‘Living My Script in Real Life’: Dibakar Banerjee Talks About Tees’ Delayed Release

Picture this: Dibakar Banerjee, the genius behind films like "Khosla Ka Ghosla" and "Oye Lucky Lucky Oye!", finds himself in a real-life déjà vu situation. His latest film, "Tees," has hit a snag and is chilling in limbo, thanks to Netflix shelving its release. Talk about living your own script, huh? 🎬😅

Dibakar’s Dilemma: A Real-life Plot Twist!

Our man Dibakar, known for serving us cinema with a side of depth and drama, is currently experiencing a plot twist straight out of his own movie. "Tees," a film brimming with stellar performances from Naseeruddin Shah, Manisha Koirala, and Huma Qureshi, among others, recently wowed audiences at the Cinevesture International Film Festival. But alas, Netflix decided to throw a spanner in the works by stalling its release, echoing the controversy that surrounded "Tandav."

In "Tees," we are whisked away to a future where a writer’s book faces rejection from a government commission. Sounds eerily familiar, no? Dibakar himself admits, "It’s like I’m bizarrely living my film’s story." Aapne jo likha woh aapko hi ho gaya, Dibakar! 😜

Art Imitating Life or Life Imitating Art?

The movie weaves through the lives of a Kashmiri Muslim woman in 1989 and a woman grappling with Mumbai’s real estate hurdles in 2018. Originally titled "Freedom," this film was a labor of love, akin to "Khosla Ka Ghosla," but now it seems to be caught in a web of self-censorship and fear of legal hassles. Banerjee’s candid take? "Filmmakers are dodging police and court cases like they’re a game of ghar ghar." 🎭

The film’s journey took Dibakar on a rollercoaster ride, plunging him into what he describes as a "deep dark hole." But, as they say, jab life gives you lemons, make lemonade—Dibakar bounced back with a little help from therapy and is now pouring his heart into new projects.

Kashmir, Khaandaan, and Khaas Stories

"Tees" tells the tale of a middle-class family in Kashmir, drawing parallels between them and families across India. Dibakar’s mission was simple: to highlight the universality of human experiences, even against the backdrop of conflict. "Kashmiris are like any other Indian families," he states. "They just have a few extra ‘adventures’ being in a border region." 🏞️

The film also dabbles in societal issues, from clean air to the implications of late-stage capitalism, with Banerjee urging us not to become complacent in our tastes. "I’m not here just to entertain," he declares. "I want to engage and provoke thought." 👀

Fighting the Good Fight

Dibakar’s journey resembles that of a soldier he’s once interviewed—battle-hardened yet resilient. His advice? Stay connected with your tribe—whether family, friends, or fellow cinephiles. "Isolation is the enemy," he warns, "and once you lose touch, you’re easy prey for the powers that be." 🎥

As Banerjee embarks on new cinematic adventures, he considers himself lucky. "I’m starting fresh," he beams. "Not many filmmakers my age get this chance." And with that, Dibakar Banerjee is ready to script his next narrative. 🎬

Kiran’s Gyan: In Bollywood, life often imitates art more than we realize. Sometimes, our filmi kahaanis jump off the screen and start dancing in our real lives. So, dear Bollywood, keep the drama on-screen and let the filmmakers enjoy some popcorn off it! 🍿😜