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| 'Champaran Mutton': What made a university student film make it to the semi-finals of the Oscars |
'Champarn Mutton' is a film based on the struggle of a poor family in this era of unemployment, in which a husband buys a kilo of mutton (goat meat) for eight hundred rupees to meet his wife's demand.
In this era of inflation, mutton is being prepared at home and suddenly guests come and threaten, what will happen? And what if the people of the neighborhood also reach their houses to taste the mutton.
Champaran Mutton is a film made amidst this economic and social tension. The film is produced by Ranjan Uma Krishnakumar, who is studying directing at the Film and Television Institute, Pune.
As his final semester study project, he made this 24-minute film in the 'Bajika' language of the northern state of Bihar.
Bajika is the dialect of Muzaffarpur and the surrounding districts near Patna, the capital of Bihar.
Journey to the semi-finals in 'Oscar'
Many people have appreciated this movie. The film has reached the semi-finals of Oscar's Student Academy Award in the 'Narrative Category'. The Student Academy Award is given in four different categories.
A total of three FTII films were submitted for the Oscars this year, but only Champaran Mutton was shortlisted for the competition.
The Student Academy Award is given to films by students studying filmmaking at the Film Training Institute. This award is being given since 1972.
More than 2400 films were submitted for this category from all over the world. 'Champarn Mutton' has reached the top 17 films till the semi-final. His award is expected to be announced by October.
'Champaran Mutton' is the story of the relationships and struggles of an ordinary family. The film has been shot in Baramati, Maharashtra. The shooting of the film has been completed in a month.
Ranjan Kumar explains that he wanted the smell of spring soil in the film. This film is a diploma film of five students. FTII does not pay much for such films.
According to Ranjan, he has incurred a loan of one lakh rupees for making the film.
This film is a satire on the system.
'Champarn Mutton' is famous for the mutton cooked specially in the Champaran region of Bihar. It is cooked in a clay pot on low heat.
Many hotels and restaurants of this mutton are seen not only in Bihar but also in different parts of India. Mutton lovers can associate this film with a non-vegetarian dish.
The director of this film Ranjan Kumar himself belongs to the Hajipur area of Bihar. Through his film, he satirized the social and political system of the country.
Ranjan Kumar explains: 'If I say in one word, the theme of this film is unemployment. This is a post-Covid story where someone loses their job due to the lockdown.
According to Ranjan, the hero of the film has married for love. His wife is from the Champaran region. She is pregnant and expresses her desire to eat mutton.
According to Ranjan, he got the inspiration for this film from a true incident. Once he suddenly arrived at a relative's house at Danapur near Patna, where mutton was being cooked.
At the same time, a Sanasha doctor also reached there and then the smell of mutton invited the neighbors too. The film tells what can happen to a family in such a situation who has bought expensive mutton with difficulty.
Chandan Roy and Falak Khan are the main actors in this film. Around 10 artists from Bihar have been roped in for this film to give a true look at Bihar in the film.
The main artists did not take money
Chandan Roy himself hails from Hajipur in Bihar and his performance in the popular web series 'Panchayat' has been highly appreciated. Chandan played the role of Vikas in 'Panchayat'.
Chandan Roy told the BBC: 'These are student films, for which FTII does not pay much. I didn't take money for it. The film is in Bijika which is my own language and the director Ranjan is also from Hajipur. Just knowing this, I agreed to act.
According to Chandan, he took the initiative to support a student. The story of this movie was very good but never thought that 'Champaran Mutton' will go so far at the Oscars.
Falak Khan, the main heroine of Champaran Mutton, says: “Ranjan Sir was our senior in engineering. When I got his call, I loved the story as an artist. Its name is also unique and attractive. There was much to perform in his story.'
Falak Khan says that glamorous roles are more common as a heroine but she got a different role in this film. His look is also very different in the film.
Falak has worked in many films before but according to her, the story of 'Champarn Mutton' seems completely true. His performance in this film has been highly appreciated.
Says Falak: “There is a scene where I am angry and my husband Chandan cheers me on by pressing my feet. I shake them and say, "Leave me, I will kill you." This scene is very funny and has been appreciated by many people.
'Many things cannot be brought to light
Ranjan Kumar says: “My mother herself is from Champaran and I used to see how difficult it was to cook mutton at home. It is very expensive here. From here I got the idea that a film should be made on it.
The film is currently with the Oscars and according to the Oscar rules, many things about it cannot be made public. But Ranjan has high hopes for this film made as a student.
According to Ranjan, he has tried to make this film better on the basic principles. He has done a good job at every level and he hopes that the film should get some awards.
The film also attracted the attention of veteran Darbhanga actress Meera Jha. Meera Jha has been associated with All India Radio for a long time and has also acted in several local films.
Initially, she was not ready for it but after hearing Bijika's story she went to Pune without a confirmed ticket. Meera Jha plays the hero's grandmother in the film.
Meera Jha loved the story of how people make ends meet in unemployment and poverty.
Many people from Bihar have contributed not only in front of the camera but also behind the film.
Whether or not the film will receive an award will be decided in the next few weeks, but for now, the film is definitely garnering praise and headlines.