stories, big-budget stories. But he said no to all of them. “I thought, I have leverage, and I’m going to use it on wildlife crime. Let’s run with it and see what happens. I’m a big believer in taking that gamble when I’m in that position.”
Elaborating further on his choice of the stories, Richie said, “I have ten projects now, working on different things most of them are wildlife-related… As an NRI, I am not interested in telling local stories because local filmmakers can tell them better.”
‘I love researching and writing a lot, I don’t want to give it up’
Richie said that he has never used a writer’s room for any of his projects. “I have witnessed writer’s rooms before, and sometimes it’s dangerous because it is so much fun. It’s very easy to lose your way. At the end of the day, you might think it was the best creative experience, but a month later, you realize you’re far off from the point you started and are in a different world now. I think writer’s rooms are most successful with comedy because the intention of comedy is a kind of sophisticated diversion. I love researching and writing a lot, and I don’t want to give it up.”
Delhi Crime is not about the crime, but about the people who are trying to solve it-Richie Mehta
8:11 AM
Delhi Crime's Canadian director Richie Mehta responds to detractors who questioned how a series, rooted in 2012 Delhi gang rape, could be 'moment of pride' for India
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; November 30, 2020)
He may have earned a place in the hall of fame last week, but Richie Mehta says little has changed since. "I am the same person with holes in my socks, and undying love for croissants. Nothing has changed after the win; there is only gratitude," begins the creator-director of Delhi Crime, which was adjudged the Best Drama Series at the 48th International Emmy Awards.
Take him back to the big night, and Mehta vividly remembers the tension in the air — he was in a digital waiting room and led into the virtual awards ceremony only seconds before the presenter announced those two magical words, "Delhi Crime", as the winner. "It took a moment to sink in," says the Canadian writer-director, who is based in London. A spree of congratulatory calls followed. "The first call came from my parents, followed by another from my in-laws. Then we celebrated over calls with the producers, cast and crew. When I called Shefali [Shah], she was still going OMG!" Later in the night, wife Olivia and he celebrated with chocolate cookies.
In the past few days, a section of netizens wondered how the country could be celebrating the Emmy win of the series, which has its roots in the 2012 Delhi gang rape that shook the nation. Some social media users were upset that 'incidents of the horrific night' have become 'a moment of pride' for India. Mehta says, "I don't understand how people can say this. Either they have not watched Delhi Crime or misunderstood it. The series is not about the crime, but about the people, particularly the women, who are trying to solve it. It is about human beings fighting the crime on the frontlines. Since the first episode is important to hook the audience, I delved into the back-story of the characters."
The second season of the crime drama is lined up, but Mehta chooses to keep it hush-hush. He is currently developing a couple of scripts, inspired by real-life incidents. "I will continue to write on subjects I find relevant, even though I enjoy watching fun stuff." He acknowledges that the tag of Emmy winner is making him work harder on his scripts. "Earlier, I would have at least 40-50 drafts, but now I spend more time on the research and outline."
Delhi Crime had six years of work put into it, more than any other series at that time-Richie Mehta
8:11 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 30, 2020)
Richie Mehta can’t stop smiling ever since he heard that his directorial, Delhi Crime, won an International Emmy for the Best Drama Series. “It felt amazing and also shocking when it was announced. Since then, congratulations have been pouring in from all sides and every waking hour has been spent speaking to family, friends and well-wishers. In 2020, when there are so many other things on one’s mind, this was pleasant,” says Mehta.
The show has got recognition and acclaim on many other international platforms but an International Emmy is special for him. “An award like this means Indian talent and the messaging we want to discuss within the country and internationally is being received well. An International Emmy, to me, represents that we are in the global market and that Indian content has a big seat at the table,” he explains.
While the viewers loved the performances, story, direction and writing of the show, Mehta admits that what helped the most was the four years of research that he put in.
He shares, “Sometimes, you are lucky to work in a project that seemed to come together at every stage. It helped to have four years of prep and writing in solitude. As a result, when the show launched in March 2019, it had six years of work put into it, more than any other series at that time. There is a lot of gestation in the story and the reasons why the show should exist. I put in a lot of scrutiny on why I should do the show.”
The Netflix show was about the aftermath of the 2012 Delhi gang rape case, which starred Shefali Shah, Rasika Dugal, Adil Hussain and Rajesh Tailang among others.
The show’s win has been warmly welcomed by most but there have been reactions on social media with some people feeling that the awards celebrated a show that was about a terrible crime.
Mehta doesn’t agree. He says, “Delhi Crime is not a show about a terrible crime but how the people fought and solved the crime. Had the show been about the crime, I would have shown it, which to me is un-showable. The cops who solved the crime need to be celebrated, especially the women officers, who have so much strength.”
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