Kaushiki was a great script and I love thrillers so it was a perfect fit: Suparn Verma
Director Suparn Verma (of Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena and Acid Factory fame) has debuted his new webseries, Kaushiki, on the over-the-top (OTT) video service Viu. Kaushiki is a 13-episode thriller revolving around the protagonist of the same name and played by the talented Sayani Gupta. Kaushiki becomes "a part of a popular and high-profile group of friends". The show turns on its head when Kaushiki discovers that the friends she has made and enjoys being around aren't actually who they appear to be.
They all may be defined by the alcohol-fueled parties but below all of that are some deep, dark secrets, just waiting to get out. Kaushiki stars Sayani Gupta, Rannvijay Singh, Omkar Kapoor, Namit Das, Manasi Scott, Shruti Srivastava and Rajeev Siddharth.
Kaushiki, a 13-episode webseries that premiered on Viu on 27 April and Verma hope that a second season will be commissioned very soon. Verma is keen to get a head start on it and already has an idea.
The role of the cop is played by Rannvijay Singh. "When I was offered Kaushiki, I just had to go ahead with the role since I felt that everything was perfect, from the script to the cast to my role," says Singh. "The entire team has put in a lot of effort in this series and I hope the audience love the show".
Gupta, playing the lead role, talks about how the ensemble cast was great to work with. "The script of Kaushiki really excited me as it gave me a chance to innovate with the set of roles I like to essay. The series has a great ensemble and it was great fun shooting with all of them," Gupta says. "The trailer is out and I am really looking forward to its launch. Hope people enjoy watching me in as Kaushiki as much as I enjoyed enacting it".
This is Verma's second webseries and is being produced by Big Synergy. Catch News caught up with Verma to get a little more insight into why he chose the digital medium.
Edited excerpts from the interview follow:
SB: Why did you choose to direct a web-series for OTT platform Viu?
SV: Kaushiki was a great script and I love thrillers so it was a perfect fit. Viu has been a great platform to work with because they have a great set up and some lovely people working with them who have supported us from day one.
SB: Do you think the web series space is about to explode in India as Netflix has up to seven originals coming out within the next couple of months?
SV: The web series space is going to get bigger and better with the audiences becoming more demanding and the target audience shifting completely to what creators have been making so far. This will help improve the quality of content we have been putting out so far.
SB: What was the most exciting part of shooting 13 episodes of Kaushiki?
SV: The challenge of shooting a complex script with so many layers, changing characters, motives and building the pace was the biggest challenge.
Also, trying to be as ambitious as I could be at the same time keeping shooting dates and budgets in check. In the end, it always comes down to having a great team and working together with everyone aligning themselves to a common vision.
SB: Will you be directing another web series after Kaushiki, and what about season 2?
SV: I hope there is a season 2, we already have an idea for a second one. It depends on how fast the creators pitch it and Viu gives green signal to it.
SB: As this is your first web series, how was it different from shooting a short or feature-length film?
SV: This is my second webseries, it’s different from a feature or a television show or a short because each involves a different style of storytelling and character building, the pace is different at times and so is the audience. I feel lucky to be able to dabble in all these different visual mediums and tell stories.
SB: Where do you think original TV series (web/television) will fit in?
SV: India has the richest culture of storytelling and I think we are entering the golden age in India as well, a little late but then is better than never. We have such a varied culture and people have so much of talent here that India will become a superpower of storytellers in a decade if we keep pushing ourselves.
First published: 7 May 2018, 12:38 IST
