An experience such as Yellow teaches you to stop being greedy about life: Mahesh Limaye

Not even in his wildest dreams did cinematographer-turned-director Mahesh Limaye imagine his first feature film Yellow would create such a devastating impact. The little film with a big heart about a specially-abled child, produced by Riteish Deshmukh, has shaken a nation stuck in a state of cynical stupor. Speaking about the wide impact of Yellow director Mahesh Limaye says, “We knew we were making a sincere emotional film about a specially abled child and her relationship with her mother. The emotional strength was there inherent in the story. All I had to ensure was that I told the story as sincerely as I could.” Mahesh says he’s somewhat stunned by the film’s impact. “Though it’s a film in the Marathi language it’s being watched by non–Marathi audiences. That to me, is the film’s greatest achievement. If we can make audiences watch a film in a language they don’t speak or understand we have achieved what art is supposed to do. Gauri’s story could not remain region-restricted. Her saga is the ultimate triumph-of-spirit saga. We were sure it would have an emotional impact on the audience. We never knew it would reach so far.” Limaye who has done the cinematography of many of Madhur Bhandarkar’s films including Corporate, Traffic Signal, Fashion and Heroine, says his directorial debut was purely providential. “Although I’ve observed and worked with specially abled children I never thought I’d make my feature-film debut with a film on a specially abled child.” The director who has suddenly come into renown gives all credit to producers Riteish Deshmukh and Uttung Hitendra Thakur for making Yellow happen. “They believed in Gauri Gadgil and her story of how she overcame her disability to become an Olympian swimming champ. When I was asked to direct this amazing story I felt a huge sense of responsibility. It was as thought I was being told by invisible powers to put forward a story that would inspire generations. Throughout the making of the film I felt the same power guiding me. In that sense Yellow just happened on its own. I am just a tool.” The subject required four months of intense research Directing a specially abled actor in the lead role was not easy. Mahesh says his long experience as an ad filmmaker really helped him to get a grip on the situation. “When you direct an ad you learn to tell a story quickly before the lights fade and the actors lose their concentration. In my 20 years of experience as ad maker I have frequently worked with kids. They are to be handled with great patience and sensitivity. I guess those 20 years of experience in making ads prepared me for this big challenge that was Yellow.” The lead actor with her exceptional physical and emotional condition had to be often coaxed into facing the camera. “There had to be a lot of adjustment in and around her emotional status. For some stretches of time she would not want to shoot. We couldn’t pressurize her. So we just had to wait. But then once she was in the right frame of mind she would just swim through the scenes.” Shooting with Gauri Gadgil has completely changed the director’s perspective as a human being. “I think better. I look at life with far more compassion and gratitude. Shooting Yellow has changed my attitude to life completely. We take so much for granted until we meet someone who has to overcome major hurdles in life. An experience such as Yellow teaches you to stop being greedy about life. We covet too many things and appreciate too little.” Mahesh is completely taken aback by the force of his film’s impact. “Right now I am still coming to terms with what the film has achieved. It will take me a very long time to come out of the Yellow impact. But yes, I want to make a love story next. It doesn’t matter which language the characters speak, as long as they speak the language of the heart.”