A Filmmaker Is A Storyteller, Says Director Ashish Panda

A Filmmaker Is A Storyteller, Says Director Ashish Panda

Odisha born director Ashish Panda believes that music videos not only serve the purpose of
melody but also narrate stories. A native of Brajrajanagar, Ashish has directed numerous
chartbusters including ‘Kabhi Yaadon Mein Aao’, ‘Humnava Mere’ and the latest ‘Toh Aagaye
Hum’. His major projects include collaborations with India’s leading music label T-Series.

“Filmmaking is more than what people just see on screen. It requires efforts to conceive and
believe in a story in order to conceptualise it for the final output. Whether it’s a music video,
short film, web series or a movie, the process is equal for every director and team. The
audience would not believe in what they see unless the director believes in what he makes,”
Ashish said.

While he is the creator of T-Series’ major chartbusters, most of his songs are unfinished stories.
Talking about ‘Toh Aagaye Hum’, Ashish said, “This is for the first time I was given the
opportunity to direct a romantic song. As everyone knows, my previous songs were sad and
melancholic in nature. As a composer, Mithoon believed that with my direction, the song would
do justice to the story.”

Generally, people portray Rajasthan as a land of desert and camels. But in this song, people will
see a new side of the State. “I wanted to give a romantic impression to it. The lanes and roads
of Rajasthan silently narrate the journey of the character who has lived in those places and
eventually falls in love with a girl. So this one-sided story travels through the town of Udaipur
and has a happy ending,” he informed.

Sharing his bond with Ashish, Mithoon said, “Both of us are really good friends and have often
worked together. We know each other since years and he is a brilliant composer. He has been an A.D in ‘Sanam Re’, my biggest
project of that year. He was also in ‘Yaariyan’. I really feel proud of his passion towards work and the way he indulges himself in athe project. He has brilliantly presented me in the video of
‘Toh Aagaye Hum’.”

The top music video director informed that he always takes up a project after the completion of
background work. “I feel that I am more of a storyteller than just a director,” said Ashish who
discovered his passion for filmmaking during his engineering days.

Apart from directing music videos, Ashish has made a short film called ‘Bulbul’ written by
Kundan Shah whom he considers as his mentor. “One need not run to be the best. Your efforts,
hard work and determination will coronate you and put you on the suitable throne. Your
dreams should help you get on the right path. To grow, you need to keep going until the end,”
he opined.

Ashish further said he wishes to make movies on Odia legends ‘Dharmapada’ and ‘Kharavela’ in
future.