The entertainment landscape has seen some extraordinary content over the last couple of years. With the advent of the OTT platforms and the internet, creativity knows no bounds today. The latest content to have piqued our curiosity is Phoga Aur Munni, which talks about gender discrimination the younger lot goes through, day in, day out. So what prompts a subject like this to come up at a time when the audience has become critical of what is up for grabs.
To share it all, we have with us Jaidev Mishra, the content creator & screenplay writer behind Phoga Aur Munni. In an exclusive interview with Friday Brands’ Sushant Gupte, he spills the beans on this project and beyond.
What prompted you to take up a subject like Phoga Aur Munni, which people might think of as cliche and that too at a time when there is too much commercialization taking place within the entertainment industry?
Phoga Aur Munni were born after Shalakha of SOA, Leena and I sat down to discuss the discrimination in the name of gender and how it is forcing young minds to make choices. These messages that young adults are being constantly bombarded are forcing them to make choices, which they are not equipped to handle. SOA couldn’t reach out to every young adult to counsel them. The medium we chose was films, and the message had to be non-aggressive and yet respecting the freedom of choices that a young adult makes.
Are the characters of Phoga Aur Munni inspired by real life?
Look around; you’ll see a Phoga and Munni everywhere and all around you. From high-rises to chawls, they exist everywhere, struggling with burdens and expectations.
Any instance from the movie which you will remember for the longest time.
Oh! My ‘Stan Lee’ moment, when I had to step up to play Chandu Seth, who fires Phoga. I remember every second of that filming. I still have that baniyaan with the hole I am wearing for the shot. Phoga told me to go all out, and that also brought the best in him. Do you know it was a one-take OK. Leena wanted it to be natural and refused a second take saying, she got what she wanted.
Your experience of working with Leena Yadav.
Amazing, inspiring person. Never saw her lose her temper and open to listening and discussing with you everything. I am amazed at her energy levels and her clarity of vision.
What are your takeaways from the project, and how is the experience with Phoga Aur Munni going to shape up your future writings?
Having lived the lives of Phoga and Munni, changed me. I don’t know how it’ll affect my writing. Phoga and Munni is the true image of our future, and I sincerely hope they get a larger life. As for me, these two little characters, have left an indelible mark on me.
Where do we see Jaidev Mishra from here? Please share something on your upcoming projects.
I am an accidental writer; my first story outline was written in a newspaper, on a humid hot summer day, with a sketch pen. Wrote 3 full-length feature film scripts, with a female as a protagonist. These protagonists have deep flaws and are caught in an undesirable situation that they have to negotiate. The scripts are akin to fast-paced thrillers. Have two stories that are comedies- slice of life, clean but absurd plots. A couple of the scripts are under discussion with two directors/ production houses, fingers crossed.
