Audiences will feel trapped while watching 'Hide N Seek': Director

Director Shawn Arranha is hoping to introduce a new fad in Bollywood with his movie “Hide N Seek” -- in his directorial debut he has used a "claustrophobic technique" that injects audiences with a feeling that they are entrapped in a cube with no escape.

“I have shot the film in a very different style. I've used a claustrophobic technique. Nobody has tried it yet in this magnitude for a film here. It has mostly been used for short films,” Arranha told IANS in a phone interview from Mumbai.

“The audience will actually feel edgy as the story will progress. They will find themselves stuck in the film. They will associate a lot with it. I am really hoping it (the technique) works and who knows it might become a trend,” he added.

Written and produced by Apoorva Lakhia, “Hide N Seek” is a suspense thriller shot entirely in Ahmedabad. It is being presented by Moser Baer.

“I've been with this team since the last 10 years and this is Apoorva's story merged with my style of technique... he really liked the treatment,” said Arranha.

Releasing Jan 8, the 105 minute thriller is about four friends played by Purab Kohli, Arjan Bajwa, Ayaaz Khan and Samir Kochhar. It is also Miss India Amruta Patki's debut vehicle.

Arranha said: “I can't talk much about the technique or else it would give away the film. The whole feel of the film is such that the audience will feel they are stuck in a cubic box and that they can't get out of it,” he said.

The debutant director took only 27 days to finish the film.

“We started with one concept and one thought. The script and the technique, everything else was planned. Moreover the casting really worked because they (actors) pushed themselves and that is why we could finish it in only 27 days and within budget,” he said.

Having around 13 years of experiences in the industry, Arranha started off as a production assistant on Channel V and then worked as an assistant director with various production houses for five years.

Later he worked as assistant director and chief first assistant director on movies like “Saathiya”, “Boom”, “Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost”, “Lakshya”, “The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey”, “Ek Ajnabee”, “Shootout At Lokhandwala” and “Mission Istaanbul”.

Arranha is also going to wield the megaphone for a Vashu Bhagnani movie.

"It'll be crazy youth centric stylised action love story written by me," said Arranha who is also in talks with Lakhia for a “love story”.

But he is keeping his fingers crossed for his maiden venture.

“Audiences are getting smarter and they want something new every weekend. I am expecting audiences to accept me because it is something extremely new I am bringing. And I am going to come out with different techniques in every film I do,” he added.

Last updated on Nov 24^th, 2009 at 15:01 pm IST--IANS