Agneya Singh, whose directorial debut M Cream traces a road trip journey of four friends, in search of a mythical drug, says the narrative highlights several facets of younger generation living in India, today.
“It was first at the University of Delhi that I had noticed how the younger generation was frustrated because of unemployment, despite the fact that India was being projected as a land of opportunities. Since I have not studied from the university, it was through my friends that I got to know about the challenges they faced and understood their fears,” Singh tells Metrolife.
“Also, in the past five years, I have personally noticed the rise of rebellious attitude among youngsters because of the resurgence of radicalism. The film tries to highlight this aspect through the protagonists’ journey,” says Singh, who studied from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
According to the 27-year-old filmmaker, the film doesn’t glorify the use of drugs and is, instead, aimed at initiating a discourse on the subject which is still considered a taboo in the society.
“Cinema holds a mirror to reality. Filmmakers should never shy away from approaching subjects that are considered taboos because through our artistic and creative vision we can showcase what is actually happening in the society,” he says, adding the film has been screened at over 30 international film festivals.
The film stars Imaad Shah, Ira Dubey and Tom Alter in the main role. Singh says that he was clear from the beginning that he didn’t want to feature any star in the movie. “I wanted the focus to be on the story,” he says, adding that the film is shot at different locations in Himachal Pradesh.
He also says the film, which was released in selected theatres across India on July 22, will resonate with people of all age groups. “The film is a meditation between activism and rebellion, something everyone faces in their 20s,” he says.
Published 02 August 2016, 16:02 IST