All My Filmmaking Knowledge is From Watching Films: Director Brijesh Tangi
Director Brijesh Tangi a Software Engineer turned Filmmaker expresses to Ms. Divya Jay from the CIFF Team how passion for cinema drove him to make his debut film #VIRAL PRAPANCHAM and why Tamil cinema is so close to his heart!
I am a Software Engineer located in Toronto. Selvaraghavan’s ‘Kaadhal Kondein’ made me interested in storytelling and filmmaking. After reading Ram Gopal Varma’s book ‘Naa Ishtam’, I made the decision to become a filmmaker.
Lost and Found footage-based movies always interested me. The first movie I watched in this genre was Dibakar Banerjee’s ‘Love Sex Aur Dokha’. I later watched American movies, Unfriended and Searching which are both desktop films, these movies seemed like a level up on lost and found footage movies. Then I read a book named ‘Cyber Sexy’ written by Richa Kaul which talked about Revenge Porn. This was the first time I had come across the term and I researched more on the same. I eventually decided that this is a burning topic that has to be discussed and I finally decided to write and make #VIRAL PRAPANCHAM which is a desktop film that discusses Revenge Porn.
The Shawshank Redemption is my all-time favourite film. I also love Vinnaithandi Varuvaya, Satya, Midnight in Paris and Baahubali to name a few. The directors that have inspired me the most are Selva Raghavan, Ram Gopal Varma, Gautam Vasudev Menon, Anurag Kashyap, Puri Jagannath and SS Rajamouli. All the filmmakers I mentioned have vivid filmmaking styles. The thing I like commonly about all of them is that they are all true to their styles, they are all gutsy filmmakers who don’t give in to the trends and formulas of their respective film industries.
I already am a screenwriter. I would also like to produce movies at some point. It is not a necessity for the writer and director to be the same. They are two different roles, with two different skillsets. I personally would love to work on interesting ideas from other writers. I would also love for some other director to hire me as a writer.
Yes, there have been times when I’ve watched movies and wanted to direct such movies. ‘Android Kunjappan’ is one movie I could never write, but would have loved to direct. I would consider directing a movie written by someone else.
I would love to write for Selva Raghavan sir. I would also love to write for Gautam Vasudev Menon. Tharun Bhasckar is one director, whose writing team I would love to join. I would like to associate with Rahul Ravindran as well.
My journey as a filmmaker started out of my love for storytelling. I do not have a background in filmmaking, I have not assisted any director or worked on any projects nor did I study filmmaking making from any filmmaking institution. All my filmmaking knowledge is from watching films. During the shoot of my first film ‘#VIRAL PRAPANCHAM’ I learnt a lot on sets and from my technicians. I love the filmmaking process.
Since I studied in Kovilpatti, I watch and love Tamil cinema. The Tamil film industry is based out of Chennai and my film being selected for 21st Chennai International Film Festival means the world to me.
