Varun Grover’s YouTube Interview
Show Notes
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYhvoxLw8N4
Observations on Films: He shares an interesting perspective on films, noting that a good film improves with a second viewing, while a bad film worsens.
Gandhi’s Autobiography: He humorously mentions someone who gave a one-star review to Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography, “My Experiments with Truth,” which highlights the subjective nature of reviews.
Varun’s Background: The interviewer praises Varun’s multi-talented nature as a writer, director, comedian, and lyricist. Varun was one of the first guests on the show “Chalchitra Talks,” which significantly boosted the channel’s popularity.
Early Days: Varun reminisces about the humble beginnings of “Chalchitra Talks,” which was filmed in a small apartment in Andheri East. He jokes about the modest setting, comparing it to early Sudhir Mishra films, despite it being made to look more glamorous.
Posters and Vinyl Art: Varun expresses his love for vintage film posters and vinyl disc art, particularly appreciating the handcrafted quality of older designs. He mentions specific examples like the poster for “Awara,” which he finds particularly striking.
Vinyl Collection: Varun shares his recent interest in vinyl records and the importance of high-quality sound systems to appreciate the depth and richness of vinyl music.
Minimalist Posters: Varun also mentions his appreciation for minimalist movie posters, which have become popular in recent years.
Film Recommendations: The conversation touches on various films, including “There Will Be Blood,” which Varun considers a masterpiece, and his love for the film’s soundtrack and poster art.
Courtroom Dramas: Varun discusses his admiration for the film “Anatomy of a Fall,” which he describes as a layered and unexpected courtroom drama that focuses more on character study than on solving a case.
Eyes as Key to Emotion in Film: Anurag Kashyap suggested that if the eyes convey emotion, the film will succeed, even if watched on mute. The importance of eyes in expressing emotions on screen is emphasized.
Comfort on Set: Filmmaker Maneesh Sharma advised the speaker to wear comfortable clothes on set since film production days are long. He downplays the importance of dressing formally as a director and emphasizes the value of comfort.
Human Connection in Filmmaking: Comfort and connection among the cast and crew are crucial. Creating a relaxed environment on set can lead to more genuine performances and creativity.
Importance of Feedback: On set, feedback is crucial, and no shot is final until it’s finalized. Flexibility and openness to improvisation are important aspects of the filmmaking process.
Improvisation in Film: The speaker gives an example from the film *Masaan*, where an emotional scene was largely improvised. The scene, which was not originally in the script, became one of the most talked-about moments in the film due to the space given to the actors to explore their emotions.
Insecurity as a Writer: The speaker discusses the insecurity that writers might feel when they see actors improvising. However, they explain that filmmaking allows for multiple layers of editing and improvement, reducing the need for insecurity.
Richard Linklater’s Influence: The speaker admires Richard Linklater’s approach to filmmaking, which involves deep collaboration and improvisation over extended periods. They express a desire to create something in a similar space, even if not over 12 years like Linklater’s *Boyhood*.
Recommendation for Aspiring Filmmakers: The speaker suggests watching the top 100 debut films to learn from the rawness, experimentation, and unique voices of filmmakers. These films often reflect limited resources but show immense creativity and innovation.
Learning from First Films: First films are a great learning tool because they often reflect a filmmaker’s original voice and ambition, despite the lack of resources. The speaker encourages aspiring filmmakers to study these films to understand the essence of filmmaking.
Importance of Watching Early Works of Great Directors: Debut Films The speaker recommends going back to the early works of great directors to understand their development and creative process.
Film School Through a Director’s Influences: The speaker describes their personal journey of exploring cinema by following the influences and recommendations of a director they admire, which led them to discover a wide range of films and filmmakers.
Learning Through Exploration: The speaker emphasizes the importance of exploring various films and directors, allowing this exploration to guide one’s learning and growth as a filmmaker.
Discussion on *Past Lives* Film: The conversation ends with a brief mention of the film *Past Lives*, though the speaker’s detailed opinion on it is not included in this segment.
Validation for Artists: Artists crave more than just success in terms of sales or box office numbers. True validation comes from knowing that their work has been understood and appreciated by others.
- Meeting like-minded people and feeling seen, heard, and understood is crucial for an artist.
Importance of Reviews: Bad reviews can be more valuable than no feedback at all because they show engagement with the work.
- Artists appreciate reviews that attempt to understand the intention behind their work, even if the review is critical.
User Reviews: — For films, user reviews on platforms like IMDb are often more insightful and valuable than mainstream critic reviews.
- Reading user reviews and trivia after watching a film enhances the viewing experience and helps in understanding different perspectives.
Great Films: — A great film is one that inspires thoughtful and detailed writing, whether in reviews or discussions.
- The desire to learn more about a film after watching it, through reading reviews or engaging in discussions, is a sign of its impact.
Multiple Viewings: — Watching a film multiple times can deepen appreciation and understanding. A good film often gets better with repeated viewings, revealing more details and subtleties.
Favorite Films and Directors: — Films by Paul Thomas Anderson (PTA), such as *The Master*, *There Will Be Blood*, and *Phantom Thread*, are highlighted as examples of films that offer rich experiences upon multiple viewings.
- PTA’s films, in particular, are noted for their depth, making them rewarding to revisit.
Indian Actors: — The lack of complex roles in Indian cinema is a barrier to identifying actors equivalent to international talents like Philip Seymour Hoffman.
- Despite this, actors like Irrfan Khan and Jackie Shroff are recognized for their capability, especially when given challenging roles.
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The speaker discusses their love for short stories, emphasizing the fulfillment they get from reading one before bed every night. They list several favorite short story writers and their works, including:
1. Saadat Hasan Manto — Praised for his shocking and brilliant short stories that remain relevant and powerful even decades after they were written.
2. Uday Prakash — Highlighted for his recent collection of stories and his ability to capture complex emotions and social issues.
3. Louise Erdrich — An American writer whose story “The Red Convertible” is particularly powerful, showcasing her skill in creating moving, layered narratives.
4. Etgar Keret — Known for his innovative and personal stories, often reflecting on his own life.
5. Italo Calvino — A classic writer praised for his imaginative and unique works like “Cosmicomics.”
6. Ted Chiang — A science fiction writer whose stories are described as nerdy, complex, and highly rewarding.
7. Cory Doctorow — Recognized for his pessimistic yet brilliant take on technology and the modern world, often compared to “Black Mirror.”
8. Naiyer Masud — An Urdu writer from Lucknow, whose stories combine Kafkaesque existentialism with a strong sense of place, particularly the city of Lucknow.
Appreciation for Nerdiness: The discussion highlights the value of being a “nerd” in any field. It’s suggested that the world increasingly belongs to those who are deeply knowledgeable (“nerdy”) about specific subjects, whether it’s ceramics, photo printing, or lighting. A nerd’s dedication to their niche can lead to creating something memorable for generations. The speaker contrasts this with being a generalist, who may succeed today by doing many things decently, but won’t leave a lasting legacy like a specialist or “nerd.”
Books to Podcasts Conversion: The speaker expresses a wish that certain biographies and non-fiction books, especially those about film personalities like Kishore Kumar, Basu Chatterjee, and Sahir Ludhianvi, could be turned into podcasts. They believe that if these books were conversations rather than written texts, they would be even more engaging. This idea stems from the richness of the content, which would translate well into an interactive and audible format.
Product Recommendations: The conversation shifts to product recommendations, where the speaker suggests a French press for coffee lovers, highlighting its affordability and quality. They also recommend the Kindle, emphasizing its convenience for carrying and reading multiple books, especially while traveling. Another product mentioned with great enthusiasm is vinyl (or LP) discs, which the speaker finds joy in collecting and playing due to their superior sound quality and the overall experience of owning and enjoying the physical album.
Correct Pronunciation of “Cannes”: There is a detailed discussion about the correct pronunciation of “Cannes” (the city in France famous for its film festival). The speaker explains that while “Cannes” is the proper French pronunciation, many Americans pronounce it as “Can.” The conversation delves into how regional accents in France might affect pronunciation, but “Cannes” remains the more accurate and standard French pronunciation.
Food Recommendations: Towards the end of the conversation, there’s a recommendation for a place called Curious Coffee in Jaipur, praised for its excellent coffee and food. The speaker notes that while it’s unfortunate such a place isn’t in Mumbai, it’s perhaps better that it remains unique to Jaipur.
Conclusion and Future Plans: The conversation wraps up with a brief discussion about a future podcast episode dedicated entirely to food, given the speaker’s passion for the subject. There’s also a mention of upcoming content on Audible, including the audio version of the current season’s podcast. The speaker signs off, indicating that more content is coming soon.
