Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2002 6:54 pm
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The Interview
Ramgopal Varma feels vindicated…
His just-released flick BHOOT has received a favourable response at the box-office, with viewers and critics who matter giving it a thumbs up. The response to the film has indirectly registered a tight slap on the faces of the self-proclaimed 'box-office pundits', who'd predicted doomsday for the film even before the film had hit the theatres.
Ramu's mobile phone keeps ringing incessantly. The SMSs don't stop either. “I'm more than satisfied with the results,†Ramu tells me, as he relaxes himself on the couch, “I was swimming against the tide. The film had no songs, no visually-striking locales, no Johny Lever brand of comedy, no saas-bahu melodrama to woo the Hindi belt… BHOOT went against every rule in the book, which explains why a lot of people felt it wouldn't work. But it's the paying public that decides what's good for them, not a minor section of the film industry.â€
Made at a cost of Rs. 6.5 crores, the film opened to an excellent response everywhere, even at places where Ramu's previous flicks had opened to a dull response. “I think, the dialogue promos of the film did the trick,†he admits.
Continuing in the same breath, he says, “I started the preview shows of SATYA exactly a month before its release and everyone who saw it gave it a 5-star rating. Despite the glowing write-ups by the media, the film did not even fetch an opening at the box-office. In the case of BHOOT, the buzz wasn't positive before its release. Yet, despite loose talk and backbiting, the film opened to a fabulous response everywhere. It clearly indicates that the audience is the deciding factor, not a handful of critics.â€
He actually jumps as he admits that BHOOT is not an original film. “Now that the film has released, I wish to admit to you that it's a copy of my earlier film RAAT. I caught glimpses of RAAT on a satellite channel yesterday and I wondered, 'Gosh, what an awful film!' Believe me, every time I see RAAT, I feel like crawling underneath the couch. This horror film was actually horrible,†he laughs loudly.
He continues, “I decided to remake RAAT, with a few alterations of course. Urmila enacted Revathi's role, Aakash Khurana and Rohini Hattangadi [Revathi's parents] were combined and made into Ajay Devgan's character, while Rekha enacted Om Puri's part. But the changes were carried out in such a way that no one could guess where the actual inspiration of BHOOT came from.â€
The success of BHOOT has been an eye-opener not only for the film trade, but also for Ramu. “No more songs in my films henceforth,†he says firmly, “When I look back, I feel I should've avoided songs in ROAD and even JUNGLE. But, let me clarify, I'm not against inserting songs in my films. If I attempt a film like D.D.L.J. or RANGEELA, it would be incomplete without songs. But in films like BHOOT and DARNA MANA HAI, there's no place for songs.â€
Incidentally, there's just one song in Ramu's new film DARNA MANA HAI, directed by his erstwhile assistant Prawaal Raman. “It's a very different film. Like BHOOT, it defies the existing 'set of laws' for the formula-ridden Hindi cinema,†he divulges, “I'm not focussing on the star cast, though I can easily capitalise on the names to generate hype for the film. This time around, I'm planning a wacky campaign to promote the film.â€
Wild, that's for sure! Ramu is introducing fresh promos of the film, which are bound to raise eyebrows. “I'll actually ask questions to the viewer in these promos. Questions like – 'Are you expecting a love story? If you are, sorry, this film is not one, aana mana hai'. The second promo is, 'Are you expecting the locales of Switzerland and U.S.A. in DARNA MANA HAI? Sorry, this film doesn't have those locales, aana mana hai.'â€
He continues, “And days before the film hits the theatres, I'll highlight all negative comments used by some reviewers, like 'This film is bound to fail at 'B', 'C' and 'D' class centres, says XYZ, so don't watch the film' or 'This film will only work at multiplexes, says ABC, so avoid the film.' Unlike the trend of highlighting only positive stuff, I'm forewarning the viewer that he should stay away from DARNA MANA HAI.â€
While DARNA MANA HAI is all set for a July 18 release, another Ramgopal Varma film – EK HASINA THI [Saif Ali Khan, Urmila] – will hit the theatres in August this year. “Mark my words, Shriram Raghavan, the director of EK HASINA THI, will be one of the most sought-after names once this film releases. He's made a fantastic film,†Ramu says. Incidentally, Ramu had offered SHOOL to Raghavan, much before E. Niwas stepped in.
EK HASINA THI has an equally captivating storyline [though Ramu revealed in detail the story to this writer, it would be unfair to reveal the plot to the readers at this juncture, when the promotion of the film hasn't started yet]. “If you felt Urmila was brilliant in BHOOT, then watch her performance in EK HASINA THI. Her performance in BHOOT is no patch on her work in EK HASINA THI. She's stupendous in the film,†Ramu adds.
Getting geared up for his most ambitious project, EK, Ramu is also continuing with the practice of introducing new talent to the industry. He speaks highly of Mohit Kumar, whom he's introducing in one of his forthcoming productions. “He's got the personality of a star. He's someone like Salman Khan – dashing to look at. And I think he'll work wonders in action-oriented roles.â€
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