‘Zubaan’ is coming-of-age commercial film: Mozez Singh

Even though “Zubaan” has traveled to film festivals, director Mozez Singh says it is not a “typical festival” movie and has a commercial approach.

The musical drama stars Vicky Kaushal and Sarah Jane Dias in lead roles. The film had opened the 20th edition of the Busan International Film Festival last year where Mozez won the ‘Rising Director Asia Star Award’.

“It is not a festival film. If anything, it is a coming-of-age commercial film. It has some 15 songs, five of them are lip-sync, it has a heartfelt story. Contrary to what some may think, it is a commercial film, not an indie cinema,” Mozez said.

“Zubaan” is the story of a young boy, played by Kaushal, who loses his faith and develops a fear of music. The film chronicles his journey in fighting that fear and finding himself.

Mozez feels it is difficult for young filmmakers to make off-beat movies as there are not enough producers ready to back such projects.

“It is very challenging for a young filmmaker to make an independent film. I had this subject for seven years with me, then it took another two years to get it made. Lots of people said ‘no’ to me.

“Not many producers are ready to back off-beat content. Not every filmmaker is that lucky to get a good producer. I am thankful I had Guneet Monga and Shaan Vyas with me,” he said.

Though the film is about music and traces the life of a singer, the director insists he cannot sing and says an incident that happened with him in school formed the idea of “Zubaan.”

“I can’t sing or play an instrument. When I was in Doon school I had a beautiful voice. I was in the school choir where once Pandit Ravi Shankar had come to train us. During the rehearsals, my voice started cracking. After that, he threw me out of the group because my voice was not in tune. It was then that I decided I wanted to write a story about music,” he said.

Inputs by PTI

Also Read: SHAM KAUSHAL GOT EMOTIONAL WITH SON VICKY KAUSHAL AFTER SHOOTING FOR ‘ZUBAAN’

Amod Pandit

Quiet, resonant, and creative, he can be seen immersed in his own world, and puts in his heart and soul into the one passion that he has, Bollywood. His line for survival? Feel happy to be a part of it.