Republica catches up with screenplay writer and actor Arpan Thapa and actor Namrata Shrestha. [break]
How would you describe “Maun”?
Arpan: It’s a very straightforward movie, depicting the love story of two people in a different perspective. The protagonists are hearing impaired, and hence communicate in sign language. The two characters basically represent such people’s emotions and show how they react to happiness and sorrows.
How did you learn the sign language and how long did it take?
Arpan: We had a three-month-long training with a teacher at the School for Deaf and Mute in Naxal. We mainly focused on learning the signs as per the script’s requirement.
So how confident are you in communicating in sign language in real life?
Arpan: Like I said, in the said three months, we only learnt what was required for the movie. Frankly speaking, I’ve already forgotten so many signs since it require a lot of constant practice. We had to take the teacher along with us for the shoot to ensure no mistake was made. However, I would love to learn it again since the skill is really helpful to communicate with those who are hearing impaired.
Namrata: Like Arpan said, we didn’t really have an in-depth training on sign language. So honestly speaking, I don’t think I’m really good at it. I had to do it during the movie shoot and make sure I didn’t make any mistake. But now that the shooting is over and I’m out of the character, I’m not so confident.
Tell us about the most memorable incident during the shoot?
Arpan: There are many memorable incidences. First of all, mimicking the sign language being done by the trainer was quite easy, but keeping them in mind and actually learning it was very difficult indeed. Sometimes, we couldn’t understand what the other was trying to imply and then we would burst into laughter. And this would mean another take, which was tiresome. Also, during an emotional scene with my onscreen mother, our producer Navin Gauli showed up with a marker-drawn moustache and ‘Producer’ written on his forehead. Someone had done so while he was sleeping, and he was totally unaware of it. The whole crew burst out laughing.
What were the challenges you had to face during the moviemaking?
Arpan: The role itself was very challenging. You have to express your feelings without uttering a word. Also, we couldn’t add up anything new to the script since we were limited with whatever of the sign language we had managed to learn.
What message is the movie trying to convey?
Namrata: My character gives voice to the voiceless. Th film has tried to convey the message that just because a person can’t speak doesn’t mean that s/he doesn’t feel.
What are your expectations from the movie?
Arpan: Maun is a different movie, in the truest sense of the word. And because it’s different, I’m not sure how the audience is going to receive it. It’s all up to them, I guess.
Namrata: I’m expecting a lot from the movie. Since we’ve put in so much effort, we hope the audience will like it.
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