Ratnam goes by film content, not genre
|
|
Director
Mani Ratnam, who is not sure if he will make another biopic after
"Guru", stresses that he takes on a project if he sees "a film in it
not because it fits into a particular genre". "Will
I do more biopics? I don't know. If a character is exciting enough to
hold your attention for over a year and the audiences' attention for
over two hours, then maybe it has movie potential," Ratnam told IANS in
an interview.
Asked why "Guru" tended to subvert the reformist
zeal as seen in films like "Lage Raho Munnabhai", the filmmaker said
his film was a reflection of today's reality.
"Some films offer
hope. Some are reflections on life. I like both kinds of cinema. But
when you reflect you should be willing to look at reality. 'Guru' isn't
cynical. It's a reflection on today's reality."
The director
dismisses rumours about his next film "Lajjo", starring Aamir Khan and
Kareena Kapoor, being about an older man married to a young girl. He
adds that the much-awaited film has been delayed to enable him to do
"effective pre-production" work.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q. Do you think making biopics suit your creative purposes? Will you do more biopics if the opportunity arises?
A.
When you take a project you do so because you see a film in it, and not
because it fits into a particular genre. Will I do more biopics? I
don't know. If a character is exciting enough to hold your attention
for over a year and the audiences' attention for over two hours then
maybe it has movie potential.
Q. Abhishek says he borrowed
mannerisms from producer Vashu Bhagnani to play the role of Gurukant in
"Guru". Are you aware of that?
A. The actor can borrow anything
from anywhere as long as he or she brings a bit of himself or herself
into the character. That is fine with me.
Q. Your next film "Lajjo" is about a much older man married to a young girl. Isn't Aamir too young for the role?
A. Who says it is about a much older character with a younger woman?
Q. Why the delay in "Lajjo"? People are speculating that it may never happen.
A. It was postponed from winter 2006 to winter 2007 so that I can do some effective pre-production.
Q. Are you satisfied with the way "Guru" was received by the audience?
A.
You don't have a choice in the matter. You better learn to take it
whichever way the audience reacts. Your job is to make it as well as
you can and then learn from their reactions.
Q. There are many unexplained segments in "Guru" ... for example, who was Aishwarya's lover and why was she eloping with him?
Q.
Why does everything have to be explained? People can have crushes
before they get married. Aishwarya's character had such a crush. Why do
you find it so difficult to accept? It's part of life and therefore
part of cinema.
A. Vidya Balan and Madhavan's roles seem relatively nebulous. Did you deliberately choose to focus on only one character?
Q.
Madhavan and Vidya's characters are according to me etched sharply. You
are willing to accept smudgy characters if they twist and turn your
plot but unwilling to accept defined roles seen through the life of a
man. The focus was always on one man and the film is named after him.
It is through him that the others are seen. And we have been as honest
to that narration as possible.
Q. The reformist zeal as seen in
"Rang De Basanti" and "Lage Raho Munnabhai" is subverted in "Guru".
Your film says it's okay to bend rules, that idealism isn't the order
of the day. Isn't that too cynical a view for mass consumption?
A.
Do you want all films to uphold one particular ideology? Some films
offer hope. Some are reflections on life. I like both kinds of cinema.
But when you reflect you should be willing to look at reality. "Guru"
isn't cynical. It's a reflection on today's reality.
Q. The twins in "Guru" are named Disha and Drishti. That's Amar Singh's twins' names. How did that happen?
A. I am stumped!By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service
|
