'Rama and Sita with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet'

'BETWEEN TWO WORLDS', a multi-national movie project with an international cast, is a hip, romantic, coming-of-age adventure story about a Hindu girl from Bali in Indonesia with a possibility of casting two top actresses, Aishwarya Rai and Tabu, from India. Through India-EU Film Initaitive, its director Angus Strachan wants to approach the Indian film industry for collaboration.

Pervaiz Alam caught up with Angus Strachan in London and asked him about his unique project that will take him to Bali, India, Australia and America.

Based in England and Australia, Strachan is a filmmaker, fiction writer and playwright. He has won praise and awards for his short films and plays, but producing and directing a feature film always remained his dream. How come he dreamt of Rama and Sita in a romantic film, I ask.

The hook: Rama and Sita with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

"Well, it's a fascinating piece of mythology. My film combines the story of Rama and Sita with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. We have strong indications the story will have wide appeal particularly in the UK, USA and Indian markets. Consequently the project will be co-produced through Singapore, India and Indonesia. 'Between Two Worlds' is fast paced, wild and exciting as befits the exotic world of Bali and the topsy-turvy world of romance. The central characters undergo strong coming-of-age rights of passage journeys and as much as the film is highly artistic and fun at times, it is also imbued with strong and well developed underlying themes of globalism and personal values or principles," Angus Strachan explains.

Looking at the production notes of his film I suggest to Strachan that he is trying to create some thing like 'Crouching Tigers' and 'Flying Daggers' with an Indian cum Bali twist. Surprisngly, he agrees with me.

"To an extent that's true," says Strachan. He goes on to add: "The look of the film is lush, evocative, passionate, intense, light and very, very beautiful. The cinematographic style is reminiscent of the beautiful saturated Chinese epics, mixed with both a European ‘Amelie’ like aesthetic ..especially so far as Character goes.. and the heightened feel of a Tim Burton or Baz Luhrmann film. This style and aesthetic is intended to match the exotic location of Bali as well as the immortal world of the Gods and the highly dramatic world of Romeo and Juliet or Rama and Sita like relationships.

"In some ways it is a fantasy world and the point is to allow the viewer to let go and enter it, get lost for two hours during which time they thoroughly enjoy the exciting emotional ride, then come out and tell their friends ‘they MUST SEE that Between Worlds film set in Bali!".

So far, so good, I think. But where's the Indian connection? How could the Indian film industry be interested in your project?

"There are numerous features of our film, BETWEEN TWO WORLDS, which should prove very attractive to the Indian film market," and then Strachan goes on to list a number of teasers:

" Highly evocative Hindu content.
· We feature at least TWO stars known to Indians.
· Cross-cultural Hindu/American love affair highly topical.
· Strong musical content with LIVE bands on set.
· Appealing Western content.
· Mystical Elements – goddesses, Garuda, magic monkeys.
· Shadow Puppetry seen throughout the film.
· Animated ‘naughty’ monkey, Hanoman, well-loved by India.
· Films dubbed into India’s two main language groups.
· Film co-produced through India.
· A home grown ‘feel’ to the film.
· Significant post production in India, especially animation."

After reading Strachan's synopsis which, I admit, is like a screenplay I realise the film is absolutely full of Hindu ceremonies and statues. The Hindu Goddess of knowledge, Saraswati, possibly, Aishwarya Rai according to Strachan, is in many scenes counselling the lead character, Ayu.

Saraswati flies about on a large majestic white swan throughout. The naughty monkey Hanuman is also in many scenes causing havoc although he has a strong underlying purpose to help Ayu find her one true path.

The basis of the film is the core of the Indian Hindu teaching: Tat Twam Asi – You Are That. These words begin and end the film and it is the central lesson the lead character must learn.

Strachan's screenplay suggests the story of the Ramayana is told throughout the film in segments because the abduction of Sita by the foreign lord Ravana parallels the main action in the film between the Balinese lead, Ayu, her new American sweetheart, Stefano, and her previous Balinese magician boyfriend, Sidi. Shadow Puppets, especially Rama and Sita appear in many scenes.

So what does he expect from the Indian film industry?

"We fully intend to have Indian stars in two chunky roles. This is a fully international Blockbuster Independent film about Hindu and Western values and romance – we believe it can be every bit as successful as a “major’” Hollywood romance genre film – in order to achieve this, we need to manage the film look which will be managed by strong Independent production houses in Singapore, India and Jakarta with possibly a worldwide distributor/producer like MGM or Sony Pictures getting involved once we get all the production team and the stars in place," says Angus Strachan, the producer and director of 'Between Two Worlds', a project that is yet to take off in practical terms.

He adds: "We are interested in an Indian co-producer with strong distribution connections either in-house or allied – we will expect them to manage Indian casting; the possible shooting of some scenes; post-production..especially the SFX, animation of Hanoman...and raising of investment and distribution. We do not foresee this as a major commitment on the part of an experienced producer. We estimate they would be handling no more than 20% of the production overall. We are looking for a dynamic Indian company and/or producer who is highly creative and is excited and enthusiastic about the potential of this project.

"We have strong indications the film could do very well in the Indian market and we would expect the story to be dubbed into, at least, two main dialects of Hindi and and Telugu. We need at this stage to assess casting opportunities especially for our Wish List".

Wish list! Aha. He smiles. I smile back. It's time to test his knowledge of Indian film stars. Who would you like to cast from India, I tease Angus Strachan.

"We have at least two strong co-leading roles for Indian actresses. These are not the starring roles which belong to the Balinese girl, Ayu, and her American boyfriend, Stefano. These Indian roles are however significant and get quite a deal of screen time. It is quite possible we could shoot ALL of Saraswati’s material in India in a green room – this would have to be negotiated but should we interest someone like Aishwarya Rai then we would of course adapt to the situation of schedules etc.," says Strachan with excitement.

"For another role, of Saraswati, I'd love to cast Tabu who I believe is a very good actress," reveals Strachan.