“OTT has greatly increased the culture of watching international content”

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Souvik Gupta wears numerous hats, including creator, author, screenwriter, creative director, and director of photography. Yeh Dooriyan, his most recent piece, has become popular online. The online serial, which starred Paresh Pahuja and Manjari Fadnnis, was digitally launched in May 2022 on the well-known YouTube channel Humaramovie.

Gupta regards “Yeh Dooriyan” as his most prized piece of work to date. It was entirely shot during the first stage of the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. The love story “Yeh Dooriyan” is about a long-distance union. Even though it was recorded during the lockdown, the episode is seldom ever mentioned in the series because neither the lockdown nor the pandemic are the focus. Instead, it serves as a trigger.

Gupta worked in both the business environment and the entertainment industry following the completion of his MBA at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in 2009. He has worked with OTT platforms including Voot, ZEE5, Eros Now, and ALTBalaji in addition to a few short films and a miniseries on YouTube.

Souvik Gupta discusses his career as a filmmaker in conversion with Adgully. He also discusses the legendary filmmakers who have influenced him over the years, the production of the web series “Yeh Dooriyan” during the lockdown, planned projects, and more.

Could you describe your development as a filmmaker?

I’ve wanted to tell stories or take part in their telling ever since I was a young child. In high school, I participated in plays and wrote short tales. Even as a young child, I was a huge movie fan and used to watch a wide variety of films. Therefore, I would enjoy viewing anything at home, including “Pather Panchali,” “E.T,” and “Amar Akbar Anthony.”

What gave you the idea to write “Yeh Dooriyan”? Why did you think it was important to relay this story on television?

For a very long time, I have been preparing to write and film a love story. These days, I believe we read and watch enough of those lovely romantic tales. On the other side, during the past few years, I have witnessed many of my friends and family members go through long-distance relationships and marriages; some of them have sadly failed to endure. I’ve heard of their encounters.

What do you think of the OTT space’s expanding presence?

Reaching out to people and sharing stories, in my opinion, is a fantastic opportunity for emerging voices like mine. At the same time, it has greatly increased the culture of watching international content. I watch a lot of movies and television shows from around the world, and a lot of them are in languages I don’t understand, like Malayalam or Spanish. If we had solely relied on theatres, it would not have been possible for us to have such widespread access.

Could you provide us an update on your current projects?

Currently, I can confirm that two shows are slated for release: one for ALTBalaji/MX Player and one for Eros Now, both starring Mona Singh. I am the author and creator of the first, and the screenwriter of the second. In terms of further initiatives, I should hopefully be able to confirm them soon.

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