Young, enterprising and well on his way to stardom — 24 year-old short filmmaker Amogh Shambhu’s recent project, Snehada Jeevigala has found star likers! Sandalwood biggies like Yash, Thala Ajith and a few young politicos have openly praised this youngsters offering, which also bagged the best film award at the Indywood film carnival. In a candid chat, he tells us more...
Snehada Jeevigala’s plot is simple and fuss free – but also tugs at your heart’s strings, believes Amogh. “I’ve always believed that true friendship is a very divine. It’s unwavering and unconventional too. And this is exactly what is portrayed in this short film.” This short film has received over 1.7 k views and also saw national recognition. Elated about the responses, Amogh states, “It was heart warming to find people as well as established stars like Yash find my project to be realistic. I’m also really very happy that this short film bagged the best film award fat the Indywood film carnival. I’m still learning and the honour of getting a best director award from Canada film festival city is unparalleled.”
As someone with a flair for writing and an innate passion for cinema since young; it didn’t take Amogh long to pursue his calling. “I’ve been a writer from the time I can remember! I was about 9, in the fourth grade, when I chose to become a director and an actor. I remember staying back after school and preparing stage skits, writing stories, planning shows and contributing poems to magazines. Nothing inspires me more than a drive to narrate a good tale,” he says.
One thing led to the other, and he landed up at a film school just where he wanted to be. “I did a course in direction, screenplay and writing and acting from the Film Institute of pune (FTTI). Right after that, I worked in the Bollywood film industry as shots planner and as assistant director for a movie’s pre production. Soon after, I came to work in Kannada film industry, where I joined the Adarsha Film TV & Institute for understanding the nuances of filmmaking especially with regard to the Kannada film industry, post which I made two short films one ie. Campus love story and Snehada Jeevigaalu.” And now, at 24, the goal remains – but with a stronger resolve. “I’d want to make some good films.”
A movie die-hard, SRK and Puneeth Rajkumar are a few stars that he looks up to. “When I watched Apthamitra, I was so motivated! It made me want to make something similar. And, evoke emotions in the audience. Even Shahrukh Khan and Puneeth Rajkumar movies have always left a good feeling. I want people to get out of a theatre feeling the same even for my movies.”
While it’s the love for cinema that keeps him busy, Amogh shares that he does have other interests that he’s very keen on pursuing as well. “I’m really passionate about writing stories, poems, lyrics and doing short films and dancing.
That aside, I’ve always wanted to extend a helping hand to Indian farmers and have taken several social media initiatives for the same.”
