By far, one of the most enjoyable films I have seen in a while. Some crush-y romance, sports, and some family, and I’m all in. Kacchey Limbu premiered at TIFF 2022, and I had a chance to catch up with the director (Shubham Yogi) and cast of the wonderful film (Radhika Madan, Rajat Barmecha, Ayush Mehra). From feel good moments typical of sports films, there are defining moments for each character, and the cricket commentary (inserted in post-production is what Shubham tells me) takes on a character of its own. Here’s our chat:
 

So, I’m a little bit biased, I love feel good films but I had a chance to catch the film last night and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Shubham, for you, my question is more about an observation. Despite the relationships in the film, there is rarely a physical touch between any of the characters. Between Ayush and Radhika - there is no real romance outside the “we may like each other”, and then you have siblings. You make it a point to have eye contact, subtlety in the connection. Why was it important to not have physical touch between the characters, if that was a conscious decision?

Shubham: I think to answer the why to the question – all three of them are trying to carve out space for themselves in this world. If I allowed for any one of them to go into each other’s spaces, to engage in physical touch, or hold each other, it would interfere with the space they are trying to create for themselves. The only time you really see the brother and sister hug even, is closer to the finality of the film, and that is a conscious decision. They do not hold onto each other for support. That’s why it was designed as such.

At the script stage, it was organic, but during the shoot, it was planned. Now, if during filming, the actors engaged in some sort of physical touch and it was organic, then we went ahead with it if it fit the overall narrative.

 

Picking up on that, the tension between the romantic pair, so to speak, is lovely – there is a kind of friendship, interesting possible romantic angle. Then a sibling bond that shows how close the two of you are, and yet how competitive you are. Which subtle moment did you enjoy between each of your characters?

Ayush: It was very cute. That’s the first thing that came to my mind when I read it. It has to do with first love, like when you have a crush on someone for the first time. You get butterflies in your stomach – whether it’s school, college, community, or your colony – everyone has that first crush. These two were just brave enough to pursue…but we don’t know what happens later. It was that, and it just felt very innocent, simple. Radhika is also beautiful, so it is not difficult to emote (chuckles). We were told to explore and it was great for my first film. It was not a romance, necessarily, but it is a probable romance that may be going after the film. We know there is something, but we don’t know something.
 

There is a mystery but it is not distracting. What about the two of you?

Shubham: I think the bond you share with a sister is very, very important because I have a sister in my life, and I am very close to her. My sister always says she is my soulmate, and I really believe in that. For me, it brought back those memories, and so it was very easy for me. To explore that with Radhika as my sister, I think it was fun. The chemistry was natural – I mean, I remember, we had not even announced the film, and I wished her on Instagram with “Happy birthday, Ditto” and she shared the story, and she said, “thanks, bhai”. So it was a bit cliché, but we definitely felt that bond.

With Ayush’s character, it was similar to how you may have a buddy in your real life, and who affects you especially when something goes wrong. There are various points too, in the film, where I call his character by his last name, “Saini”. There is a friend in my life who I call by his last name, and that is where that idea came from, so that’s how we showed that friendship on screen.

Radhika: I also have a sibling and I remember copying everything about him! And with him, I have been told that we actually look like siblings! Side: great job with the casting. Aditi idolizes her brother a lot, so those moments, when I am drunk, and I am hungover, and I cannot see anybody but him – nuances in those moments, in those scenes, and he gives me the food for the hangover. Those moments helped with emoting without really saying anything. It was very easy for us to do our job, because all of the layers were written for us.
 

Each one of your characters has defining moments. Shubham, you realize you can have parallel goals. Ayush, you realize you have to come into your own. And for Radhika, the moment doesn’t happen much later, but it is the lack of clarity that provides clarity for your character. Each one of your characters have defining moments.  What did each one of you like about one other character in the film?

Ayush: I really enjoyed the fact that when you have clarity of what you do not have to do. And the journey that leads to that realization. You have to sometimes fail before that. That is something I enjoyed about Radhika’s character.

Radhika: I think it takes courage to let go of your dream, if you have been a prodigy in something. Rajat’s character – stuck between the thing that you are talented in – and time is going by. It requires growing up at that time. It takes courage to grow. I really like that about bhai’s character.

Rajat: The innocence of when you like someone. I think it was so nicely portrayed – so unlike Ayush (laughs).