What would you say if you learnt that a super-technical wiz kid has turned filmmaker and has entered Bollywood in a big way? Well, we would say, “Ho Sakta Hai!” If you’re still clueless, we are talking about the newest addition to the list of Directors – Wilson Louis whose maiden venture HO SAKTA HAI released last week. We met up with this Mass Comm. Grad and got chatting.Excerpts:

Who is Wilson Louis?
Well, for starters, Wilson Louis is a filmmaker who has just taken his first step into the Hindi film industry and he plans to create his own space in the industry in due course of time. He is a Mass Comm. graduate who specializes in Film and TV direction. That apart, he has also been a film correspondent of sorts. Presently works as Visual Effects Director and GM Operations, of VFx division of Maya Entertainment Ltd.

Any other film work experience?
Of course! I’ve done visual effects for over 35 feature films including Holiday, Awara Paagal Deewana, Jajantaram Mamantaram, Murder, and many more. My first project was Sunny Deol’s Dillagi.

How did HO SAKTA HAI happen?
There is a saying, “Often the reward for good work is more work.” And that adage proved just right in my case. Earlier I had done a short DV film titled 6”x4” and it went on to win the Best short film at the Seagate Technical Awards for Excellence in 2004. Ashok Kotwani saw the film and was impressed with my work. I guess he wanted to meet me ever since and finally one day we met and the rest is for all to see.

Isn’t it true that film’s budget escalated beyond planned limits?
Well, it would not be fare to term it like that. Let me explain… It was shot on a continuous schedule of 26 days on 35 mm in Mumbai and Lonavala. Besides that, the film has 45 minutes of visual effects that costs about 25 lakhs. But Ketan Mehta gave Ashok Kotwani 60% discount as I was directing the film. But the films budget escalated to 95 lakhs. Further the film got delayed after its promos went on air due to the selfish motives of certain people. And to make things worse, many distributors believed the film did not have any songs, sex or action. Meanwhile, the film was screened at Cannes 2005 and also at Filmpur, England. But the crowning glory came when a US based company contracted to release the film overseas with dubbing rights in foreign languages for a property sum of Rs. 2.5 crore.

What about your experience on the small screen?
I’ve directed a 1-hr horror-based tele serial ROOH for Zee TV. It had lots of special effects.

Can you tell us something about your future assignments?
Incidentally, Ashok Kotwani has signed me to direct another suspense thriller. Also Tabun Sutradhar has signed me to direct a Hinglish venture. It’s an international film titled MAMA’s BOY and we will start shooting it on April 20 in Scotland. Besides that, I’ve also been signed by a new producer Jignasha Thakkar to direct a Hindi film tentatively titled FRESH MEAT which will deal with the life of prostitutes. But as of now, I’m eagerly waiting for a green signal from Mahesh Bhatt who too wants me to direct a suspense-thriller with special effects. I’m waiting for that glorious moment.

You seem to be having a bend towards originality…
Yes, you caught me right on that. I have never tried to imitate any film Indian or foreign. Whenever I make a film, I will proudly vouch for its originality. I greatly admire original makers like Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Mahesh Bhatt and Ram Gopal Verma as these directors have excelled in all types of films and they know the pulse of the audiences. Whenever I make a film, the audiences will say Wilson Louis always makes originals.