Of Success Stories and a Goat

In conversation with filmmaker Janaki Viswanathan

There is a goat named Shah Rukh. And no, film actors aren’t being passive aggressive by naming their pets after each other. Shah Rukh, the goat, is part of Chennai-based filmmaker’s upcoming Bollywood movie Yeh Hai Bakrapur. “It’s got nothing to do with actor Shah Rukh Khan,” Janaki Viswanathan says with a laugh. “The story revolves around a goat, so we had to give him a catchy name.” On a lighter note, Janaki also adds that she had a huge crush on Shah Rukh Khan during her college days.

Yeh Hai Bakrapur is the National Award-winning director’s Bollywood debut. The movie is touted to be socio-political satire set against the rural milieu, highlighting the relationship between eight-year-old Zulfi and his pet goat. “It also touches upon those complex society beliefs and conflicts that follow subsequently,” she says. But what made her choose a goat for her story? “A few years ago, I read a newspaper report on an unusual goat that inspired me to do this story,” she adds.

The 90-minute film has three songs composed by a Mumbai-based rock music band Agnee. Shot in the scenic locales of Bidar, Latur and Karnataka, the crew took 45 days to complete shooting. While the film has already made the festival circuits – being screened at both the 2013 Mumbai International Film Festival and the 37th Goteborg International Film Festival – but Janaki says that she’s focused neither on awards nor  on film festivals. "I didn’t even want to be a filmmaker. My dreams had a lot to do with creative writing."

The director takes pride in her individuality.  “I’m proud that I always tried to improve myself. My films do not have established stars, technicians or peppy numbers, but what keeps me going is my confidence. Thanks to my family,” she says candidly. “I have not made money, but I am satisfied,” she says, talking about her films that have made quite an impact all over the world.

The 2001 film Kutty, which won the National Award was about child labour, while her second movie Kanavu Meipada Vendum focused on the plight of the Devadasi women. Janaki has another film in her kitty right now – Thalaivar Varugirar Barrack. “It’s an unconventional funny film about a fictional village in Tamil Nadu and the connection the rural community believes it shares with the US president Obama,” says Janaki. Completed two years ago, the film will hit theatres next year.

(The piece was originally written for The New Indian Express)