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When I tried to make original films they flopped: Priyadarshan
Forever accused of making unoriginal films, Priyadarshan is ready with two 'inspired' films again – Dhol and Bhool Bhulaiyya. Abhijit Mhamunkar talks to the Hera Pheri maker about his obsession with the same and much more.
With Bhool Bhulaiyya you have yet again come up with another remake of a South film?
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The film is not a remake of Chandramukhi as all claim it to be. It is a remake of my own Malayalam super hit Manichithrathazhu (1983). Chandramukhi was in fact a remake of my film. But I was very saddened by the remake. They had mutilated my film by saying that it was based on split personality. They changed the entire script to fit Rajnikant in it.
But why are you so obsessed in churning out remakes?
I have made 71 films so far. Out of which I have written 36 films. When I tried to make an original film, Kabhi Na Kabhi written by Javed Akhtar, it didn't run. I was disappointed. For a long time I did not get the right writers or right subjects. I had done original Malayalam films but could not do justice to them as I had budget constraints, my producers were asking me to remake Hollywood films. During those days, in Bollywood, most of the comedy films were being by made either Boney Kapoor or David Dhawan which ended up looking like south films. There was this film Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega, which was a remake of my film. I couldn't sit through this Salman Khan film. It was really bad. Mani Ratnam's films are hardly remade as they are serious subjects. That was the time I decided to make remakes of Malayalam films. I thought why I should give my baby to others. I had good budgets too. All my Hindi films have been ones that I have been associated with either as a director or as an assistant. They have all been hits here. The only humourous film I liked was Khosla Ka Ghosla. It was genuine comedy which I am now planning to remake in Malayalam.
What changes have you incorporated for Bhool Bhulaiyya in Hindi?
For Bhool Bhulaiyya, I have just changed the location and the culture. My film is based in Benares hence I have incorporated their culture and rituals. In the film, I am trying to reveal many dimensions of human psychology as it is based on Disassociated Identity Syndrome. I am an M.A in psychology and I know the subject well. It deals with killers like Raman Raghavan and the Beer killer. There's both humour and horror in it. No one has tried this combination earlier. The film starts off with humour. You can't use ghosts just like that; you need an explanation for ghosts. I've not tried to cheat the audiences anywhere. I don't believe in ghosts myself. I believe in positive and negative vibrations and they can make our lives miserable.
Why do we always see the same faces in your film doing similar roles? Akshay Kumar for instance.
We have a proverb in Malayalam, when you have butter at home you don't have to look for ghee. I am extremely attached to them and cannot think of making a film without them. Anyways I believe in the adage - A known devil is better than unknown angel.
You have had a long association with Malayalam super star Mohanlal but despite that whenever he worked in Hindi films it was only for Ram Gopal Varma. Why not you?
I offered him films twice. One was Hungama where I wanted him to do Paresh Rawal's role. He refused it saying he was not comfortable with the language. Rajnikant too had failed to make it in Hindi films and hence he was wary. He did Ram Gopal Varma's Aag because he had always dreamt of working with Amitabh Bachchan and he didn't want to miss the opportunity.
Why didn't you direct sequels of your own films Hera Pheri and Malamaal Weekly?
I am not interested in sequels and cannot make them. I am not making Malamaal -3, my assistant Rajeev is directing it.
Why do only your comedy films work in Hindi?
I made all kinds of films from action to serious and suspense thrillers in the south but when it came to Hindi I failed miserably, I agree. After Hera Pheri became a hit, I decided to go ahead and make popular entertaining films since it was money making proposition for producers as well. Today's audience is the young college going youth and they love thrill and comedy as it works with them.
Why haven't you cast Amitabh Bachchan in any of your films?
I always admired him as an actor and definitely want to work with him. Somehow whenever I planned anything he didn't have the dates and when he was free, I didn't have the dates. I have written a script for him and hopefully will get a chance to work with him. I have yet to discuss this script with him. I am planning a film with Akshay and Amitji in mind.
Forever accused of making unoriginal films, Priyadarshan is ready with two 'inspired' films again – Dhol and Bhool Bhulaiyya. Abhijit Mhamunkar talks to the Hera Pheri maker about his obsession with the same and much more.
With Bhool Bhulaiyya you have yet again come up with another remake of a South film?
</>
The film is not a remake of Chandramukhi as all claim it to be. It is a remake of my own Malayalam super hit Manichithrathazhu (1983). Chandramukhi was in fact a remake of my film. But I was very saddened by the remake. They had mutilated my film by saying that it was based on split personality. They changed the entire script to fit Rajnikant in it.
But why are you so obsessed in churning out remakes?
I have made 71 films so far. Out of which I have written 36 films. When I tried to make an original film, Kabhi Na Kabhi written by Javed Akhtar, it didn't run. I was disappointed. For a long time I did not get the right writers or right subjects. I had done original Malayalam films but could not do justice to them as I had budget constraints, my producers were asking me to remake Hollywood films. During those days, in Bollywood, most of the comedy films were being by made either Boney Kapoor or David Dhawan which ended up looking like south films. There was this film Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega, which was a remake of my film. I couldn't sit through this Salman Khan film. It was really bad. Mani Ratnam's films are hardly remade as they are serious subjects. That was the time I decided to make remakes of Malayalam films. I thought why I should give my baby to others. I had good budgets too. All my Hindi films have been ones that I have been associated with either as a director or as an assistant. They have all been hits here. The only humourous film I liked was Khosla Ka Ghosla. It was genuine comedy which I am now planning to remake in Malayalam.
What changes have you incorporated for Bhool Bhulaiyya in Hindi?
For Bhool Bhulaiyya, I have just changed the location and the culture. My film is based in Benares hence I have incorporated their culture and rituals. In the film, I am trying to reveal many dimensions of human psychology as it is based on Disassociated Identity Syndrome. I am an M.A in psychology and I know the subject well. It deals with killers like Raman Raghavan and the Beer killer. There's both humour and horror in it. No one has tried this combination earlier. The film starts off with humour. You can't use ghosts just like that; you need an explanation for ghosts. I've not tried to cheat the audiences anywhere. I don't believe in ghosts myself. I believe in positive and negative vibrations and they can make our lives miserable.
Why do we always see the same faces in your film doing similar roles? Akshay Kumar for instance.
We have a proverb in Malayalam, when you have butter at home you don't have to look for ghee. I am extremely attached to them and cannot think of making a film without them. Anyways I believe in the adage - A known devil is better than unknown angel.
You have had a long association with Malayalam super star Mohanlal but despite that whenever he worked in Hindi films it was only for Ram Gopal Varma. Why not you?
I offered him films twice. One was Hungama where I wanted him to do Paresh Rawal's role. He refused it saying he was not comfortable with the language. Rajnikant too had failed to make it in Hindi films and hence he was wary. He did Ram Gopal Varma's Aag because he had always dreamt of working with Amitabh Bachchan and he didn't want to miss the opportunity.
Why didn't you direct sequels of your own films Hera Pheri and Malamaal Weekly?
I am not interested in sequels and cannot make them. I am not making Malamaal -3, my assistant Rajeev is directing it.
Why do only your comedy films work in Hindi?
I made all kinds of films from action to serious and suspense thrillers in the south but when it came to Hindi I failed miserably, I agree. After Hera Pheri became a hit, I decided to go ahead and make popular entertaining films since it was money making proposition for producers as well. Today's audience is the young college going youth and they love thrill and comedy as it works with them.
Why haven't you cast Amitabh Bachchan in any of your films?
I always admired him as an actor and definitely want to work with him. Somehow whenever I planned anything he didn't have the dates and when he was free, I didn't have the dates. I have written a script for him and hopefully will get a chance to work with him. I have yet to discuss this script with him. I am planning a film with Akshay and Amitji in mind.
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