Punjabiyat would reflect in everything I do: Amritpal Singh Bindra

Nonika Singh

Ignorance may or may not be bliss… But often it can open doors to new learning and experiences. As happened with producer and writer Amritpal Singh Bindra. Prior to the making of Bandish Bandits he may have had no interest or inclination towards the sublime world of Hindustani classical music. But when he heard his friend Namit Das, son of ghazal singer Chandan Dass, share how his father had spent 19 years trying to understand a raga, he was clearly both flummoxed and awestruck.

It not just set him thinking, but also became a Eureka moment for him and his director friend Anand Tiwari. Thus was born Bandish Bandits, the popular Amazon Prime show, which has millennials tapping to the beats of classical music. In the beginning when they pitched the subject to several platforms, the naysayer told them to look at other subjects like say Bollywood or other genres of music. But once Amazon Prime came on board, it was a smooth sail. Of course, challenges too were very many, and the biggest challenge that Bindra faced while writing this show was how to make it entertaining, how to ensure it reached out not just to Indian but international audiences without diluting the authentic strength and beauty of classical music.

Not a cakewalk

Writing a musical drama where music is the story anyway is no cake walk. Bindra shares how the musical pieces were written before they began shooting and nothing was left to chance. Of course, this is a lesson that Bindra, who acquired a postgraduate degree in Fine Arts from New York Film Academy and worked for biggies like Avatar and Chronicles of Narnia, had learnt from Hollywood. “The biggest takeaway for me has been the amount of prep they do before starting any project.”

Indeed, things have begun to change closer home too where he asserts talent was never in dearth, only due diligence was not paid enough attention. “Now, of course we have reached a point where we are creating content, which is technologically advanced, subtle and nuanced.” This healthy change, he attributes to rise of social media thanks to which, “Lazy writing will be called out and so would plagiarism be.” But don’t the hyperactive netizens call out much that is totally uncalled for? He agrees that there is random hate floating too. But he would rather focus on positive criticism and takes all the feedback (for Bandish Bandits) seriously. The second season (you bet it is in the offing), would factor in much of it.

Formidable team

Both worked as assistant directors in Barfi; In 2013, Amritpal Singh Bindra and AnandTiwari formed Still and Still Media Collective. Dubbing their creative partnership as akin to husband and wife relationship, who disagree to agree on most counts, Bindra says, “Friends as business partners is an equation that works really well.”

Unique stories

With a solid background in the way west creates spectacles, having worked in the marketing department of Fox International Productions, can we expect majestic sci-fi escapades from him in near future? Bindra says, “More than genres, we are interested in telling unique stories and making value addition as storytellers with a difference. For us story dictates everything else.” This philosophy reflects in much of his work, be it web series such as Bang Baaja Baaraat, Official Chukyagiri or movies like Love Per Square Foot.

Indians understanding of what a producer does might be limited, but much of the creative calls, he insists, are taken by the one who wears the producer’s hat.

Up next

Soon he may don the director’s mantle too. A Punjabi story…we so hope? And this Punjabi who grew up in Mumbai and speaks Punjabi oh-so-fluently quips, “Punjabiyat would reflect in everything I do.” And not just a Punjabi film he is toying to make.

By the way, among the many exciting projects he and Tiwari are working on is a deal they have clinched with Dharma Productions - a film on Indian spymaster RAW founder RameshwarNath Kao. Baiters on social media might be fulminating and spewing fire at Karan Johar, but Bindra is adamant, “The fact that is he is collaborating with rank outsiders speaks louder than trolls. In all our interactions with him, we have received due regard and respect.” Indeed, who can ignore talent and a mind that refuses to toe the line! Fresh and uncommon was not just the USP of Bandish Bandits, but everything Bindra has done and intends to do.

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