MUMBAI: Anurag Basu is back to learning the very basics of his trade. Not that the director has enrolled in any film school, but is trying out the new medium of ads to wield his directorial baton.
Tired after shooting for two consecutive days, Basu tells Businessofcinema.com, "Who said shooting advertisements is simple? It is very tough. As a director I have told a story in two hours for films, across 500 episodes for television and for theatre. But to tell a story in 30 seconds is a mighty tall task."
Anurag has just recently ventured into making commercials. The man who shot to fame as the director of the hit saas bahu television show, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and films like Murder and Life… in a Metro, is seeing his first handiwork on television with the Bonbon ad.
Basu explains, "I hate interferences in my script and seldom make changes. But in the ad world, you have to learn about market trends, listen to clients and handle agency dictates. I find that to be very tedious. With so many people adding their bits, the commercial can never be your baby. But I am learning."
Anurag is currently shooting with the Indian captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni in Mumbai for an international sports goods company. Post that, the director will be back to the editing studio where he is mixing the audio for his latest film, Kites starring Hrithik Roshan, Kangana Ranaut and Barbara Mori.
