Madgaon Express trailer launch: Kunal Kemmu claims that the comic caper was a “product of rage”: “Bahut zyada gussa aaya hua tha. Ghar baith ke soch raha tha ‘Kya ho raha hai?’”

Kunal Kemmu was in his element as he launched the trailer of his debut directorial, Madgaon Express, today in Mumbai. He revealed in the beginning how he got the idea to make the film.

Kunal Kemmu said, “Often, people say that their venture is a product of love. I think this (Madgaon Express) is a product of rage! Bahut zyada gussa aaya hua tha. Ghar baith ke soch raha tha ‘Kya ho raha hai?’. Kuch samaj mein nahin aa raha tha ki kya karein. I had two options – either I should get angry on myself and cry ya fir main aisa karoon jisse khud ko bhi hasee aayein aur dusro ko bhi. That’s what gave birth to Madgaon Express. Its characters helped me out of this time in life. They became my imaginary best friends and I started weaving a story around them.”

Kunal continued, “We all had dreams of going to Goa as kids. These characters also have the same wish. But they haven’t got the chance. Despite staying in Mumbai, they managed to go Goa only at the age of 35 years. I went on a journey with these three friends and I suddenly bumped into (secondary characters like) Kanchan Kombdi and Mendoza bhai.” These characters are played by Chhaya Kadam and Upendra Limaye respectively in the film.

When asked if he was inspired by any real-life person, Kunal Kemmu explained, “When you write a script, you tend to borrow from your own life. Some of the traits of characters are borrowed from real-life people. Pratik Gandhi’s character is called Pinku. My very close friend from childhood had this habit of calling his mother once we would reach the railway station. This was the time when we didn’t have cell phones. Once we would reach our destination, he would call his mother to say ‘Hum train se utar gaye hai’! He would also do this not just for outstation trips but even when we go for a movie. Aisa lagta tha ki hum jasoos leke chal rahe hai! Amusingly, he’s now married and yet, his habit continues. But now, he also has to inform his wife!”

Kunal continued, “Ayush, played by Avinash Tiwari, is one of those ideal boys that parents would look at and say ‘Aise ladko se dosti karoge toh tumhara bhi accha hoga’. Divyenndu’s character of Toto is akin to those that parents would warn us about, ‘Isse dosti mat karo. Yeh tumko dooba dega’!”

Kunal Kemmu was joined by the film’s actors – Pratik Gandhi, Divyenndu, Nora Fatehi and Chhaya Kadam – along with co-producer Rucha Pathak. Madgaon Express releases in cinemas on March 22.

Also Read: Ahead of Madgaon Express trailer launch, makers introduce Chhaya Kadam as the lady gangster in Kunal Kemmu’s directorial debut