IndiaPost.com - Horror from Fremont

India Post News Service

MOUNTAIN VIEW: Sunny Moza's short, independent film 'Kurse - The Night of Halloween' premiered at Club Alberto's in Mountain View, CA on Feb 29. Over 150 people crowded into the small intimate Salsa Club with an India connection- it hosts Bollywood Nights weekly.

The movie screening was followed by a rap performance by MC Hash and a lively and energetic Kaal-Dhamaal Bollywood party by Bhavini Joshi of Instant Karma. Colored strobe lights and smoke added to the mood as the celebrants wined, dined and danced the evening away. 'Kurse' is Sunny's third short film after 'Mahabatein' (a comedy in Hindi) and 'Choices' (an English drama).

The movie is in Hindi with English subtitles and has original background music by Praveen Chaddha. The actors included Ankur Sharma, Pavan Goklani, Shubhra Prakash, Sunny Bhatia, Ranjita Chakravarty, Suphia Mahmood, Palak Joshi, and Sunny Moza.

Harsha Ramakrishna, Kartik Aiyer, and Steven Liang were part of the production team. Sunny Moza has directed short movies and also acted in TV serials like 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' and 'Bhabhi'.

He has also appeared in TV commercials like 'Havells fans' and 'Zee Cinestars', in plays like 'Sarhad' and 'Ehsaas' and independent films like 'Lo Aaya Samir'. The movie was shot in Fremont for four straight nights in an appropriated relative's residence. Beat that, Bollywood! The actors worked hard to get into their character's skin.

Maintaining the ambiance meant no fooling around or laughing on the sets. The horror movie genre is always balanced on a knife edge- small details can slide a movie, unnoticed, into a spoof. The team worked hard to avoid that. After the shooting was completed, it was not yet time for a sigh of relief. The movie had to be finished and put together in a polished form.

It took over two months to complete the movie's editing and post-production and get the DVD ready. The DVD includes the movie, an alternate ending, previews, behind-the-scenes, auditions and other special features. The movie 'Kurse' is the result of independent and creative Bay Area individuals' efforts.

For Sunny Moza and his team, this movie is another step towards making a full-length feature film for an Indo- US release. May there be no Kurse preventing them from their goal!