Crazy Cukkad Family: Indeed Crazy!

We all have been waiting desperately for a movie that could be watched with our families and also, a movie with good humour which makes it impossible to stick to our seats. However, none of the movies lived up to that standard. But now, it seems like 2015 is going to give us back the experience of watching a movie with our family and laughing out loud with them.

(L to R) Ninad Kamat, Shilpa Shukla, Prakash Jha and Swanand Kirkire

On 16th January 2015, be ready to experience the laughter, the love, the relationship that a family shares, but beware because this family is not at all like ours. We are talking about the upcoming movie, ‘Crazy Cukkad Family’, a story of the Beri Family which is completely filled with crazy characters having a lot of depth and layers to them.

Suhas Shetty and Kushal Punjabi are the brains behind this story and Ritesh Menon and Prakash Jha gave this story a body to live. Suhas Shetty has also composed the music and has written one of the songs, which is a spoof created for item numbers of Bollywood, called ‘Sexy Wala Pakoda’. Ninad Kamat, an actor and one of the top voice-over artists, would be seen playing a unique character which has not been seen in Indian movies before. Shilpa Shukla, a critically acclaimed and award winning actress would be seen playing the role of Archana Beri, a wanna-be who wanted to be a Miss India but got married off early because of which now she aspires to be Mrs.India.

Kushal Punjabi at Crazy Cukkad Family’s press conference

After making a crazy and completely entertaining entry at Le Meridien, Connaught Place, New Delhi, the cast of Crazy Cukkad Family briefed us more about their movie. This is the first time Prakash Jha has produced a comedy movie. Commenting on the same Prakash Jha said, “Last year I took a decision that along with making movies I would promote the upcoming directors so we started looking for the best scripts to start with. So, when I looked at this script I could not stop laughing and wanted to meet the director immediately to start work on it. So, that’s how this journey started.”

Talking about the script and the experience of working with Prakash Jha, Ritesh Menon, Director, said, “If given a chance, I would re-write the script again and would like to make changes because that’s how a creative person works. Also, when you have a mentor and a film maker having calibre like Prakash Jhawith you,then the script has to be the best. We discussed a lot of things with him and have implemented almost all the points he mentioned to us.

Swanand Kirkire, a famous lyricist and singer to act in Crazy Cukkad Family

I must say that he is a dream producer for budding film-makers because each time I read the script to him, he would listen to it carefully and make suggestions. He gives a lot of freedom and space to work for the budding artist, which is the best part of working with him.”

Further talking about how the story was initiated, Kushal Punjabi and Suhas Shetty said, “We both come from crazy families and also, wanted to make a movie which is comical, simple and sweet and something could be made easily but it took a lot of time. When we were thinking of the story and writing it, we knew that we are new in the arena of being a writer so we wanted to work on something that producers like and is content driven. I am sure when you would watch the movie, every one of you would connect to someone in the crazy family.”

Prakash Jha, producer of Crazy Cukkad Family

Always seen in a negative or bold role, Shilpa spoke on how fortunate she is to get a role completely opposite to what she has done till now. “The movie came to me at a very perfect time and everything happened overnight. I am glad that someone in Bollywood can imagine me in a comical role. I play the role of Archana Beri whose character is completely crazy and loud as well. The entire crew and cast have been very supportive and it’s because of their support that I have become Archana Beri.”

For the very first time, Swanand Kirkire, who has been seen before playing small roles, would be seen playing a role as a full-fledged actor, speaking on the same he said, “I never wanted to be an actor because I know what it takes to be an actor but one fine morning I got a call from Ritesh Menon saying that there is a role for me in his movie. In a coffee shop, Suhas and Ritesh narrated the entire story and I couldn’t stop laughing but on the other hand, I wasn’t sure why they want me on board. I have worked with Prakash Jha earlier and wanted to confirm with him, but then later I got to know that even Prakash Jha wanted me to take-up the role. So, I grabbed the chance and enjoyed a lot.”

The Crazy Cukkad Family does not end here. There are a few more characters ready to make you crazy- Zachary Coffin, Nora Fatehi,Yusuf Hussain, Praveena Deshpande, Anushka Sen and Kiran Karmarkar and many more. The movie is produced by Prakash Jha and is ready to entertain you on 16th January 2015 but mind you, don’t watch it alone, take your family along.