Gratifying to Know Sooraj Barjatya Liked My Work: Palash Vaswani

I am grateful that Sooraj sir saw 'Gullak' and loved it. He called me after watching Seasons 2 and 3, saying he wanted to debut in OTT with Sony LIV. I fell in love with the story, and since I had worked with Sony LIV on 'Gullak', he thought I would be a good fit. That moment was special, as Sooraj sir is a legitimate filmmaker and I have learned from his craft. It was gratifying to see him like my work and want to direct in OTT.

Sooraj sir told me that there’s a lack of family-oriented content on OTT. Every storyteller should have the freedom to tell their story, regardless of genre. Rajshri Productions saw this gap and decided to fill it. Sony was excited about this idea, telling Sooraj sir they wanted stories like Vivah or Hum Aapke Hain Kaun..!. It was a good decision, as they are pioneers in storytelling, just like with ‘Rocket Boys’, which has a unique niche.

Of Course! 'Bada Naam Karenge' is my tribute to ‘Maine Pyaar Kiya’. I love that film; it’s raw, young, and nostalgic. I watched it in a single-screen theatre, and it was a community experience. Even now, when I watch it on OTT, I recall happy memories. For me, it’s a special film. I have paid tribute to it in ‘Bada Naam Karenge’.

I also focused on relatability, showcasing characters and stories that audiences can connect with, especially the middle class. I wanted to portray rich people who are rooted and humble, not just showy. I have tried to create a connection between the audience and the characters, making them feel like they are part of the story.

No, never. It was a surprise! We were attempting something simple, and simple stories are hard to tell. In thrillers or horrors, the plot drives the story, but in our show, it’s pure emotions. I had to engage the audience equally, making them connect with the family’s dilemmas. We got hundreds of comments saying they felt like they were sitting inside the house, watching their own family. The attempt was to bring the audience close to the characters, making them feel like it’s their own house.

It was very good, a great learning experience. He’s humble, down-to-earth, and experienced. His guidance is enough to create magic in a scene. He trusted me completely, never questioning my decisions. He would say, ‘Palash, I totally trust you, just do it.’ That trust is important for me to attempt new things. He’s open to learning, even asking me about OTT-specific terms like ‘Cold Open’. He’s collaborative, never making me feel like a student. We had a great teacher-student relationship.

I think the most important thing is the production value, but also the innocence and simplicity that’s missing in the OTT space. We have tried to capture the timeless, classic storytelling of romantic movies and family experiences. We want to bring back nostalgic stories, making them contemporary and relatable to the current audience. The simplicity and innocence are key, with characters that are relatable, like the girl next door and the boy next door. We have had feedback that our show is a refreshing change, with a simple, cliché hero, which is a welcome break from the usual OTT content.

We tried to do this in 'Gullak' too. I believe everyone learns and grows, and we try to correct our past mistakes. In my show, I have created two families—one orthodox and traditional, the other modern and open. I have designed the scenes to show the contrast between the two families, like the dining setups, where one family has a clear divide and the other is mixed. I have also included progressive voices in the show, like a female character who speaks up against patriarchal norms. While shooting, I experimented with techniques like no monologues and pure performance without dialogue. It’s an attempt to balance traditional values with contemporary elements and create something new and engaging.

The responses have been overwhelmingly positive. Out of 30-40 reviews, only 4-5 were negative. Everyone else has liked it, calling it good or excellent. As a director, I appreciate reading different perspectives. The audience feedback on social media has also been great, with people loving the show. I feel that this show fills a gap in content that can be watched with family. I have been getting feedback that it’s a great community experience, bringing generations together. We are very happy and positive about how people are receiving it.