CHRISTINE MACHADO NT BUZZ
When Omar de Loiola Pereira was approached to be part of the film ‘Claudia’, he expected it to be a very small role. “But when I was called in for a meeting and given the script, I realised it was a substantial role,” he recalls. “After all, I am a musician, not an actor,” he adds.
His initial days on set were a learning experience, made easier by director Rajendra Talak’s working style. “He created a very comfortable atmosphere and did not insist that we stick to the script word for word,” says Pereira. “We were given the freedom to express scenes in our own words, as long as the message came across.” Pereira plays the role of the protagonist’s neighbour.
Given the long history of the film’s theme song, the much-loved ‘Claudia’ number, the journey of making the film was also nostalgic. However, Pereira clarifies that the film is not a remake of ‘Nirmon’, in which the song was first heard, as is widely believed.
Singer Lulu Fortes, who plays Pereira’s wife in the film, echoes his words. “Many people think ‘Claudia’ is an old film that is being remade,” she says. “They often ask if it is the same story.” In reality, ‘Claudia’ is a completely original film that tells the story of a musician for whom music is everything. “It’s a beautiful story and a bit of a tear-jerker,” says Fortes, who is acting in a film for the first time.
Fortes adds that she first thought Talak had approached her to sing for the film. “When he said he wanted me to act, I was quite surprised,” she says, also expressing her excitement at working with noted actor Shishir Sharma.
Sharma, who plays the lead role of a saxophonist, says the Konkani language and the instrument drew him to the project. “I had two main challenges,” he explains. “One was perfecting the accent, since my Konkani is Mangalorean and the other was learning to play the saxophone.” A crew member helped him with the basics of handling the instrument.
He also recalls listening to the film’s songs during recording sessions in Mumbai, describing them as “absolutely brilliant”. As this is his first Goan film, Sharma admits to some anxiety about how it will be received, particularly since both he and co-actor Meera Welankar are non-Goans in lead roles. While a special screening at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) received an encouraging response, he says the theatrical release across Goa will be the real test. “I hope people come to watch the film in theatres and appreciate it,” he says.
Pereira, too, says he is keenly awaiting the audience’s response. “I would encourage everyone who can to watch the film,” he adds.
