Making short movies isn’t an easy task, especially in this competitive age when everyone is looking for fame and money; one needs to have something unique to stand out of the crowd. One such short-filmmaker is Jitendra Rai, who has developed a habit of conveying social messages portrayed in a way that they connect with the audience.
Rai interacted with us and shared his thoughts on filmmaking and how social media has been a boom for directors & writers like him.
About Jitendra Rai
Jitendra Rai is a social worker cum short filmmaker. With his works in popular short films like ‘Nanhi Neend’ ‘Cup of Tea’ & ‘Beardo the Portrait’, he has built an excellent reputation in the filmmaking community.
Before turning to short films, Jitendra gained experience from Vishal Bhardwaj and Amole Gupte while working as an assistant director in movies Stanley Ka Dabba, Hawaa Hawaai, and with Vishal Bhardwaj in Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola.
Talking about his skills, Jitendra’s earlier short film ‘Cup of Tea’ got selected in 106 Film Festivals and even won 24 awards worldwide. He is also a theatre personality, having shared screen space with Makrand Deshpande.
In addition to this, Jitendra has worked extensively with NGOs that are related to children’s issues. He is highly active in conducting theatre workshops with children in Aseema Charitable (NGO), Dhai Akshar (NGO), and Blind Association Center etc.
Let’s read what has to say about his journey so far.
Has social media helped you as a director and writer?
Yes, social media has given me a platform where I can deliver my work. If we talk about making movies professionally, it takes a lot of time, effort and money. With social media, directors like me can start early and improve according to the feedback they get. Also, it has made me focus more on quality, as the audience is hungry for fresh and original stories.
Considering the popularity my work in ‘Cup Of Tea’ got because of over 100 million views and 6 million shares on social media, I believe it has played a crucial part in my career.
Where did you get the idea of making ‘Cup of Tea’?
I come from a small village where education was not easily accessible and it was very difficult to reach school, as we had to walk several kilometers daily. Traveling across other parts of the country, I saw that even now, the situation hasn’t changed much. I wanted to contribute something with my work to empower education in rural India. Hence, the idea of making ‘Cup of Tea’ struck my mind.
What’s your advice to first-time short filmmakers?
According to me, story matters the most while making a short film. One should be very clear in the message he/she is trying to convey through the content. Stories that connect to the mass audience have more chances of going viral. Also, if you get a chance, try to spend time with the professionals working in filmmaking to gain knowledge about pre-production tasks.
The concepts behind your videos are always unique. Is it a deliberate attempt?
It’s about what fascinates or inspires me in my daily life. I can’t predict what surprises me and makes me write a script for something.
Are you a writer who prefers solitude while writing a script?
No! I can never imagine myself thinking about a story sitting solo. I only write if something clicks my mind. I pen down the things I like or any situation that makes me emotional and write a story according to what most people will feel in the same circumstances. If I am thrown into an isolated space, my mind gets stuck.
What is your future plan?
I don’t plan too much, but when it comes to feature films, my first will definitely be with kids. This is because I learned some of the important lessons about my work and life from kids. The script is almost ready, and very soon we will be pitching to studios.
