A Film On Three Wheels

Featured on Badmash!

2006-04-12T21:15:00.000-07:00

We got featured in Badmash.tv! Here's what they write about the trailer...

"The Incredible Auto-Rickshaw Race

Thinking that they're Michael Schumachers with their personal Ferraris...on the goddam roads." Gotta love Bombay girls (nah son, we don't call it Mumbai round here)."

Thanks guys!

An small note on the film's status. We have finally completed the shoot, including the VO. Editor Laura Taflinger has started work on the rough cut, and the final post-production should begin soon after. Here are some production stills...

More on the Flickr Gallery here...

Thailand and Cambodia

2006-01-03T21:11:00.000-08:00

The rickshaw documentary now has exclusive footage from Thailand and Cambodia. Specially in Bangkok, the tuktuks of Thailand have been slowly diminishing in their importance, and most of them are now spotted around the Khao San Road, the infamous backpacker hangout of the city. In Cambodia, however, they continue to be a major form of public transport, used by locals and travelers alike.

Rickshaaa! - About the film

2005-10-15T23:18:00.000-07:00

January 15th, 2005, Mumbai, India - the residents of Hiranandani Complex witnessed a race unlike any other – the formula one for Rickshaws. Organized for the Mumbai festival, the race, first of its kind around the world, attracted hundreds of rickshaw drivers who wanted a shot at the prize money, and the fame. “I want to participate because it is fun and my chance to move ahead in life, and be known” says one competitor. “They think they are the Michael Schumachers of the roads… with their goddam Ferraris” claims an angry local.

Adorned with posters of local filmstars, models, Gods and Politicians, blasting loud Punjabi music through their stereophonic speakers, and steering, honking their way through the potholes and traffic jams, auto-rickshaws represent the crazy chaos that is Asia, and its most understated attraction. With taglines like ‘Horn Ok Please’, ‘Stop Signal’, ‘Jesus Love Us All’ screaming out their philosophy, the locals and the tourists share a love and hate relationship with them, and James Bond treats it as an ultimate adventure ride in Octopussy. “Designed to rule the roads” claims Bajaj, one of the biggest three wheeler manufacturers.

From Albert Tolman, the American blacksmith who designed the first rickshaw, to the futuristic solar paneled hybrid three wheelers; from personal taxis of Sri Lanka, to crowded rickshaws of Mumbai; from traffic jams, to auto-rickshaw races, this musical documentary tries to dive into the crazy world of auto-rickshaws, and bring out their joys and frustrations, their music and their daily struggle for bread, and their fights against a largely chaotic system. And through a concept revolving around rickshaws, it tries to bring forth the ultimate irony of an Asian existence.

The Crew

2005-10-15T23:06:00.000-07:00

Produced by:
Videowallah Productions
Projected Image Productions

Filmmakers:
Soumyadeep Paul
Laura Taflinger
Poorva Joshipura
Anoop Mathew
Jacqueline Schnabel
Prashant Soni
Sanjay Senanayake

Definition:

2005-08-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

An auto rickshaw is generally characterized by a tin/iron body resting on three small wheels, a small cabin for the driver in the front and seating for three in the rear. They are generally fitted with a motorcycle version of a two-stroke engine with a handlebar for control instead of a steering wheel... Most rickshaws don't have doors or seat-belts. --- from Wikipedia