Sanjay Surkar is known for his realistic, hard hitting movies on social problems. His films like ‘Saatchya Aat Gharat’,  ‘Aapli Manse’, ‘Chaukat Raja’ etc have been critically lauded. His latest film is ‘Sukhaant’ based on the controversial problem of euthanasia or mercy killing. We spoke to Sanjay about his new film. Here are some excerpts.

How did you think of making a film on euthanasia?
I had been to a friend’s house and he was really troubled by the state of his elderly mother who was comatose for the last eleven years. His predicament really troubled me and I did research on the net regarding euthanasia or mercy killing which is being considered by many lawmakers but still has not been implemented.

Your casting of Jyoti Chandekar as the old paralyzed woman requesting her son Atul Kulkarni for moving court to grant her wish of mercy killing is a powerful performance. How did you manage this?
I didn’t know Jyoti that well nor have I seen her plays or serials or films. But I didn’t need a
star or a known face for the role of the old woman. I needed an actor who would look rustic and speak the rustic lingo. She would come to me from now and then for a role and this time I did offer her the all important role of the paralyzed woman who wants to die with dignity and without troubling her dear ones.

How did you cast Atul Kulkarni as the son grieving for his mother?
I needed a face who is though a lawyer but would look village bred. And Atul Kulkarni is a powerful performer as is the performance in ‘Sukhaant’.