Exclusive! Joker: Sourish Dey makes a feature film with almost 60,000 still photos

Filmmaker Sourish Dey continues to tread an unconventional path. After his silent film Juto and Bagh, the ad filmmaker came up with a unique idea of making a full-length feature film using just still photos. Based on a real-life performer, the postproduction of the film is in its last leg. 

Sourish – an editor, colourist, and ad filmmaker – makes an out-of-the-box film regularly. “I try to make an experimental film. I made a silent film, Juto, which delves into a man’s obsession with his orange-pair shoes. Then I made Baagh with Biswanath Basu. And now I am working on this unique project, Joker,” said the director.

Also read: Juto: Sourish Dey is ready with his silent feature film 

Joker is made with a series of still photographs. Sourish penned the script, and directed and edited the film. Pramit Das and his assistant Pavel took the photos. The team shot for 18 days and took almost 84,046. Finally, 59,561 stills are used to make the film. Ujwal Das worked as the art director of the film. “The main character of the film is portrayed by Bagamber Bera. In real life, he dresses up as a joker in circus and wedding parties. He is 3 feet and 7 inches tall. The film is about his life,” said the director. 

According to Sourish, Joker is the first of its kind in India. “I did a bit of research and found out that this will be the first Indian feature film with just still photos. There is a beautiful Polish-UK animation, Loving Vincent, which is made with oil paintings. Some films used still photos but I don’t think anything like this happened in India,” he said. 

Sourish and his team are working on the background score. “It is not easy to make independent films in India. We are looking for a good musician. But we are also struggling with funds. Once the film is ready, we will send them out to festivals,” he said.