Challenges won’t stop me from making films that matter: Aditya Kripalani

‘You saved a life,’ ‘This movie gave me hope,’ and ‘I would love to see more films on this topic,’ are just some of the many comments left by people who watched filmmaker Aditya Kripalani’s movie Not Today (2021) after it was made publicly available on YouTube recently. The feature film, starring Rucha Inamdar and Harsh Chhaya, delicately initiates a conversation on suicide prevention and mental health that has struck a chord with many who related to the film and its powerful sequences. In a chat, Aditya, also known for Tikli & Laxmi Bomb and Tottaa Pataaka Item Maal, talks about the inception of the film, a difficult phase that he overcame, and how a well-intentioned film has struggled to find buyers for nearly five years. Excerpts from a chat:

‘We need more films that will help people make that one call at the right time’
For many, Not Today is like a friend they can share their deepest thoughts with and that is exactly what Aditya aimed to do through his film. “My partner and I have lost people to suicide—friends and family. I wanted to make a film that makes people feel less lonely. When you break up, you can listen to sad songs but what about when someone is battling suicidal thoughts? I want people to feel like there is hope,” he shares, adding, “I reached a similar space after making the film—something I've not been very vocal about publicly. That happened two and a half years after making the film. Fortunately, I was able to get out of it. Cinema is a very emotional medium and a film about suicide prevention can help people to make that one call at the right time. We need more films on suicide prevention.”

‘Platforms need to have responsibility and also show things that matter’
Despite having a well-intentioned film, Aditya reveals that he faced many challenges when he wanted to sell his film. “We approached multiple OTT platforms, but everyone rejected the film without citing any reasons. It has been screened at film festivals and also won the FIPRESCI International Critics Award at the Bengaluru International Film Festival in 2021. But we still don’t know why no one’s ready to buy it. This was one of the reasons behind the low that I had reached. But we finally decided to bring it out ourselves and the whole industry supported us. Most people are helpful; it’s just the middlemen that need to have some responsibility and help to showcase things that matter.”

‘I will not let hurdles stop me from making films that address important issues’
Aditya says that irrespective of the challenges, he got support from people from the industry. Anurag Kashyap released the film’s trailer and artistes like Manav Kaul, Jitendra Joshi, Mukta Barve, Mithila Palkar, Kalki Koechlin, Sobhita Dhulipala, and Ira Khan, among others, shouldered this cause. “We are also working at the grassroots level so the film can reach anyone who needs to watch it,” he shares, adding, “There have been challenges along the way since I made Not Today but I will not let this stop me from making films on issues that need representation.”

*If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues or suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help. You are not alone*Mental Health Helplines in India:
-KIRAN (24x7 Mental Health Rehabilitation Helpline) Toll-Free: 1800-599-0019
-Snehi India (Emotional Support for Youth) Helpline: 91-22-2772-6771 / 72
-AASRA (Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Support) 24x7 Helpline: 91-22-2754-6669
-Vandrevala Foundation (Mental Health Support) Helpline: 9999-666-555
-Sumaitri (Suicide Prevention) Helpline: 91-11-2338-9090
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