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EXCLUSIVE: Bittu’s Karishma Dube on Oscar competition: Rani Kumari can give Oscar Isaac a run for his money
Director Karishma Dube speaks about making it to the top 10 list for Oscar’s Live Action Short Film category, her journey behind making the movie, competition and what she plans to wear on the big day
On February 9, shortlists in nine categories for the 93rd Academy Awards were announced, and our very own Bittu made it to the top 10 list of the Live Action Short Film category. Besides, Karishma Dube’s Bittu other films in the running are Da Yie, Feeling Through, The Human Voice, The Kicksled Choir, The Letter Room, The Present, Two Distant Strangers, The Van and White Eye. These were selected from a submission of 174 films. In an exclusive conversation with Pinkvilla, director Dube spoke about making it to the top 10 list, her journey behind making the movie, competition and what she plans to wear for the Oscars. Read on:
To begin with, how does it feel to make it to the top 10 list at the Oscars?
If you would have told me a year ago that this would happen, I would have just laughed it off, but I am still pinching myself. You know I was very young when I saw this movie called All About My Mother by Pedro Almodóvar and now he is on the shortlist with us (for The Human Voice). So it’s just a proud moment for me to share the platform with someone who you consider to be your hero. I feel very blessed and proud to represent these little kids who have done such a great job. It’s about time we show the world that we have a lot more stories other than what they consider to be Bollywood. 
Besides Bittu, the list features Tilda Swinton starrer The Human Voice and Oscar Isaac’s The Letter Room. How does it feel to compete with films and stars of such stature?
What I am trying to do is just focus on my film. I haven’t had the chance to see the other films as yet, but I have a lot of respect for everyone involved. My strategy is to try and push this film as far as I can. My film has many first time performers, but a lot of thought has gone behind choosing the people to play these characters. Additionally, I did a lot of work to also make sure that these characters became who these girls are in real life, so that they don’t have to travel too far out of themselves to play them. I have a lot of respect for all these big actors but I will admit unflinchingly that I have a lot more respect for the children I am trying to talk about. We have complete faith in the performances of our little girls, and Rani (Kumari) can give Oscar Isaac a big run for his money. (laughs)
After the announcement, did you speak to these kids informing them about the Oscars? How did they react?
They keep asking me ‘Didi mere ko kaunsa inaam mila?’. I tell them every step of the way and talk to them every week. I keep telling them about how many people love them and are sending their blessings. I am trying to keep them informed as best as I can, while also protecting them, and not just expanding their world to a point where they stop to see the value in smaller things in life. But they are very happy.
Bittu is such a relatable name that almost everyone connects to the title immediately. Would you want to expand the universe of this film with similar stories with the same title?
That’s a great idea (laughs). The name came quite early to me. In the earlier drafts, I had an idea of people constantly calling out her name in different ways for different reasons, some of which is still in the movie. However, I have been writing this film for 3 years before I was finally able to make it. So I have written enough to make a feature out of it as well. But to be honest I have so many movies in my head right now that I am just dying to get back to work and move to another universe narratively. I want to talk about many other things. I am developing a feature film which is based in Assam and is a bit inspired by my family.
Just like Bittu, does your feature film also revolve around a real-life incident?
Yes, but not one that made it to the news. It’s inspired by a lot of real-life incidents that I experienced more personally. It is derived from a funeral that is inspired by one that took place in my family, and things like that just bring out different versions of people in your family. So I found a lot of my research and journal that I had taken around it and have built a world which is purely fictional.
How did Guneet Monga, Ekta Kapoor and Tahira Kashyap come onboard?
My producers Shreya Dev Dube, Mary Evangelista and I had started fundraising by as early as November last year. We knew what this publicity campaign demands, so we started looking for private equity. That is when we got this idea that why don’t we look for it at home, and Guneet ji and I have been in touch since last year. So we reached out to her to ask if she can help raise some support in India. She told me about this idea she had of putting together support and funds for emerging filmmakers who are under represented. And I think Bittu became a catalyst for Guneet’s group to put more energy behind it which eventually manifested in the collective. They are basically helping us as executive producers which means they are guiding us through our last leg in terms of marketing and promotions.
So, how are you preparing for the big day if Bittu makes the cut? Have you decided on what will you wear?
I am more stressed about what I am going to say and how I will do justice to so many people who are responsible for me getting to that point in my life. But yes, I have contemplated what I’ll wear and I have to say I just can’t make up my mind. I have some good stylist friends in Los Angeles who are helping me.
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