German students to make film on Pune autorickshaw
Info Guide — By The Desk on March 4, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Pune Mirror: After Pune Mirror reported about a decked-up autorickshaw, a few students from Germany have shown interest in casting the rickshaw driver Uttam Kanchan and his three-wheeler in a documentary film which they plan to make with the help of students from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).
Alexander Bleise, a student of electronic media from Stuttgart Media School, who is currently in India under an exchange programme, is so enamoured with rickshaw drives in the city that he has developed an admiration for the rickshaw drivers in Pune.
Alexander, who is staying in Koregaon Park and travels to FTII everyday by rickshaw, said “We love the rickshaw drivers of Pune and travel by rickshaw everyday.”
In fact, it is this fascination for the rickshaw drivers, who might be a point of curiosity for someone from those countries which don’t have the ubiquitous three-wheelers of India and other third-world countries in Asia, that enthused Alexander to shoot a documentary on the life of Uttam.
After reading the report, which appeared in Sunday’s edition of Pune Mirror (Chikni kaali peeli, pg 21), Alexander got in touch with this reporter and later contacted Uttam. Alexander loved his rickshaw with the luxurious interiors.
Another German Laila Sieber, who will direct the proposed film, said, “We liked Uttam and other rickshaw drivers in Pune, as they are very friendly.”
The seven-member all-German film crew, comprising Alexander and Laila, will shoot the film in Pune and mostly in Aurangabad. The editing would be done in Germany. The film is tentatively set for release by June.
The documentary film revolves around the life of a rickshaw driver and will dwell on the day-to-day life of rickshaw drivers. It will also show how an autorickshaw is made.
In the film Uttam will be playing the role of a rickshaw driver. All his activities throughout the day would be shot. “I have arranged for a special Indian breakfast for the guests,” said Uttam. The shooting will commence on Friday.
