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Shyam P. Madiraju directed the excellent feature 55, a modern-day adaptation of Oliver Twist set in Mumbai. With that interesting premise, the feature should not have taken years to release. But that has been 55’s fate, and Madiraju talked to Deepest Dream about the long road in getting the film towards release. The movie, which stars Emraan Hashmi and Rizwan Shaikh is now out on VOD and comes highly recommended from this reviewer. Along with delivering an insightful look into 55, Madiraju also dives into his passion for fellow filmmakers Ingmar Bergman and Robert Bresson. Check out our full interview below!
An unfinished cut of 55 (which was previously titled Harami) entered in 2020 for the Busan Film Festival. “Sadly that gamble didn’t pay off,” said Shyam P. Madiraju. “If anything, it actually hurt us because we couldn’t enter it later to any other festival after that and it languished for a very long time.”
It was Ridley Scott and his Scott Free productions that threw their hat into the ring and helped Madiraju secure the remaining funds. “”In my opinion, (it) maybe made the whole journey all worth it because when the Godzilla of filmmaking calls and tell you that you’re not half as bad (at) making films, it’s the ultimate compliment you can get.”
The narrative centers on a 16-year-old pickpocket (Rizwan Shaikh) in Mumbai who feels remorse after one of his victims commits suicide. Determined to make amends, he ingratiates himself into the life of the victim’s daughter. While helping this young woman, 55 (pickpockets are identified by a number and not a name) alienates himself from his fellow pickpockets, leading to an inevitable confrontation with his boss Sagar (Emraan Hashmi).
“None of us chose all this, but yet we have to play by those rules,” said Madiraju. “We have to discover or learn how to grow, evolve from it, and it becomes us. And I think in many ways that really is the cathartic journey in this film. In his case, nobody gave him anything – including a name. He has to now figure out how to be more than a number in a city of 20 million people. And that really is the beating heart of the film.”
Full interview with Shyam P. Madiraju:
55 is now available on VOD (if you rent/purchase on Amazon, we receive a slight commission). Let us know your thoughts on the movie in the comments!
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