New Delhi: Delhi-based casting director, Loveleen Tandon got a chance to go beyond her usual role with Slumdog Millionaire as she was the co-director of the film along with the legendary Danny Boyle. She is on seventh heaven since the film has won Golden Globe awards in all four categories for which it was nominated. But before she expresses her happiness, her phone’s caller tune says it all, Saathiya aaj muje neend nahin aayegi. The moment you ask her to respond, she sounds full of exuberance and says, “It’s really unexpected. I am extremely happy and credit goes to each and every member of the film. I never expected that Slumdog will get such a recognition. We all worked extremely hard, and it has paid off now.”
We ask her to name three most important things about the film that might have helped it win the awards, and she says, “First, the film is about underdogs and the story line is very special. Second is the director, Danny Boyle, who is such a unique professional and his ability to create such a wonderful film. And third is A R Rahman’s hard work. He has been an amazing music director and his work is fabulous in the film. Apart from this, I think everyone who was a part of the film, be it Anil Kapoor, Irfaan Khan or even those kids from the slums, has done an extraordinary job for the film.”
What if it had been an Indian director, would the achievement have more meaning for us? She is quick to respond, “Not at all. The film was shot in India and it has a huge Indian contrition. The subject is so close to our hearts. It’s a matter of great pride for all of us. It’s totally our achievement.”
She adds, “For me, it is a fully and totally Indian film! It is set here, it’s about our world and it feels apna. I think a lot of it comes from the fact that Danny embraced the script in a complete way. He wanted to tell the story as an insider. And I think he has succeeded in a way that’s inspiring to all of us in the film world who fear doing anything outside our familiar comfort zones.”
Lovleen dismisses all critics who accused the film of depicting Indian poverty to win awards, she says, “The film has not tried to glorify Indian poverty at all. It deals with a particular subject. It portrays a special subject in a realistic manner.”
Praising the acting of slum children, she says, “The whole challenge was to make those slum kids act in the film. And the way they have shown their work, it will put any adult actor today to shame. They are so natural.”
Being a casting director in the film she talks about what makes it so special and says, “It’s the most unusual cast ever. I had the best time looking for the three characters (Jamal, Salim and Latika) in three age groups, as nine people play three parts and all with almost equal screen time! So you see three six-year-old Bombay slum kids grow into 12-year-olds and then 18-year-olds. We found Dev Patel, the eldest Jamal, in London. Freida Pinto and Madhur Mittal are the eldest versions of Latika and Salim who we found right here in Mumbai and I’m really proud of their work in the film. And of the nine, two are real slum kids and most of the others, are first timers in film. Apart from these nine heroes of the script, I was thrilled to bring on board some of the most amazing talent from our industry Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Saurabh Shukla and Ankur Vikal. All greats. and they’ve made me look so good!”
And how did she select the lead characters of the film ? Answers she, “It was a phenomenal experience! I started casting the film in April 2007 and I think I must’ve been casting till the last day of shooting which was early this year that’s the number of characters in this film! But I have to say searching for the three key players in three different age groups, particularly at six and 12 years, was the most challenging part. They had to feel alike in so many ways but more than anything, in spirit.”