'I have already started working on Kites'

After Indian Idol's Prashant Tamang comes another talent, also named Prashant, from North East India.

Prashant Rasaily was the runner-up in Gateway To Hollywood, a reality television show which gave a chance to budding filmmakers to go to Hollywood. Even though Prashant did not win, he bagged a prestigious project -- he will assist Anurag Basu in the Hrithik -starrer, Kites.

Prashant speaks to Patcy N about his experience on Gateway To Hollywood, and the future.

I am from Gangtok, Sikkim. I dropped out of school, as I was more interested in art and movies. My parents were supportive and at a very small age, I started singing and composing songs. I worked as disc jockey.

I was interested in filmmaking, so I made a 24-minute film called Myth. It was very difficult to convince people to fund my film, so I produced it myself, on a very small budget. I hired the equipment from Kolkata and shot the film in Sikkim. I did the post production work in Kolkata.

Myth is about the wildlife, and about gods who protect the wild.

The movie was appreciated and soon, I got an offer to write a Nepali film, Kagbeni. It is a thriller and has done well in Nepal. It also went to the MAMI festival. Unfortunately, I haven't seen the film yet.

I worked as a disc jockey by night and pursued my hobbies by day. So I did not face any financial constraints. Besides, my siblings also took care of my family. I have two sisters, one is a nurse and another is a doctor. My youngest brother has not decided what career he wants to take up yet.

I have two films in hand -- Karma and a silent film called Liason. But I don't know when I will be free to complete those.

I hoped to win Gateway To Hollywood, and was disappointed when I lost. But I felt reassured when I got work from Anurag Basu.

I have already started working with him on Kites. It's still on the pre-production stage. After that, I will be direct a film for him. We are looking for a good script. I will work on the first few drafts and he will check the final draft.

I don't plan my life so I don't know what I will do next. I have not decided whether I will stay back in Mumbai or return to Gangtok and work there. But if all goes well, I will stay in Mumbai.

http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/may/21prashant.htm