‘Chamak’ brings some sheen to SonyLIV’s year-end content line-up

In an exclusive interview with Adgully, RG Rudram Productions’ founders, filmmakers Rohit Jugraj and Geetanjali Mehlwal Chauhan, discuss their recent web series, ‘Chamak’, streaming live on SonyLIV.

Speaking about the enthusiastic audience response, Rohit Jugraj emphasised on the show’s appeal to various demographics, especially the youth and family audiences. He highlighted the unique blend of crime and musical elements with 28 songs, making it a true blue musical drama based on real incidents in the Punjabi music industry.

Speaking about ‘Chamak’s standout feature – its music – Geetanjali Mehlwal Chauhan described it as real and dance-worthy. The cast, a mix of singers and non-singer actors, underwent dedicated practice to sync with the music, adding a unique dynamic to the series.

The duo proudly claimed their position as trailblazers in the industry, referring to RG Rudram Productions as the “Venus” of the entertainment realm.

Speaking about the casting of this show, Chauhan said, “We didn’t have any particular faces or names in mind. But we did have a character look.” Adding to this, Jugraj credited Mukesh Chhabra, a renowned casting director, with having played a crucial role in shaping ‘Chamak’s cast. “The casting process was straightforward; a key factor was that most actors had to be either singers or have a passion for music,” he added.

Jugraj further highlighted some of the leading cast members. “From non-singer actors such as Paramvir Cheema, Akasa Singh, Manoj Pahwa, Mohit Malik, Isha Talwar, and Suvinder Pal, to securing singers for special appearances like Mika Singh, Mcsquare, and Gippy Gerewal, we covered a diverse range. Our inclusive approach extended to non-singer actors participating in music workshops.”

He also spoke about how RG Rudram never shies away from giving break to fresh talent. “We take pride in providing opportunities to emerging artists. In this series, you’ll witness the talent of both new actors and singers, reflecting our commitment to fostering fresh talent within the industry,” he added.

Commenting on the broader landscape of OTT trends, Jugraj stresed on the need for bold content and straightforward storytelling, a principle boldly embodied by ‘Chamak’. Chauhan also noted the emergence of challenging content in the industry throughout 2023.

Sharing more information about RG Rudram, Jugraj shared that ‘R; in the company name stands for Rohit and ‘G’ for Geetanjali, which symbolises the partnership between him and Geetanjali, embodying their shared vision.

He further stated that their company boasts the largest writers’ room in the industry, consisting of 41 writers exclusively dedicated to developing a diverse range of stories across genres. Speaking about the company’s future projects, he revealed that they include two international projects with major players like Hulu, alongside two Bollywood films for which they were in discussions with mainstream actors.