I cant make a crass film

I can't make a crass film

The reclusive Sooraj Barjatya finally comes out of his shell to speak about his genre of filmmaking

Subhash K Jha

You are a recluse…
I'm very nervous around press people. But somewhere down the line, I've realised it is important to connect with the audience and let them know what you're doing with your films. So, I'm trying to reach out now.

What do you think went wrong with your last film Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon?
I'd say a lot of things. But the first thing that my father said when he saw it was, 'Your theme revolved around Kareena loving Hrithik till the end of time. How did she agree to get engaged to Abhishek then?' I was talking about pyar ki oonchaiyaan, rishto ki gehraayiyan (heights of love and the depth of relationships) and my characters weren't living up to that. All my protagonists in the past have lived up to certain ideals.

Audiences thought you were going against your kind of cinema in Main Prem… and Hrithik resembled your 'favourite' Salman Khan.
That's true. I take full responsibility for that. I tried to give a certain feel and flavour to my characters. The equation worked with Abhishek's character. But something went drastically wrong with Hrithik. Salman played my hero Prem in my first film Maine Pyar Kiya. When I first sketched the character of Hrithik, Salman continued to be a part of it. When you start off together you are bound to grow close.

Will you work with Salman again?
Of course. But it has to be a film and a role that allows both of us to go beyond what we have already done. The best thing about Salman is that he isn't afraid to experiment on screen. After Main Prem…, I was going through a period of creative uncertainty. I had ideas for five films with Salman. When I narrated them to him he liked some of them. But all the ideas were in gestation. Vivah was one idea that concretised in my mind. It had to be made first. Besides, my father is very excited about it. I trust his judgement completely. Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and Hum Saath Saath Hain were subjects chosen by my father, Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon was chosen by me. Now you know why I trust my father's judgement.

You've gone back to an old Rajshri favourite Ravindra Jain to do the music for Vivah.
I truly believe melody is timeless, the older the better. There're so many tunes that I've heard my father and grandfather sing to me. Raviji brings that old nostalgic feeling in me. Instinctively, I knew he was right for Vivah. There'll be lots of songs – seven – in Vivah, but not too many dances.

Do you think you can recapture the flavour of Hum Aapke Hain Koun in Vivah?
No one can do that, not even me. Every project dictates its own vision. In Vivah I intend to look at the sanctity of marital bonding. At 40 I can look at the man-woman relationship with some detachment. Unlike my earlier films Vivah isn't about the festivities connected with a marriage. It's about the definition and dynamics of a marriage. I feel youngsters are losing touch with the beauty of relationships.

What made you choose Shahid Kapoor and Amrita Rao?
I was very impressed by Shahid and Amrita's performances in all their films – yes, I've seen them all. I buy a ticket and watch all the good films in the theatres. I feel it's very important to keep a check on trends.

How will Vivah connect to younger viewers?
I'm going by my instincts. The courtship ritual is something we've all gone through. I'm not targeting the film at any specific audience. Today's audiences are an educated lot. They're willing to give any genre a chance as long as the sincerity and sensibility of the filmmaker come through.

Do you think it's tough to go beyond Hum Aapke Hain Koun?
One among my four films has a part of my life going into it. Some parts connect with the audience, others don't. I can't remake Hum Aapke Hain Koun because that part of my life is over. It's never thought of. It just happens. I've always gone by instinct.

Your banner is making regional films too?
Our Oriya film has done well. We've just released a Bengali film directed by Prabhat Roy. Next year we'll be making a Bhojpuri film.

Do you feel like a misfit when you see a film like Murder?
I can't make a Murder, but I liked the film. I could see the sincerity of the filmmaker. When Mallika goes late to pick up her son from school I connected completely with the film. Bhatt Saab's thought – every marriage is performed around the fire, but a true test of a successful marriage is one that goes through fire – rings in my ears even now. But you're right; I can't make a crass film.

What other films have you enjoyed recently?
My favourite film is Veer-Zara. Then of course, Black is sensational. Bunty Aur Babli and Page 3, I couldn't connect with; I don't think I could make films like those. I can't bear to sit through the complexities of life in Page 3. Tabu keeps telling me to watch Madhur Bhandarkar's Chandni Bar. But, I can't bear it. I couldn't watch the little boy in the first half of Koi Mil Gaya suffer. I feel as a filmmaker it's my duty to give audiences hope. Even today when I sit through Hrishikesh Mukherjee's film, I feel happy.

What does your banner look like beyond you?
I've two sons; the elder one is 15 and wants to be a filmmaker. The younger who's 12 is bored with the sets