Ram Gopal Varma Drops More Details On Experiment: DONGALA MUTHA

Todd reported a few weeks ago on Indian auteur Ram Gopal Varma's plan to make a full feature in five days with zero expenditure.  At first, it was reported, by RGV himself, that the feature would start shooting on February 11th and debut in theaters on March 11th, but we've learned that RGV is even more ambitious that we'd though.  Today we have more details about something that sounds more interesting the more is released. 

The film is to be called Dongala Mutha (A Gang Of Thieves).  It is reported to be an action/gangster thriller and will be filmed all on location in Hyderabad, India.  There will be a crew of only five people: RGV as director, one associate director, and 3 camera operators.  If this were just some random director and some local theater actors, it would probably just be taken as a lark, but RGV is a huge name in Indian film, and he has grabbed some of the most famous actors in Tollywood to join him, and all for no pay.  Also along for the ride are Telugu  superstar Ravi Teja (who can be seen in the recent hit Don Seenu, soon to be reviewed here), Laxmi Manchu, a newcomer whose first film role in Disney's Anaganaga O Dheerudu is getting her great notices from the Indian film press, another comedy legend in Brahmanandam (a recent recipient of the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors), as well as Ajay and Prakash Raj, both big name actors in south India.

We initially reported that the film would go from first day of shooting to first day on the screen in 30 days.  However, Ram Gopal Varma apparently found some fat in that schedule and has trimmed it down to 23 days.  They will start shooting on February 9th and open in theaters on March 4th.  Pretty amazing stuff if he pulls it off.  The entire film will be shot on three Canon 5D digital SLR cameras, and the original audio track will also be recorded on these cameras, with looping to follow in the post-production.  The post-production period also includes all special and VFX, dubbing, background scoring, editing, and final cut with submission to censors.  This is no film festival artsy-fartsy film, this is going to be a commercial film hitting multiple screens in a wide opening.  Pretty intense. 

Here's RGV's statement on the film:

The unique thing about this film of mine is that this 2 hour long feature film will be completed in just 5 days start to finish, with a crew of just 5 people including me.

No one in this film is going to be paid. It is being made only with those actors and technicians who are excited to be a part of this project.

All the people who are working for this project will only be paid after the release of the film that is, if and only if the film makes profits and those payments will be in accordance with their individual value additions.

My primary intention of doing this film is to establish a fact of how it is possible to use present day Digital Technology to make a Theatrical film in just 5 days and with just a 5 member crew and that too at zero cost.

The technology I am adapting for this film is going to once for all prove that it's not Crores of rupees that one needs to make a film but it's just a story which excites all concerned and a passionate desire in all concerned to see that the film gets made and gets released.

The film will be released on March 4th that is exactly in 23 days from the start date of the shooting which is February 9th.

The five member unit breakup is as follows:
1. Director
2. Associate Director
3. Three Canon 5D camera operators

There will be no generator, no lights, no equipments of any sort including Jibs, trolleys etc. as the entire film will be shot hand held and in natural light. The pilot track for the sound will be recorded by the cameras themselves.

So in this film "Dhongala Mutha" I have set out
(1) to push the digital technology to its peak limits.
(2) to make a film in a record time.
(3) to have a least number of crew.
(4) to make it at zero cost.

As soon as the film is out I will give the details of how I achieved this as only when you actually see the film you will understand what I am talking about. All in all, I can say now itself that the process I am employing in "Dhongala Mutha" will be and can be the only way which will bring in a true democratization to the process of film making and free aspiring Producers and Directors from the tyranny of lack of money.

For people who want to closely follow the work flow of "Dhongala Mutha" it is as follows:
■ Shoot starts - Feb 9th
■ Shoot ends - Feb 13th
■ Final Edit done - Feb 20th
■ Background Score, Sound EFX and Dubbing - Feb 25th
■ Final Mix and Censor Print done - March 1st
■ Theatrical release - March 4th
Total no of days from shoot start to release - 23 Days

Jai to Canon 5D and other assorted Digital Technologies!