Filmmaker Nandita Das revealed how Zwigato was conceived initially and what are its focal points. She said that the Kapil Sharma film was initially meant to be a 20-minute short film but the team eventually decided to turn it into a short film
Das revealed in her fireside chat with Business Today Editor- Technology Aayush Ailawadi that she was scared when producers told her to convert a 20-minute short into a full-length feature film.
The filmmaker and actor said, “At that time I was scared that I’ll have to study more about algorithms and ratings and it’s entered something that I wouldn’t understand. But that’s just on the surface. Finally, it’s about human relationships.”
Nandita Das further revealed that Zwigato was meant to be a part of the anthology series which did not work. She also said that the working class has vanished from the popular narrative
Das, also known for her films like Manto and Firaaq, said that the irony of ‘stay home, stay safe’ was not lost on anybody during the COVID-19 pandemic. She added that gig work emerged as an alternate form of employment due to joblessness and uncertainty about the future
The acclaimed filmmaker said, “While a lot of people say Covid has made us more empathetic. But the flip side is Covid has also made us more selfish in a way because we are all sort of fighting for that place.”
The film focuses on a food delivery rider who grapples with the world of ratings, algorithms and incentives. The film did not fare well at the box office and could only collect Rs 1.84 crore in its three-day.
She said they have multiple identities but somehow being a woman tops everything. Das also said more women should be making decisions behind the camera.
The filmmaker said, “I’m a woman director and I want many more women to be telling their stories bringing in that diversity of perspectives”