New Delhi, June 23
The action-thriller 'A Wednesday,' released in 2008, continues to strike a chord with audiences, even more than a decade after its release. Directed by Neeraj Pandey, the movie marked his debut as a filmmaker and went on to become a strong and meaningful film that won both awards and hearts.
Now, years later, Neeraj Pandey has opened up about how A Wednesday shaped his journey as a storyteller, discussing the impact it had on him and how it made him feel more "responsible" and "accountable" in his future projects.
While speaking to ANI, the filmmaker shared that A Wednesday was a project that went "against the trend"--whether it was the style, the casting, or the subject. However, the love and support from the audience gave him the confidence to trust his stories.
"It is very interesting that you are asking this question because it's been so many years, and there has not been a single press conference in my life where, you know, it doesn't go back to my first film. And the only way I can sum up how it shaped me is that, when you're making your debut film, you're doing it with actors you believe in. The film goes against the trend. The format goes against the trend. The actors and the casting go against the trend," said Pandey.
"But when you see that there is an audience waiting to watch that particular film--and not just watching, but loving it and encouraging you with lots of love and blessings--it just goes to show that you feel more responsible as a storyteller. You try to be more accountable with every film, every story you make. And that's the path that was charted with the release of A Wednesday," he added.
'A Wednesday' starred Anupam Kher as a police commissioner on the verge of retirement. The plot follows his tense encounter with a common man, played by Naseeruddin Shah, who holds the city hostage to get justice in his own way. The film received wide critical acclaim and was produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Shital Bhatia, and Anjum Rizvi. It won several awards and is often praised for its tight script, strong performances, and relevant message.
— ANI
Reader Comments
A Wednesday was a game-changer for Indian cinema! The way it blended realism with entertainment was brilliant. Neeraj Pandey proved that good content always finds its audience, trends be damned. Still gives me goosebumps when I watch Naseeruddin Shah's monologue. 🤯
This film showed us the power of minimalism in storytelling. No big songs, no unnecessary romance track - just pure, gripping narrative. Wish more filmmakers would take inspiration from this instead of chasing box office formulas. Neeraj Pandey set the bar very high with his debut itself!
While I appreciate A Wednesday, I feel Neeraj Pandey's later films became too formulaic. Special Ops was good but lacked the rawness of his debut. Maybe he became too 'responsible' as he says? Still, hats off for giving us one of the best thrillers in Indian cinema history.
The casting was perfect! Anupam Kher and Naseeruddin Shah - two legends at their best. This film proved star power isn't everything. Good writing and performances matter more. My whole family still quotes dialogues from this movie during discussions about current affairs. 😄
A Wednesday was ahead of its time. The themes it tackled - corruption, terrorism, common man's frustration - are even more relevant today. Shows how visionary Pandey was. Though I wish he'd make more hard-hitting films like this instead of just commercial projects now.
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