Madly explores six stories of modern love in all of its dizzying, sweet complications, culminating into one iconoclastic, feature-length anthology. The film takes a passionate trip around the world with Gael García Bernal, Sion Sono, Sebastián Silva, Mia Wasikowska, Anurag Kashyap and Natasha Khan behind the camera for each 15-minute vignette.

Director Anurag Kashyap and Producer Nusrat Durrani talk about their story in this anthology.

Anurag Kashyap - Pandolin.com

Anurag Kashyap

Director Anurag Kashyap on working on a short film format

I love short film formats and have made several. Sadly nobody’s seen it! I love this format because there’s so much freedom. Unlike features, I don’t need to be cautious or deal with censorship. Short film formats are sadly not popular even at festivals.

But in my film, Clean Shaven, the asexual love could only be best defined in a short format where I had the liberty to do away with all dialogues towards the end and make it more powerful. This format allows that kind of space.

Anurag on the ‘Trapped’ theme dominating his protagonist

This had to be done as naturally and asexually as possible. And this is based on a true story. My friend got married when she was 19 and moved to the US. Her husband seemed very modern and open minded. They were married 17 years and one day, when she decided to go get herself a Brazillian, he was shocked and accused her of having an affair. He locked her up inside the room for three years! And spread rumours to her kids and family that she was a druggie. So much so that they didn’t even want to meet her. Point is, despite being so evolved on the outside, such people exist.

Nusrat Durrani - Pandolin.com

Nusrat Durrani (Extreme Right) with the team of Madly

Producer Nusrat Durrani on the genesis of Madly

We define love in a very one dimensional way. But I didn’t want the crappy boy – girl love stories that we see all the time. I wanted to go beneath the surface definition of love to make films that I haven’t made before. More importantly, I wanted my directors to make films in the way that they wanted – without any restriction. Madly is a mad film about unrequited love, confusing love of a new mom, dangerous love, love within a family…

 -Aayusha Shah