No child’s play this!

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Numerous films have been made with children in prominent roles that have enthralled adults equally. Blue Umbrella, Halo, Taare Zameen Par, Stanley ka Dabba, I am Kalam, Jalpari are few prominent examples. In a recent interview, actor Parvin Dabbas, who was a part of the film Jalpari said, “It is great to work with child artistes.

With them around, there is spontaneity and innocence all over the sets. But one has to watch his tongue with so many kids around.” How easy or difficult is it to deal with child artistes? We talk to the film fraternity.
“It is easier if you can connect with the child’s mind and heart. Adults come with their preconceived frame of mind. A child is adaptable to any situation. It is difficult if you see the child as a child. You will have to work with the child as a ‘person’,” says Nila Madhab Panda, director, Jalpari.
The child actors may not be household names. Fans do not exactly mob them. Yet each year, talented kids captivate us with marvellous on-screen performances. Adult actors who have worked with them feel that they can be as professional and as challenging to work with as any other co-star. “In Udaan, Aayan Boradia, who plays my younger son, Arjun, was such a thorough professional. I remember a particular day of shoot, when we were shooting late at night and he slept off on the set. But as he was woken up for his shot, he was ready immediately and gave a perfect shot in the first take,” says actor Ronit Roy.
Whereas for director Rajan Khosa, whose film Gattu was released this year and earned high recognition in the film festival circuit, the film narration to young artists is an important factor. He says, “For my film, I narrated the entire story to the kids through a storytelling session and they proved to be keen listeners. Infact, they even made certain suggestions and I actually implemented them in my film.”
In his more than three decade long career, Anupam Kher has worked with several child actors and also acted in Zokemmon, an exclusive children’s film. He opines, “Today children are more aware about various issues. They do not act in cliched manner and are immensely spontaneous.”
Not just directors, even story-writers need to be extremely careful while scripting roles for kids, feels Sanjay Chauhan, screen writer. He says, “I ensure that the child’s role is not preachy. Whatever we feel as adults about an issue, we try and convey through a child artiste. Kids have no notions, so one has to be careful.”