Filmmaker Pawan Kumar, on the films that shaped his personality

If someone in Sandalwood were to be given the title of 'maverick', Pawan Kumar would be among the top contenders. His ways of working and his thinking has been a catalyst of sorts time and again. Now, in lockdown, Pawan has taken up the task of mopping and cleaning the house and is loving it. "I am dreading the day I will have to hand the tasks over to my maid. I guess this possessiveness and love for cleaning comes because the results are instant and visible. This is unlike filmmaking, where people can find dark spots and criticise once you're done," he shares, speaking to #QuickTakesWithBangaloreTimes. The filmmaker and actor also shared a list of

films

that have inspired him and shaped his personality.
1. Gandhi
I was born in 1982 and the film released in 1983. My mother was keen on this film being my first cinema hall experience. My father tells me that I was crying and he was pacifying me taking me up and down the isle during the film. Over the years, this has turned out to be a favourite and Gandhi, as a personality, has been a big influence in my life. If you see my style of filmmaking, I've tried to get the community together too.
2. Life Is Beautiful
This was the first non-English and non-Indian film that I saw in a cinema hall. I was with a theatre group and they pulled me along in the year 2000, after a workshop. I was pretty unsure and was cursing them through the first 30 minutes. But I was drawn into the film thereafter and it changed me. I made sure everyone at home watched it.
3.

Schindler

's List
It was an extremely expensive original DVD, but I made sure I had a copy even though I didn't have enough money on me. I've watched it many times, shown it to my parents and even made sure every girlfriend of mine watched it with me. It made me understand what empathy is. It made me understand how to make the best of every situation.
4.

Philadelphia

I was brought up in a way that I didn't have much exposure to homosexuality. The film changed my perspective about sexuality. It is another original DVD that I bought. I was trying to be an actor then and it had a huge impact on me. In my solo play The Final Rehearsal, I have a little segment that's inspired from this film.
5. Fight Club
I was working in Mumbai and it was the end of the month when I chanced upon this DVD at a store. I had Rs 1200 in my account and this DVD was priced at Rs 850. I tried convincing myself that I could buy it the next month, but I gave in to the temptation and bought it after half an hour of deliberation. This film has been my go-to film whenever I am low. The one-liners from Tyler Durden have always helped me pick myself up.
There are three other films that I would add to this list, as a bonus -

Forrest Gump

, Children of Heaven and I Am Sam - each of these films have impacted me emotionally and are close to my heart.