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Pan Nalin: Interview of an award winning film maker

Pan Nalin

12 years in a small village Khijadiya, study in Baroda and now living in Paris, France. He has directed award winning film Samsara which earned him 120 crores. Later he made films such as Valley of Flowers, Buddha and a special documentary Echo of Eco. Apart from this, he has made many other documentaries, written stories and so on. Originally known as Nalin Pandya and now known as Pan Nalin has a story to tell to all those who has a dream!

Pan Nalin is probably the only Indian screenwriter to be twice invited to a prestigious Screenwriter’s lab Equinoxe along with top Hollywood screenwriters like; Ron Bass (Rainman..), David and Janet People (Unforgiven, Blade Runner…) Jim Hart (Dracula, Contact, Lara Croft), and Shane Black, (Lethal Weapon, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang…) among others. Legendary Diva of French Cinema Jeanne Moreau headed the writer’s lab.

Recently, he was in Rajkot for the launching of book ‘Hats off Zindagi’ of a very young and enthusiastic writer Prof. Jayesh Vachhani. We had a golden opportunity to spend some quality time with him.

Videos of Interview

Part 1

Part 2

Excerpt of the Interview

Q.: Welcome to SpeakBindas. What tips you would like to share with upcoming film makers who have less experience but more passion, who are eager to start making short films? How do they finish the process without being frustrated?

First and most important thing that every film maker should keep in mind is to develop the clarity about the theme on which they want to make a short film. Due to internet, DVD etc. borders are being vanished. There are such film makers who simply upload their work on Youtube, that’s it. They don’t have any further goals in the field.

They should focus on the direction. And once decided, they should work hard for the same. These days, there are various forms of this field such as animation, 3D animations, live action, documentary, commercial and non-commercial films, television series etc. At the same time, they need to check whether that theme does match to their personality or not.

Pan Nalin

Q.: By looking at you, one comes to feel of spirituality that you’re carrying with. Your first film Samsara itself is a spiritual name. What’s the relationship between spirituality and Pan Nalin?

Spirituality is in our culture. I came to realize that let it be any kind of story, understanding of spirituality in it has great importance. For example, the latest highly successful commercial film Avatar has the spiritual angle in it. Likewise other films such as Star Wars and Matrix too have the spiritual concept.

But often, people do confuse spirituality with religion. I don’t believe in it at all. I believe that spirituality can exist equally in Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. Those who are highly religious, sometimes, there is no spirituality at all in them and to reverse to it, those who are not religious at all, are highly spiritual. This is actually hard to define. It’s indeed a matter of sadness that the gap between spirituality and religion is increasing day by day.

Q.: A lot has been talked about the success of your films. They have been internationally reviewed positively. One question I would like to ask on behalf of struggling film makers that was there any event of frustration during your film career? How should one overcome the same?

Frustration is a part of the package. And when I decided to become a film maker I knew about it. Many things can not be achieved without it. Severe frustration, severe struggle, severe disappointment comes around in the process. And even after working so hard, we are not sure about its result. It’s a hard question, but in general, I can say that it’s of very much importance to keep the balance of stress level. It depends on how much belief you’ve for what you are doing, how much confident you’re about the same. And when frustration is higher than the belief, people do leave the filed.

And the kind of projects that I do work on, there are more chances of receiving frustration. I think it’s easier to make a film taking couple of known stars having few songs.

When I left my home for my passion, my father asked me “If you’ve two paths ahead of you, one quite easier and the second very tough, which one will you chose?” To which I replied “the tougher one.” And he said “Now you’re ready to go ahead.” This is quite a simple logic. Every youngster should learn to handle frustration. This is common for every field. Particularly, when it comes about film line, upcomers have more attraction towards its glamour and they tend to forget the hard work it requires too and hence sometimes ends up with frustration. To create a dialogue, a script, to create the characters, find the matching actors, get work from them, shoot the film etc. it’s all about concentration. During the shooting of ‘Valley of Flowers’ sometimes, at a time there used to be total 600 people involved in. Hence, so much to manage making sure your concentration doesn’t get diverted. After the shooting comes editing, music and mixing. By the time, the film is ready to be released; film director has watched it more than 500 times. Director of blockbuster film Avatar, James Cameron has watched it for 3000 times.

Q.: You’ve made Samsara, Valley of flowers, Buddha, Echo of Eco and many other documentaries and short films. Now what?

I usually work on multiple stories at a time. My attraction is always towards good stories. Recently, I’ve written a Horror story for a producer based in Bangkok. I’m not directing it though. I am also working on a Martial Arts film ‘First Warrior’ which is an action packed film. I am also working on a tragic comedy film. Hence, many a projects are going on in my mind and in practical. Like you mentioned about Echo of Eco, I was one of the 30 film directors from the world who were invited to make a documentary, by COPENHAGEN Climate Conference 2009. By going through the list, I was literary amazed finding my name from INDIA among the world renowned directors from the world. I left everything else and started doing that documentary. I think, because I’m involved with multiple jobs at a time, I can manage my frustration.

I will also start working on a story by Saadat Hasan Manto which is based on the partition of India – Pakistan in 1947. The story is like, during the partition some chose to live in India, some in Pakistan, what about the mad people? It is a comedy cum tragic film.

Devang Vibhakar with Pan Nalin
Devang Vibhakar with Pan Nalin

Q.: Are you passionate about acting?

I have done some drama and theatres earlier. But when you become a film director, when you write a story, you need to do the acting backstage. When I do write a script, I get involved in moods of character and that is when I need to do acting myself. During the acting workshops of film, I participate in it and play the different characters to support the actors during the rehearsal process.

In Hollywood, no actor has time to do the research for acting. Hence, script has to be very specific, defining every scene. So being a film director, I’ve to do more acting than an actor!

Q.: My last question to you is that, you were born in a small village Khijadiya of Gujarat and now living in France. You’ve traveled the world over. So what collective message you would like to share with us?

Short message is that believe in what you do. Believe with total confidence no matter what you do, let it be music, film or even agriculture. And enjoy doing it. I feel that otherwise you shouldn’t be doing it.

————-

Thanks to Dineshbhai Tilva for being so kind in arranging this interview with a nice dinner with Pan Nalin. More details about Pan Nalin can be found at: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0659023/

About

Devang Vibhakar is the Founder and Editor of www.SpeakBindas.com. He has interviewed more than 350 people. His effort was recognized by Limca Book of Records, twice. He has been to Scotland as well as Germany as part of vocational & cultural exchange programs and has compiled five books so far. He's passionate about bringing forth interesting stories & interviews of entrepreneurs to avid readers of SpeakBindas. He can be reached here.

2 thoughts on “Pan Nalin: Interview of an award winning film maker

  1. Previous comments:

    #
    Suresh Jani March 3, 2010 at 8:37 pm

    Very interesting. I feel proud too that a Gujarati has struggled so much and make a dent internationally.
    I would like to see these movies now, esp. Sansaar .

    If a film director picks up my stone age novel, he can make an excellent movie –
    http://gadyasoor.wordpress.com/novel/

    Download from
    http://gadyasoor.wordpress.com/download/
    Suresh Jani´s last blog ..ભટકતો માણસ – અતુલ જાની My ComLuv Profile

    [Reply]

    dineshtilva Reply:
    March 5th, 2010 at 7:38 pm

    Janibhai,
    aapnu postal address mail karsho to mare amari book Hats of Zindagi” tamone mokalvi chhe.
    dineshtilva@gmail.com

    [Reply]
    #
    Harnish Jani March 3, 2010 at 10:04 pm

    Absolutely fantastic interview–I m not satisfied with short interview of a short film maker.If he ever comes to New York-I love to make a trip to hear him. brilliant young man.Yes,I watched his “Samsara” its a Masterpiece. Thanks for the interview Devang.

    [Reply]

    Devang Vibhakar Reply:
    March 4th, 2010 at 6:21 pm

    Due to time limitation, I had to control my over flowing emotion to interview him at length. Though, I feel proud and thankful for having achieved this short opportunity of having short conversation with him. Not sure, If I will get another chance to interview him. But yes, I have much more to interview him about.

    He is a world traveler and down to earth person so chances are he might visit New York in future. If I get to know about it, I will update you, Harnishbhai.

    I have one more video of him to share with you which is of his interaction with close family circle of the writer and publisher, the night before the book launch. I too was invited for the same. Will share the same soon and update you.

    [Reply]
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    Capt. Narendra March 4, 2010 at 5:59 am

    Truly amazing personality, Pan Nalin! I sincerely hope that this interview is read and seen by as many people as can access this site. It does not matter where a person is born, or what his background is, as shown by Mr. Nalin. It is his strength of character and effort that wins him success. Well done, Mr. Vibhakar, This is one of the best interviews I have seen.
    Capt. Narendra´s last blog ..”રેડ ઓવર રેડ! રિપીટ, રેડ ઓવર રેડ” My ComLuv Profile

    [Reply]

    Devang Vibhakar Reply:
    March 4th, 2010 at 6:22 pm

    It’s a huge complement for me knowing that you found this interview one of the best you’ve seen. Thank you so much for appreciating my efforts.

    Pan Nalin in other form is a live energy that can be sensed by everyone who comes around him. During short association with him, I felt the same. He has inspired me personally about making short films.

    [Reply]
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    jitesh Kundnani March 4, 2010 at 9:52 pm

    Great one dude..i never knew this kind of personality existed……..and he was a Guajrati….would surely love to meet him once…and write as him too…:)

    [Reply]
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    Suhasini March 5, 2010 at 12:47 am

    Nice interview mate, have you changed layout of your website recently coz I find it bit different now.
    Suhasini´s last blog ..Google Launches Stars Replacing it With SearchWIKI My ComLuv Profile

    [Reply]
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    Raj March 5, 2010 at 9:56 am

    great to know you sir, I’m an aspiring film maker, and it’s so good to have known someone is doing things so passionately and putting in all the hardwork that this feild requires and not just running after glamour. All the best to you sir.

    [Reply]
    #
    vikas March 11, 2010 at 7:42 pm

    Hello Devangbhai,
    May I have Pan Nalin’s mail id? Do you know how to access his films?is it available in market? Its a fantastic interview, keep on!

    [Reply]

    dineshtilva Reply:
    March 11th, 2010 at 8:46 pm

    Vikasji,
    Contact on this site : http://www.monsoon-films.com/
    dineshtilva@gmail.com

    [Reply]

    Devang Vibhakar Reply:
    March 12th, 2010 at 9:20 am

    Like Dineshbhai said, you can reach him on his site.

    About his films, yes you can avail his films easily, mostly from Gold Video in Rajkot. ‘Samsara’ and ‘Valley of Flowers’ are his most popular and commercial films. I’ve watched the later, yet to watch ‘Samsara.’ Rotary Library has none of them.

    [Reply]
    #
    Kunal Damodarbhai Sadhu,Gujarat,Mandvi-kutch March 24, 2010 at 11:16 am

    When u come to Gujarat I want to meet u so Pls inform me my mob
    9408202121,9558527186

    my resident p no (o2834)222101

    my email: kunalsadhu.2008@rediffmail.com

    I work with you I M VIPPASANA MEDITATER I INTERESTED YOUR FILM BUDDHA

    MY ADD: KUNAL DAMODAR SADHU ,SWAMIVIVEKANANANDNAGAR , BHUTADAWADI,MANDVI-
    KACHCHH, PIN : 370465

    BUDDHA IS MY FAVORITE.

    THANK YOU
    KUNAL SADHU

    [Reply]
    #
    sukumar haobam April 20, 2010 at 7:17 pm

    Devang
    Very nice to hear the interview from the boy who was born and brought up in Khidija, Rajkot, gujarat. So much full of emotion of the self made man. He just experiment and explore
    keep it guju boy nalin pandu

  2. Only hard work with Aim can Achieve this .

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