Amit Rai on Compassion and the Human-Canine Bond in His Latest Feature
Following the success of OMG 2, director Amit Rai returns with Ohh My Dog, a narrative deeply rooted in his personal evolution as a pet owner. The film challenges viewers to reconsider their ethical responsibilities toward animals amidst rising urban tensions over stray populations.
Key takeaways
- Amit Rai's film Ohh My Dog was inspired by his personal experiences with his dog, Oscar, who also stars in the movie.
- The filmmaker draws on the Mahabharata to argue that human righteousness is tied to the treatment of loyal animals.
- Production involved filming 200 untrained stray dogs in Assam and Bihar through a partnership with a local feeding NGO.
- Rai highlights the lack of quality children's cinema over the last decade as a primary motivation for the project.
- The film was independently produced following creative clashes that halted a previous project involving actress Rani Mukerji.
The Philosophy of Interspecies Loyalty
Director Amit Rai describes his latest project, Ohh My Dog, as an essential viewing experience for those who have never shared their lives with a pet. Inspired by his own dog, Oscar, Rai admits that his initial perception of being a savior was quickly replaced by a realization of his own emotional dependence on the animal. He draws a parallel between the maternal bond and the canine-human connection, suggesting that the depth of a dog’s unconditional love is only comprehensible through direct experience.
The narrative framework finds its spiritual roots in the Mahabharata. Rai cites the episode where Yudhishthir refuses to enter heaven without his faithful dog, highlighting a duty that transcends human relationships. This ancient precedent serves as a baseline for the film's modern inquiry into compassion. Rai argues that the current societal debate regarding stray dogs is a litmus test for human empathy. He warns that a lack of mercy toward animals often translates into a future lack of mercy toward fellow humans, emphasizing that coexistence is not an option but a requirement for a stable ecosystem.
Navigating Production Hurdles and Creative Resilience
The journey to bring this story to the screen was marked by significant professional setbacks. Rai turned his focus to this project after a high-profile collaboration with Rani Mukerji collapsed due to creative differences just days before production. This followed previous frustrations, such as his film I-pad being sidelined when a similar commercial project, Padman, was greenlit. Despite these challenges, Rai insists that his resolve to tell this story remained firm, even co-producing the film to ensure it met his standards without compromise.
The production sought authenticity by filming in Assam and Bihar. One ambitious sequence features over 200 untrained stray dogs pursuing ambulances. To achieve this, the crew collaborated with a local NGO that uses ambulances for animal feeding, conditioning the dogs over several days to achieve the desired cinematic effect. For the trailer, Rai secured the rights to the classic Amitabh Bachchan track 'Mere Paas Aao Mere Dosto' after the label Sa Re Ga Ma agreed to waive their standard fees in support of the film's message.
Restoring the Children's Film Genre
Rai identifies a decade-long drought in meaningful Indian cinema produced specifically for younger audiences. He views Ohh My Dog as an attempt to plant seeds of value and empathy in the next generation. The film features the director's son, Mahi, in a lead role alongside veteran actors Pankaj Tripathi and Pawan Malhotra. The central canine character, Momo, is played by Rai's own dog Oscar, while another local dog named Bruno also features prominently.
Comparing the film's spirit to the 1985 classic Teri Meharbaniyan, Rai notes that while the industry has evolved, the core theme of 'meharbani' or kindness remains relevant. He extends this philosophy to broader social issues, noting that the use of force against students in recent protests creates lasting scars. For Rai, whether dealing with children or the natural world, the role of those in power should be to engage and protect rather than to marginalize or harm.
Source: The Hindu – Entertainment
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