PremiumExclusive! Dulquer: My production firm is inspired by the best producers from the 4 industries I’ve worked in
The actor talked about his production house Wayfarer Films, which has been consistently backing not just his but also small films since its launch with Varane Avashyamund
Last Updated: 04.00 AM, Mar 27, 2022
When Dulquer Salmaan launched his production house Wayfarer Films in 2020 with Varane Avashyamund, the popular perception was that it would be another venture from an actor to back their own films. But since its launch, the production house has backed as many films by other actors as Dulquer-starrers.
In just two years, Wayfarer Films has produced Jacob Gregory’s Maniyarayile Ashokan, Shine Tom Chacko and Ahaana Krishna’s Adi and Saiju Kurup’s Upacharapoorvam Gunda Jayan, apart from Dulquer’s Varane Avashyamund, Kurup and Salute.
In a recent interview with OTTplay, Dulquer opened up about the takeaways of working in other film industries as well as how it played a part in Wayfarer Films’ functioning.
“Venturing into a new language for me, is almost like seeing a new country. It gives me the same sort of satisfaction,” says Dulquer. “I get to see how different industries and production houses function. If Wayfarer Films has its own system and identity, I think it’s inspired by the best of the producers from these four languages. It refuses to do things that the worst of the producers have done to me. So, there are certain things we don’t do with our crew and particular amenities that we would always guarantee.”
The actor also talked about how an incident with Bejoy Nambiar’s anthology Solo also was a trigger for him to turn a producer. After the film’s release, due to the feedback of a particular segment, the movie’s producer had changed the ending without the director’s knowledge.
“End of the day, you have to respect the director’s call. You can’t have 100 people meddling with the product. It broke my heart to see it get attacked and meddled with,” said the actor, adding that it was “one of the catalysts of me wanting to turn producer” and back films with content that was different.