Guneet Monga, the Oscar-winning producer of “The Elephant Whisperers”, recently spoke about her approach to filmmaking and the importance of staying true to the story. Monga, who has produced critically acclaimed films such as “The Lunchbox” and “Pagglait”, stated that she never backs a film with the intent of winning an award, but rather focuses on the authenticity of the story.
Monga emphasized that every film has its own journey, and making content for an award is not the goal. Instead, it’s all about falling in love with the story and telling it with honesty. For Monga, filmmaking is a labor of love that takes three to four years to complete, and it’s essential to stay committed to the story throughout the process.
During a press conference for her upcoming film “Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery”, Monga further elaborated on her approach. She stated that awards and rewards are not under anyone’s control and that all they can do is be honest with the story they are telling. Monga’s goal is to create content that is worth the audience’s time and never takes their attention for granted.
“Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery” follows the story of Mahima, a small-town police officer, on a mission to find two missing jackfruits. Monga described the film as “special,” and it stars Sanya Malhotra in the lead role, with Rajpal Yadav, Vijay Raaz, and Anant Joshi in supporting roles.
Malhotra, who also starred in “Pagglait,” expressed her excitement about working on the film and playing the role of a cop. She described it as a challenge and was pleased to meet real cops during her preparation for the role.
Yadav, who plays a journalist in the film, initially didn’t take the project seriously but was amazed by the script after going through the prep and trial process. He stated that he was fortunate to have been part of the film and credited Monga, Ektaa R Kapoor, and Netflix for having a great sense of script.
Overall, Monga’s approach to filmmaking emphasizes the importance of staying true to the story and creating content that is worth the audience’s time. Her commitment to honesty and authenticity has earned her numerous accolades, including an Academy Award.