Reached out to the government for funds… found disappointment there: After being troubled, made the film ‘Samantar’ with his own money, got the National Award; Now longing for release

The 69th National Film Awards ceremony was held in New Delhi on 17 October. In this, Neeraj Mishra’s film Parallel got the award for Best Maithili Feature Film.

Neeraj Mishra’s film ‘Samanantar’ has received the National Award for Best Maithili Film. Coming from the background of Bihar, getting such a prestigious award in the cinematic world speaks of Neeraj’s success in itself. Neeraj has written the story of a film like Baaghi 2, yet he did not get the recognition he deserved.

Neeraj said that when he was making Parallel, he had no money. To get some help, he even reached out to the Bihar government. However, he was disappointed there. After this he made the film with his own money.

The 69th National Film Awards ceremony was held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on 17 October. In this, Neeraj Mishra’s (right) film Paralant got the award for Best Maithili Feature Film.

Neeraj said that the day he came to Mumbai for the first time, he met Amitabh Bachchan. Neeraj used to work in the production team of KBC at that time. Seeing Big B in front was an unforgettable moment for Neeraj. Big B also shared the teaser of Neeraj’s film on his social media account.

The story behind how Neeraj got the responsibility of writing in Baaghi 2 is also very interesting. He had returned empty handed from Sajid Nadiadwala’s office. Then a week later he was called again. Neeraj presented a story idea to the makers, which everyone liked. After this he joined the film as a writer.

Neeraj said that he was also going to make a film with Sushant Singh Rajput, however before that an untoward incident happened.

Grew up watching Amitabh, got a chance to work with him for the first time
Neeraj Mishra narrated the story of meeting with Amitabh Bachchan. He said, ‘Direction or film making was not my choice. I was busy preparing for competitive exams in Bihar. He passed the exams but lagged behind in the interviews. I was completely disappointed in life. Then something happened that changed everything.

One of my friends, Anshuman Pandey, was already active in the film industry. He joined Siddharth Basu’s team. Siddharth Basu is the person who brought the concept of many quiz shows including KBC. I also joined them. He gave me a task to prepare 25 questions.

Since I used to prepare for exams, I had good knowledge of every subject. Siddharth Basu liked all my questions very much. He called me to Mumbai. It is a big thing that I met Bachchan Saheb on my very first day in Mumbai.

Seeing Bachchan Saheb face to face was no less than magic for me. I have met many stars, but perhaps no one has the aura that Amitabh Bachchan has.

This picture is from the time when Kaun Banega Crorepati had just started. Neeraj was a part of the production team of the show.

Years after doing KBC, Amitabh Bachchan promoted Neeraj’s film
The film Parallel was praised by Amitabh Bachchan himself. He also shared the teaser of the film on his social media account. Neeraj says, ‘I have a friend, Jaideep Singh. He made me meet many film makers. It was he who introduced me to Resul Pookutty (Oscar winning musician).

I sent my film to Resul sir. He liked the film. It was he who took my film to Bachchan Sahab. He saw the teaser of the film and posted it on his social media. After he did this, a little atmosphere started to develop.

Met many bureaucrats for funds, did not get help
Neeraj invested his entire savings in making the film. He did not get any help from anywhere. Neeraj also went to Bihar government, however no help was received from there also. Neeraj said, ‘I had been writing stories for a long time, but did not make films. Although I had a strong desire to direct films also. During Covid, I read the entire filmography of Satyajit Ray. From there I got inspiration to make a film.

After this I thought that a film should be made in my native language Maithili. Traveled approximately 5000 thousand kilometers across Bihar. Reached out to bureaucrats, businessmen and even the government.

Used to try to get some funds from somewhere. Although I did not get any help from anywhere. After a while, I felt tired and felt that I would not be able to make a film. Then my father encouraged me, after which I made this film with my own money.

There were no famous actors in the film Parallel, ordinary people from the village worked in it. Neeraj told that his father has also played a character in the film.

The film is not releasing even after winning the National Award
Neeraj says that even after winning the National Award, his film is not being released. Neeraj said, ‘I am getting thousands of messages asking when will you release this film in (parallel) theatres. Now how can I tell them about my helplessness? For a film to release you need to have a star which is not there in my film.

Still we are not able to get out of that star culture. Still, producers are spending more money on starcast rather than content. Look at this example, just last week a film was released. Its budget was said to be Rs 200 crore, however the film failed to earn even Rs 10 crore at the box office.

According to Neeraj, it took about two and a half months to make the film. He stayed in the village during these two and a half months.

National Award dedicated to Sushant Singh Rajput
Neeraj wants to dedicate his National Award to Sushant Singh Rajput. Neeraj says, ‘Sushant’s maternal home is in the city where I come from. People of that area knew Sushant and loved him. I wanted to make a film with Sushant. People thought that Sushant could not do action films. Although I would only make action films with him.

After Baaghi 2, I had written the story of a very big film, due to Covid, that film got stopped even before it started. I wanted to see Sushant in that film. However, by the time we reached them, something untoward had already happened.

Unless you are part of some camp, no one will ask about your films.
Neeraj said, ‘It is very unfortunate that unless you have contacts, your films will not be able to reach the top. Small and independent filmmakers are not able to send their films to film festivals. Unless he reaches the top, no one even watches his films. If you are not associated with any camp or big people in the industry, then there will be no one to ask you.

First returned empty handed, later Nadiadwala called and gave him work
How did Neeraj get Baagi-2? Telling the story behind this, he says, ‘I had taken my stories to Nadiadwala Grandson’s office. They liked our stories, but my stories did not fit the type of films they used to make.

I left from there. Then a week later a call came from there. He asked for an idea regarding Baaghi-2. I gave him not one but two ideas in two days. The production team was quite impressed. Later he gave me the responsibility of writing the entire screenplay. This proved to be the turning point of my career.

Baaghi-2 was released in March 2018. The film had collected more than Rs 200 crore worldwide.

Newcomers are not treated well in the industry, feel like leaving everything.
Talking about the initial struggle, Neeraj said, ‘Sometimes there came a moment when I felt like leaving everything. I was thinking of going to the US and driving a taxi there. In this industry, newcomers are treated in such a way that it is difficult to explain. People don’t respond to what you say, it seems like you are garbage.

People sit with our scripts for years. Neither read nor responded. People don’t understand that someone’s hard work must have gone into this. I say that even if the script is rejected, it is better to read it first. Although I have no complaints against anyone now. Nowadays, if someone asks me for help, I try my best to help him.

On winning a National Award, one also gets a medal and a citation. Apart from this, some cash amount is also given.

Neeraj is after Manoj Bajpayee, wants to work with him
Neeraj said that he comes from Bihar, yet he has not been able to work with Manoj Bajpayee and Pankaj Tripathi. Neeraj said, ‘I want to work with Manoj Bajpayee, so I have been following him for many years.

Apart from this, I also wish to work with Pankaj Tripathi. These people are now bound by a boundary. Now these people have to first talk to their managers. I also like Ranveer Singh and Ranbir Kapoor very well. I want to work with both of them also.

Neeraj further said, ‘I would like to request the industry not to compromise with talent and content. We are in the business of art, how will we manage when we start compromising with art itself? We have full capacity to make films here also like world cinema. We just have to give opportunity to talent. No project should remain just a project.