EXCLUSIVE: Mithila Makhaan’s Kranti Prakash Jha-Pankaj Jha special moments from the national award-winning film

While in Indian cinema we have been seen lots of content being made, very few films have managed to touch our hearts. And Mithila Makhaan is one of them. The film has been made in Bihar and has already won a national award before its release. While it’s an honest story encompassing every aspect of life, it’s the actors of the film who have added to its charm, and it's truly a piece of their heart coming from the director and the film’s cast. Sharing their amazing experience about this one of its kind films, Kranti Prakash Jha and Pankaj Jha get into an exclusive conversation with Instafeed. 

Kranti Prakash Jha

Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan has loved your film Mithila Makhaan a lot. What do you have to say about it?

Kranti Prakash Jha: I am very happy to see that films like these are getting appreciated. Especially when a superstar like Hrithik Roshan appreciates the film, it validates great content even more. The film has won a national award and the entire film industry has been supporting us and the movie, which is great. I would like to thank all of them including Hrithik, with their unconditional support cinema of Bihar will only progress. 

There are talks about making the country’s biggest film city in UP, what are your views on this? Don’t you think this might divide Bollywood? 

Kranti: It’s a very good idea, it will create employment for so many people. It will give a boost to the country and the state’s economy which is a very good thing. I hope the Government makes this film city soon, my best wishes are with them.  

You did a fabulous job in the television series Baba Ramdev: Ek Sangarsh. While taking up any role what are the parameters you look at?

Kranti: I believe that we don’t choose a role, it chose’s us. The character that we decide to play, a lot of planning and effort goes in with it. Acting is a difficult job because you have to take care of aspects which will help the audience connect with it. Once it gets into that space, everything else falls in place and this entire process is quite enjoyable. Acting is the only profession where you get to live in several countries, colors, characters, etc. This is not there in any other profession, which is why I find myself fortunate. 

Would you like to share some interesting anecdotes related to Mithila Makhan?

Kranti: Maithili is my mother tongue, so when I got an opportunity to work in a Maithili film, I automatically connected to my mother. If you are able to give back something to your roots, through your craft, it is great. The protagonist's house that has been shown in the film is my Nani’s house. My Mama lives there and he says that till the time Mithila Makhaan stays, that house will stay too. I would like to thank Nitin sir for choosing that house to shoot. 

Tell us something about your role in Mithila Makhaan

Kranti: How I have performed is something only the audience will be able to tell. I play a character who stays outside the country away from his family. And when he returns back to the village due to some reasons, the changes that come in his life have been shown in this film. Also, how he contributes something to the society has been portrayed in the film. He is very emotional about his belongings and his rules, that he wants to preserve. It’s a story of a common man who is connected to his roots. 

Other than this Kranti Prakash Jha is also a part of the TV show Raktanchal and we have also seen him play a pivotal role in the Sushant Singh Rajput starrer M.S. Dhoni the untold story. 

Pankaj Jha

What do you have to say about Mithila Makhaan winning a national award even before its release?

Pankaj: It has turned out to be a very beautiful film. Maithili is my mother tongue; I speak to my mother in it. I have worked with a lot of directors in the film industry, but it was always my dream to start working with Nitiniji and when I worked with him it made me very happy. In this film Kranti Prakash Jha has done a brilliant job, I have learned a lot from him, especially the art of subtle acting. I salute Nitin because he knows how much to comfort the actor to get the best chemistry out. Dialogues don’t matter much in a film, it’s the feel and energy that the director creates. I don’t think in today’s time we have a director as great as Nitin.

Other than the Bihar floods, including the damage it caused and the issues it gave rise to what else will the audience get to see in this film?

Pankaj: I saw this film in Patna, and it has been shown at some festivals too, and I kept looking for any issue that has not been tapped on in this film. The Mithila painting that has become extinct, has the famous Madhubani painting. The story has been very honestly depicted by Nitin.  

There are talks about making the country’s biggest film city in UP, what are your views on this?

Pankaj: It’s a great idea if it is helping people with employment. I find the whole world like a film city. Cinema has grown so big, digital is gaining so much prominence, especially, web-series. It is not like we only have one good actor in today’s time, in fact, there are many impressive talents available around. If they all come together it will be a great thing.  

According to you how should the newcomers identify with films and the web-space and decide on their work process?

Pankaj: We only differentiate between films and web-series, there is not like this. You should give your best with the character you are given, without focusing on the medium. I feel the newcomers should first ask themselves this question as to why are they coming into this field. Because if they have any false notions then they have to struggle. Those who live in doubt, fall prey to lots of things. 

What were your special moments while working on Mithila Makhaan?

Pankaj: My special moment was when Nitin called me to inform that he and Kranti were coming with a story on Mithila. I instantly connected with the story, the minute I heard it. We bonded very well and nowhere by are chemistry do we seem formal with each other. That is a big difference in the Hindi cinema and the Maithili cinema. Hindi Cinema and the appreciation that comes from its people, makes you fake and you cannot even figure it out. This is why you disconnect from a lot of roots, but this cinema connected me back to my roots. I cannot express my feelings in words. 

Mithila Makhaan is slated to release on 2nd October 2020. 

Written by Nawaz Kochra