"The Most Important Thing in Filmmaking Is an Eye for Detail" - Nikhil Miglani

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1. Tell us about your background and journey.

Okay so, I come from this city, called Gurgaon. I am, technically, a Computer Science Engineer, but not by heart. In my first year, I saw a street play for the first time and when I saw it, chills were passing down my spine, throughout the play. And I was like, I NEED TO TRY THIS. I'd already started writing poetry, and then after seeing the play, I started writing for street plays and then acting in them. 

By the time my second year came, I'd forgotten that I was there to become an engineer, I was full-fledged into making plays and movies. I wrote for, directed and acted in both, plays and short movies. That's how it started and I'd say I'm still at the beginning of the ladder I'm trying to climb.

2. How and when did you realize your passion for creating films?

I started with writing for stage and street plays, then their direction. Once I was well acquainted with that, I moved on to acting and direction of short films. It was for a competition, wherein I wrote, acted in and directed my first short film.

The amount of fun I had, the innumerous possibilities in direction on the screen, the myriad mistakes I made, all of this created an urge to follow this path, the path of filmmaking.

3. What are the important skills one should have to be a successful filmmaker?

In my opinion, the most important thing that you need is an eye for detail. More than a filmmaking school or anything, one needs to observe a lot, because as they say, theatre and cinema comes from real life. 

Once you start observing people and cinema/films a lot, the essence gets into your subconscious side of the brain. That's the gate for the arena of filmmaking and then your intuition will help you tremendously, in guiding your way.

4. Which film(s) do you appreciate the most for their film making?

God. There will be a huge list for this. I'll just say the first few which comes to my mind.

Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Fight Club (1999)
No Country For Old Men (2007)
Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
Prisoners (2013)
Burning (2018)

5. What has been the biggest learning from your job?

Biggest. Mhmm. That'll be 'team-work'. I won't say you can't do it alone but usually and mostly filmmaking requires a team. I was someone who didn't really like working in a team, didn't like to share efforts or ideate together with people.

I need my space always, I'd mostly do it all myself, whatever I can but after working with different teams, I also developed the habit of working with people, sharing work, thinking together, etc. That, in turn, also helped me become more humble in general.

6. Which is your favourite book and why?

Umm, I'll be honest, I have yet to develop the habit of reading. I think that's necessary for someone working in such a field. Once I do that and have read a lot of books, maybe then I can answer this precisely. (hahaha)

Interview by - Suhani Mangleek