Anupama Chopra Interview with Darren Aronofsky | MAMI Masterclass | Film Companion

In this masterclass with filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, Anupama Chopra talks to him about his writing process, the reason behind some of his iconic film imagery and why going to acting school himself helped him in directing his Oscar nominated actors. The filmmaker tells us about his favourite close up shot, his recurring troupe of obsession and why he feels the great gift of cinema is empathy.
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The Film Companion is a web channel intended to promote Indian cinema through films review, interviews, discussions, video essays and analytical compilations. It is intended primarily for the purpose of encouraging informed discussions, criticism and review of cinema and towards such purpose the programs use short extracts of cinematograph films, sounds recording and photographic works. These clips and extracts are of a minimal nature and the use is not intended to interfere in any manner with their commercial exploitation of the compete work by the owners of the copyright. The use of works are in compliance with the fair dealing exception provided under Sec. 52 of the Copyright Act, and we asset our use of the works under the exception provided for criticism and review.

[@olddelhifilms]

What a guy, Need more Interviews like these.

[@ArjunRoy5]

Wow! Film Companion raising the bar once again with this wonderful masterclass with the master Darren Aronofsky himself. Videos like this which add value and help me understand this craft of filmmaking better are why I love your channel Anupama. As an aspiring filmmaker, I cannot thank you enough for interviews like these. Do not ever stop bringing such entertaining and enriching content to us. Lots of love to you and the Film Companion team ❤️💕!

[@FilmCompanionStudios]

Most welcome Arjun. I had such a great time listening to him. - Anupama Chopra

[@ArjunRoy5]

I am so happy that you took time to not only read my comment by to reply to it. Your channel is truly an example of how to run a company which caters to the mainstream audience as well as a niche. I am not using those terms to demean any of the groups those terms refer to but to highlight the fact that you sometimes introduce your more mainstream audience to a niche content (case in point this interview) and vice versa. I am sure you'll keep bringing such brilliant content with even better production quality. More power to you and again lots of love to you and the Film Companion team! ❤️💕

[@mr.nobody6392]

Please Bring Christopher Nolan, Bong Joon-ho, Anurag Kashyap, Pawan Kumar!

[@instantmessengersama]

Park chan wook?

[@chongxina6086]

@@instantmessengersama him too.

[@ManojManoj-rb8er]

Who is Pawan Kumar?

[@ManojManoj-rb8er]

Pawan Kumar of Lucia fame?

[@4real675]

FC Team - " Thank you "

[@TejasBansode-MovieAficionado]

I love the fountain, it's probably his best work. The music by Clint Mansell still haunts me. He got an amazing performance out of Hugh Jackman.

[@yashtiwari117]

Such an amazing interview. India needs directors like Darren Aronofsky. Censorship should go out of the window ASAP.

[@Bhodrolok]

Finally an interview for the ages. Forgive you guys for the Shweta Bachchan & Shilpa Shetty interviews. Love Darren & the amazing clarity he has! But the video is poorly cut.

[@RahulKumar-ng2gh]

joyjit guha Sonam kapoor's also forgotten

[@qwer3881]

Mad props to Anupama for a very well researched interview.

[@chanakyadevil]

what is mad props?

[@qwer3881]

@@chanakyadevil 'huge respect'

[@chongxina6086]

@@chanakyadevil bruh. U don't know what Mad Props mean?

[@chanakyadevil]

@@chongxina6086 it was less an inquiry more a passive aggressive remark about using stupid phrases like "mad props"

[@Vampxplayz]

What an awful Q&A , Bollywood celebrities asking questions instead of festival delegates who work so hard so attend these kinda events, now I don't regret not attending it, But on positive side Anupama Mam's questions where spot on and Darren Aronofsky's response were really from the heart.

[@anantambisht4895]

Even I was about to attend this but due to soem reasons I couldnt , but here I am really regretting why I didnt go , a lot of my college friends went there, you might even see a shot of them somewher in the video, seeing them.made me more regrettful

[@soorajnair150]

Ali fazal asking questions is fine but ishan

[@krishshautriya5170]

It was open to all. Anybody who wanted to ask could ask. Ali Fazal asked the best question imo. Why do you have to be so negative dude?

[@aurilk8524]

Wow Darren I love all his films..... Favourite is "The Fountain"

[@ourunstablemind]

Ishaan Khattar got schooled. And the pretty lady next to him enjoyed the most.

[@mirasingh8438]

Unstable Mind what time in the video is that?

[@mishthi2115]

She was the lady who played Shahid Kapoor's girlfriend whom he dumps in udta Punjab

[@sirlordhenrymortimer6620]

@@mirasingh8438 39:54 Thank me later

[@Lshiva693]

Her name is Anna Ador. She's a talented theater actor!

[@ourunstablemind]

@@Lshiva693 thankyou ma man. Be safe.

[@devanshuapte8645]

Wow.. You brought Aronofsky. 😍😍😍 I won't lie he is one of my favourite director. He is so insightful. Film Companion, you just made my day.

[@amritakothari7382]

Here I'm getting drawn to this interview when I should be working as I've an important deadline to meet and it is less than 2 hours away !

[@pratikgarad]

Thank you for filming this! I was in tears because I couldn't go there physically! And then I saw this! And now the joy is killing me! A big hug to FC members for this!

[@FilmCompanionStudios]

Thanks Pratik. - Anupama Chopra

[@shubhamluhadia]

Like always - really like the questions that Anupama asks! On hearing the question, I almost feel like I wanted an answer to it all along!

[@12harsh1995]

Well done team FC specially Anu ma'am. What a come back back after Sonam's, Shweta Nanda's video!!

[@namaankhan8306]

Pleasure to watch a Master director/writer talk about his craft, inspirations and taking criticism like a boss.. Loved this interview as Darren is one of my favorite filmmakers. Love all his movies. Anupuma you did an amazing job. Didn't expect this at all. But QA session was bad as people from regular crowd or film students should've given a chance to ask the questions rather then celebs.

[@aadityabhattacharya]

He is one of my favourite filmmaker who is working right now thanks for this interview

[@SyedSaifAbbasNaqvi]

I still remember watching Requiem for a Dream and getting devastated and exhausted by the experience. And the chilling theme coupled with Ellen Burstyn's once in a lifetime performance. I probably never revisited the film as a whole, only in bits and pieces because i was too scared. The lasting effect it had on me was too spine chilling. Its one of the best movies i would never want to revisit. PS - i feel Ellen Burstyn should have won the Oscar over Julia Roberts that year.

[@abalchandani]

SuBhaYU BiSwaS couldn’t agree more. I saw this film when I was 20 and it had such a lasting impact on me. I have never watched it a second time.

[@prashantsingh9068]

Julia Roberts deserved her Oscar. Ellen Bustyn had already won an Oscar and Requiem... is not an Oscar type movie.

[@anitaekka6454]

Ellen Burstyn was snubbed. That is one of the best performances of all time imo.

[@Rash23215]

@@prashantsingh9068 what a stupid logic....lol....that's not how it works...many people have won multiple oscars .....Ellen totally deserved it....

[@prashantsingh9068]

Neelima Chandra Best performances are hardly awarded at the Oscars. It's a mix of good performance, box office (sometimes), narrative, due factor etc. And Ellen lost because it was the sole nomination of the film while Erin Brokovich had many nominations including Best Picture. Requiem was a flop means not seen by Academy voters while Erin Brokovich was a box office blockbuster. So it was not a snub and Julia Roberts fairly won her deserving Oscar.

[@mahimametal]

I’m crying 😭❤️ thank you FC and MAMI

[@taherkhan9868]

Thank you fc for interviewing darren and thank you darren for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@shailjanandjha2782]

wow wow wow, I wasn't expecting this specially with what I have seen from Film Companion recently. Aronofsky is one of my favorites, I love his work. As an aspiring filmmaker myslef, he is source of great inspiration.Pi,Black Swann, The wrestler, Requiem for a dream are all great works of art. I also loved his most recent Mother which was very divisive. But hands down my favourite Aronofsky film is The Fountain, it has stunning visuals, an otherworldly quality to it with what I consider to be career best performances from Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz, and the score OMG the score. The reason I love Aronfksky is that he is one the few directors who does not compromises on his vision and makes films which are bold and authentic. His ability to go into the psyche of the audience along with his characters is brilliant and I want to make films like him. He is a true artist and has the courage to make an honest film. A true fan here.

[@ashwinshetty1598]

What do you think of Mother?Its been a very divisive film!

[@shailjanandjha2782]

Badass Good Guy Yes I can understand people who didn't like it, but for me personally, having been a fan of Aronofsky's work for a long time, I understood what he was going for. The entire movie was a metaphor, both from a biblical perspective and environmental perspective. It was a personal film for him. It won't make any sense if look at it from a surface level, but if you can dig deep and understand the motivations of the filmmaker, it was a bold, unapologetic work of art.

[@ashwinshetty1598]

@@shailjanandjha2782 It is very unsettling,that's the reason.But like you said,its an allegory for the Bible and some commentary on environmentalism.Did you know that the film's script was written over the weekend?

[@shailjanandjha2782]

Badass Good Guy yes I am aware of that, he felt really shitty about how us humans were treating our planet and needed an outlet. The result is the script and then the film. That's why I say it was a personal film for him. And what is art if not self expression.

[@aurilk8524]

The fountain is one of my fav movies of all time. I LOVED IT. I was so sad that I have seen it just once......

[@saumyasharma3975]

Just NEVER stop content like this! This is the BEST CONTENT In India rn! Hats off, Anupama Ma’am!

[@SkiddosSiren]

The best hollywood filmaker interview ever! Period.

[@allthingsfascinating]

Black Swan

[@thotavinaykumar285]

💞✨Black Swan is one of my favorites. The movie stayed with me even after days watching it. It was an brilliant experience . U just don't see his movies u feel them. He's brilliant and so is #anupama. Pls continue ur great work ✨💞

[@aravindkumar6631]

One of the best directors who use things as characters in the film

[@harunahmed5214]

aronofsky is my most favourite director.thanks a lot fc.

[@RamMohammadJosephKaur]

Fantastic and very insightful!

[@swapnilingole473]

Loved this episode... Thank you FC

[@nabamitamitra001]

Thank you for this wonderful interview ❤

[@Ars0205]

"Its not a closeup its a medium shot" bezatttiiiiiiii😂😂😂😂

[@MildlyCoherant]

This blew my mind. One of the best videos from FC! Thanks! ❤️

[@FilmCompanionStudios]

Wow - thanks Pranav! - Anupama Chopra

[@anuradhapandit9824]

6:24 That's actually him praising Anupama for her well-versed questions.

[@kshipra7053]

What a cool interview man. Loved it!

[@brentulstad3275]

I couldn't imagine a movie by Darren Aronofsky that is fully loved & excepted by a mainstream audience that would be any good much less at the level of intensity, beauty and standard of sophistication that his film career has actually been.

[@animeshbhattacharya9057]

FC guys are one of the very few Indian channels devoted to provide filmmaking knowledge to the masses. Kudos guys, keep it up.

[@neilgiri]

Chupre lavde. Go check out cinema for entertainment.

[@naumancsd0983]

@Mitul B hey bro , i've been a fan of Cinema Beyond Entertainment from the begininng . Is that channel really a rip off ? And of what ?

[@Rajaking1997]

This is legit awesome ❤️ great interview

[@Mandeepd13]

Anupama you are one of the best interviewers because you give time to speak and you listen whatever the other person has to say(though you have to maintain a fake facial expression at times to make the person feel that you are listening to them :P ) and then you ask whatever is in you mind or in that piece of paper. Keep up the good work and if you or Film Companion is reading this comment - PLEASE GIVE US THE DIVINE GIFT OF AN INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTOPHER NOLAN :(..........PLEASE!! Anupama, live long and stay beautiful.

[@sapster3546]

What is the most underrated movie of all time. The fountain. Thank you aronofosky

[@suprithdu]

I agree..

[@kuku16s]

Has to be "Mother" IMO. Other than the buzz it didn't get even a single major nomination. People just forgot it despite an awesome acting ensemble and cinematography and every other thing...

[@sapster3546]

@@kuku16s fountain is the most underlooked film of all.

[@kuku16s]

@@sapster3546 IYO!

[@zing49]

Pi

[@SriM0]

Huge fan!

[@aparnak002]

THANK YOU!!

[@hemanth2607]

I loved Black Swan. Thank you Anupama and FC

[@NitishKumar-pl6bf]

Shukriya Film Companion 🙏

[@rohitmehra4529]

From SODumb kapoor to Darren Aronofsky .. I call it even!

[@kuku16s]

You know you are exactly the kind of people known as ''trolls'' and sometimes ''bullies''.

[@rohitmehra4529]

@@kuku16s do u even understand the word "bully" ?

[@kuku16s]

Being someone who has been bullied quite a lot.. I pretty much do. You wouldn't understand.

[@saurabhchalke]

Requiem for a Dream

[@bk21515]

Damn FC you're rocknrolling

[@VipinKumar77777]

This is really good interview

[@luckysharma98765]

Darren is very smart and orator

[@poopsicklebumpkins]

you so lovely anupama!

[@tanayyd5951]

*Thank* *You* 💖

[@SM-bn2gm]

Darren's side profile is exactly like Robert De Niro from Taxi driver and Ishan Khattar has been on movie sets for months still has no idea about what is a close up.

[@excalibur6159]

I thought Ryan gosling gained weight...

[@mirasingh8438]

Drax draxx what time of the video is that?

[@Skanda1111]

I thought of it too..

[@shankardas7218]

THANK YOU ❤️

[@MontyQueues]

so inspiring

[@susulaga]

legend

[@hasinabegumsayed7664]

The crowd interaction is the best . Please don’t edit so much that we see so little of it

[@soutrikparia]

One of the best contemporary directors 😘😘

[@ShakilAhmed-du6mk]

The Fountain is the most underrated movie of Darren Aronofsky.

[@resurrectionist1]

That last parting comment was amazing. "you bunch of city folk!"

[@vershilpatel3813]

Should should show all questions

[@AnibrotoSarkar]

I don't know why or how this video has less than 17K views. Wonderful initiative FC . I'd love to hear a bit about his perception of current Indian films but overall it's a great interview. Was it necessary for Ishan khattar and Ali fazal to ask these questions? I think they just wanted to give a small "audition" to Mr. Aronofsky !

[@abhilashbhattacharya8100]

Requiem for a dream,😙😍😍😍

[@krisjughead]

Requiem for a Dream has images, scenes and songs that come to me constantly as flashbacks. It's a beautiful but difficult film to relive. But depths portrayed just make you hopeful of life.

[@saicharansinganmala658]

My a tym favorite director

[@taherkhan9868]

aronofsky is clearly an artist and masters the art of making people uncomfortable, not like other money grabbing vultures in the field.

[@thirudeva1588]

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@201jim]

underrated

[@navinbabu888]

Pi and requeam of the dream was awesome

[@rahultiwari-dx8qo]

its very sad to see how bollywood actor cant seem to think of themselves as an audience and there vanity doesn't leave them even when they r asking questions...as if they are trying to make an impression on the interviewee especially these actors who if they were to walk on roads in any small town wdnt even be recognized by barely anyone

[@TheSpoilerMovieClubOfficial]

True mahn

[@chanakyadevil]

lol

[@aravindhayyanar1451]

Omg can't believe this..

[@rohandaithankar4891]

Mother😘

[@arnavbhardwaj2397]

The fountain

[@darknessnaxxion]

Master director.

[@AshishKaloliya]

Thanks Anupama for the questions.. and staring continuously into his eyes.. haha

[@RamMohammadJosephKaur]

44:00 the dudes the Giant

[@vrooom2936]

He is not a giant. He is just standing next to Anupama.

[@weirdverma]

The only Aronofsky I didn't like was mother !..It sure is divisive but the chaos in it is quite unorderly..Requiem for a dream, Pi, Noah, The wrestler, Black Swan..I loved 'em.

[@bp_21]

Sweta Bachan, Twinkle Khanna, Sonam Kapoor and then this.... They made up!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@kavitadsouza4442]

Been on the cyclone,lived to tell 😁

[@laxus9451]

If darren likes close ups he should work with debra winger her expressions are always top notch

[@NikhilKumar279]

41:10 Ali Fazal

[@h.hholmes.492]

❤

[@soorajnair150]

37k views and 975 likes! That really shows how much we know about world cinema and why our cinema sucks

[@raunee100]

It was the best 44:09 minutes today I spent on the web.

[@vschaturvedi1]

The very fact that Julia Roberts won the Oscar over Ellen and Jennifer wasn't even nominated for her performance but was nominated for a Golden Raspberry award for worst actress is a CRIME..

[@user-uv4tv9po9j]

Razzies don’t matter. They’re joke awards

[@lukavukos6550]

Did the editor for this video have Requiem in mind? Thats quite rapid cutting for a masterclass

[@Sunilms619]

What ? Crazy .... Darrren aronofsky. Surreal . You guys just went from interviewing Sonam Kapoor about Instagram to this. Sab kuch maaf hai

[@AkashSingh-xx6eo]

can you bring david fincher , best modern director .

[@avighosh23]

Ali's question was good. I personally would have asked that

[@cicolusnage2349]

🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@navinbabu888]

Quentin Tarantino next pls

[@weirdverma]

Darren complimented Anu ha..

[@suzie5813]

Omg i live him lmao

[@gouharkhanpathan5037]

The way he roasted Ishan Khattar's illiteracy shows why Bollywood has no respect in the global cinema community

[@kuku16s]

Nope, it doesn't have anything to do with the image of the Indian Film Industry. All it meant was he is outspoken and as he said, he is from Brooklyn.

[@SkiddosSiren]

Both makes sense lol

[@bskravivarman]

subtitle pls?

[@retardedwithdownsyndrom]

Was that ali Fazal in the last?

[@tapasrout7242]

Where's the full interview..

[@shrisub881]

It is fuckin 44 minutes long, man

[@sirlordhenrymortimer6620]

I only like his raquime for a dream and pi

[@pawanthakur-df2yk]

He looks so much like Travis Bickle.

[@anitaekka6454]

I hope he will start making good films again.

[@vaibhavtiwari6160]

Anupama chopra didn't like the skull joke by him

[@weirdverma]

Nobody will

[@shashankethane]

Too violent for Anupama

[@alankarjoey258]

i think she did

[@mecytotoxic]

Who would?! It was downright insulting! He was there to answer questions, not take them personally.

[@resurrectionist1]

It wasn't a joke, he responded to what she said about looking in his brain with the same imagery. Nothing offensive about it.