Kalki Koechlin-starrer "Margarita With A Straw" may come across as an offbeat film, one which has traversed to different movie festivals, but filmmaker Shonali Bose says it's a typical Bollywood commercial film with songs.
Bose recalls having told producers Viacom18 Motion Pictures: "Why are you sending this film to the festivals?"
But then when the movie garnered some awards, she was clear she didn't want the accolades to be flashed on the film's poster before its commercial releases as "people will feel it's an arthouse film and boring".
"I want to say it's a Bollywood film and also has five songs in it. I have made this film for Indian audience," Bose said of the film, which released in theatres on Friday.
Kalki plays a girl with cerebral palsy in the movie, which talks about her struggle with the normal activities in her life.
Bose has taken care of not showing the "problems of disability".
"One important thing of the film is you will forget that she is in a wheel chair," said the filmmaker, whose movie also features Revathi and Sayani Gupta.
While marketing and promotions have become an inseperable part of filmmaking, Bose admits a movie like "Margarita With A Straw" needed it all the more "because there is no star".
"The film has released in 250 screens, but for the numbers, people should know there is such a film coming up," the 49-year-old said.
She knew it from the beginning that while there is scope for the movie to earn an audience via word of mouth, the film won't get a strong opening.
Bose says Kalki was always the first and only choice for the lead role because of her endearing smile and willingness to work hard.
"She did the auditions for three to four months, and I had also told her she can't do any other commercials or other films. When she did 'Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani', we had to move on and we started auditioning other actors. But something was missing in them and they could not give the commitment."
"Then I called Kalki and said we will wait for you for three months," she added.
