Appunni Pandit wanted his son to be a civil engineer like him. The astrologer could not foresee what the stars had lined up for his son.
Santosh Pandit knew he was not meant to spend his life building roads and bridges. Even though he joined the public works department after the death of his father, he followed his own interests.
He pursued MA degrees in Hindi and pshychology, a degree in academic law and a diploma in civil engineering apart from a clutch of certificate courses in computer application, software development and computer hardware. He also trained himself in a variety of stuff from typewriting and stenography to video editing and computer graphics.
Q: Who is Santosh Pandit? Is he a fool or is he pretending to be one?
A: I am neither. Have I ever said I was a fool? I have a question to all the smart people who brand me a fool. How many of you were offered a chance in the television reality show ‘Malayali House’? I was invited. And I got Rs 26 lakh for that. How many filmmakers can finish a project for Rs 5 lakh? You can claim anybody can do it. But only Santosh Pandit can do that. You need guts for that. You need patience to train yourself in editing and mixing by sitting before a computer from 5 in the morning to 10 at night for 14 consecutive days.
Q: Your behaviour does not suggest that you have amassed so much knowledge.
A: I do not need people to say that. I have learned more of Vedas than anything else. I used to write horoscopes for children until recently.
I wanted to make movies differently. My first film ‘Krishnanum Radhayum’ came under a lot of criticism. I do not mind that because I did that on my own. It cost me only Rs 5 lakh. I learned editing and other aspects of filmmaking on my own. Now, my confidence has increased after completing my sixth film, ‘Neelima Nalla Kuttiyanu’.
Q: Does this confidence serve you well?
A: I am making a movie for Rs 5 lakh at a time when people pay Rs 25 lakh for admission into engineering or medical colleges. You cannot find alcohol or weed on the sets of my films. That is the reason I could make low-cost movies. In ‘Neelima Nalla Kuttiyanu’, I have cast eight actresses in the lead. The film has eight songs. I am doing double roles. Usually, when one of the two double-role characters speaks, the other one is not shown on screen. I did that too. I am going to focus on graphics from my next film. But you cannot expect a ‘Bahubali’ on a budget of Rs 5 lakh. If any producer is willing to spent Rs 1 crore, let us see then.
A: What about making a profit?
A: My first movie was very profitable. The next three paid back only the cost. It is not a big thing to collect Rs 5 lakh. You will get it if the film is shown in some theatre for two weeks. I have two films lined up for release, ‘Tintumon Enna Kodeeswaran’ and ‘Neelima Nalla Kuttiyanu’.
(Pandit panted amid the telephone conversation. He explained that he was carrying some sand for building a house at Narikkuni near Kozhikode. I cut costs in life too! he said.)
Q: What exactly is Santosh Pandit?
A: Santosh Pandit is a brand like Godrej or Tata. A group had come to me to dub my songs into Hindi. They even paid in advance. I have already translated the lyrics. The scenes do not have to be reshot, they said.
Q: Are you awaiting national fame?
A: That is my destiny. I will be famous in India in either art, politics or spirituality. I am not interested in politics and spirituality as of now.
Q: Didn’t you get any offers to act with any of the superstars?
A: Yes. I was invited to act along with a prominent actor. We even held discussions on it. Then the news went viral on social media that we were going to act together. I dropped the plan after that.
Q: Why?
A: Is it right to spread word that you have married a girl you have just met and talked?
Q: Do you have fans’ associations?
A: Just go through my Facebook page and see the ‘likes’. It is called Santosh Pandit official. I am not like the other actors or directors. Anyone can call me directly (phone number 99477 25911)
Q: What are your future plans?
A: I have many plans. You will see that Santosh Pandit is a phenomenon. Just wait for that!
