By Ananya Uthaiah and Dipti Wadhera
Renowned assistant director Prince Shah, known for his contributions to blockbuster films such as Tenet and Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol, has ventured into the realm of documentary filmmaking with his compelling project, Moon on the Man. The documentary, which recently screened at the Bangalore International Centre, explores the captivating lives of one of India’s youngest freedom fighters and a former child artiste who once shared the screen with some of Bollywood’s greatest talents.
Prince Shah sits down with The Hindu to discuss the inspiration that fueled this endeavor and the transformation of a mere idea into a poignant cinematic work. His curiosity about human lives and a desire to understand different realities led him to piece together footage over nearly five years.
The intriguing journey began when Prince Shah met Praklawn, an elderly man in his 80s living in the red light district of Mumbai. Encountering Praklawn was serendipitous; Shah was animatedly discussing a film with friends outside a theatre when the long-haired senior approached them, introducing himself as a former associate of the acclaimed auteur Guru Dutt. This chance meeting spurred a series of engaging interactions and eventually led to the creation of Moon on the Man.
Praklawn, born Prakash Lalwani, stands out as one of India’s youngest freedom fighters, and his vibrant past includes collaborations with Guru Dutt and even Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond. Fleming’s affectionate nickname for Praklawn stuck, and he continued to use it throughout his life. “He has this great energy and aura, he’s a legendary guy,” noted Prince Shah during a recent event, reflecting on the immense influence Praklawn had on him.
The documentary also introduces viewers to Sailesh Kumar, a 55-year-old former child actor now living on the pavements of Marine Drive. Their paths crossed as Prince’s college was directly opposite Sailesh’s usual spot. Through multiple conversations, Prince learned that Sailesh had been a celebrated child actor, appearing in over 60 films alongside luminaries like Amitabh Bachchan and Raj Kapoor.
Moon on the Man poignantly captures their stories, weaving together their life experiences and daily routines set against the bustling backdrop of Mumbai. What started as a fictional plot during Prince Shah’s assistant directorship gradually evolved into a biographical documentary thanks to the indelible impact of meeting Praklawn. “I spent nine years making this film,” Prince shares, illustrating the depth of commitment and passion he invested in this project.
These two larger-than-life personalities, paired with Prince Shah’s friends Asif and Wadood, who contributed by providing the dialogue, form the crux of the narrative.
. While the documentary is mainly biographical, it also serves as a philosophical inquiry into reality, illusions, and truth. Praklawn and Sailesh are the central figures, but their expressed experiences and the artful storytelling devices employed extend the film’s reach far beyond their personal tales.
One such device includes the “mirror man,” a symbolic element that aims to reflect the existential questions posed in the film back onto the audience. It transforms viewers into characters within the documentary’s landscape, bridging the gap between the subject and the observer.
Discussing the creative process at the Bangalore International Centre, Prince Shah emphasized the organic evolution of the film. “Everything evolved organically. We have to be patient while filming documentaries, while for fictional content there always is a plan,” he asserts.
Initially overwhelmed by the transition from feature films to documentaries, Prince Shah recounts the unique challenges faced during production. The team had to adapt to using unsanitized footage, often shot spontaneously with an iPhone at night to minimize unwanted sounds. With support from a close-knit team, including editor Ashish Ranglani and cinematographer Vaibhav Sorte, they navigated these hurdles proficiently and found joy in the arduous process.
Interestingly, Praklawn’s involvement in a 2016 protest supporting Palestine revealed to Prince an entirely new perspective on global affairs, broadening his understanding beyond the insular world of cinema. Similarly, his interactions with Sailesh Kumar, despite the latter’s dire living conditions, taught him profound lessons about contentment and happiness. “Despite living on the streets without money or resources, Sailesh seems happier than many of us,” Prince reflects.
As the documentary gains traction, Moon on the Man is set to be screened at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai and various other venues across India. Furthermore, plans are underway to release the film on several OTT platforms, making it accessible to a broader audience.
Reflecting on his work, Prince Shah invokes the words of Alfred Hitchcock: “In feature films, the director is God; in documentary films, God is the director.” Moon on the Man indeed epitomizes this philosophy, capturing the raw essence of life through the lens of two remarkable men and the dedicated team who brought their stories to light.
