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'The tide's turning':Sanjay
One week after its release, the cinema-going public in India is convinced that Sanjay Leela Bhansali's labour of love, Saawariya, is a classic case of a good intent going haywire.
The public opinion notwithstanding, Bhansali believes the tide is turning towards his much-hyped film. BT asked the reticent filmmaker a few pointed questions. Like...
Is there always much expectation riding on your films?
I don't want to believe this and get bogged down. I don't believe that I am bigger than my product. I want to be a fearless filmmaker. Every film I make is different from the other.
If I have made experimental films, then I have given good entertaining films as well. I don't want to be predictable. I want to surprise the audience by treading on unpredictable and unexplored areas. That's my idea of cinema.
What's negative about Saawariya ?
People listening to premeditated opinions and developing a preconditioned mindset without seeing the film. I understand the film being trashed if it deserved to be.
But it defeats all logic to say Saawariya is a bad film just because some critics didn't appreciate it. But slowly, I can see people are going to the theatres and appreciating different aspects of the film. It's a positive change. The wave has begun.
And what's positive about it?
That I made a film with two absolute newcomers and released it with a film that has the country's reigning superstar, Shah Rukh Khan. And the fact that their performances are widely appreciated is moment of pride for me.
If you could, would you change anything in Saawariya ?
No, it's the most elegant, evolved, delicate, important and best work of my life. But people feel it's an exercise in self-indulgence. I am always accused of something or the other. I am living in the hope that the audience will understand that there is an approach which goes beyond the typical potboiler in filmmaking.
You've taken potshots at Om Shanti Om and Shah Rukh Khan because things haven't gone right for you?
I love Shah Rukh Khan and have great respect, admiration and regard for him. He has the same for me. But as human beings, we tend to sometimes unconsciously give in to that one moment of competition. My larger point is, why compare a tennis match to a 100 metre race?
After this, will foreign investment in films be affected?
Sony is proud of the film. They have benefited from the initial opening. The figures are mind boggling. I have a strong belief that more investors will come now.
The public opinion notwithstanding, Bhansali believes the tide is turning towards his much-hyped film. BT asked the reticent filmmaker a few pointed questions. Like...
Is there always much expectation riding on your films?
I don't want to believe this and get bogged down. I don't believe that I am bigger than my product. I want to be a fearless filmmaker. Every film I make is different from the other.
If I have made experimental films, then I have given good entertaining films as well. I don't want to be predictable. I want to surprise the audience by treading on unpredictable and unexplored areas. That's my idea of cinema.
What's negative about Saawariya ?
People listening to premeditated opinions and developing a preconditioned mindset without seeing the film. I understand the film being trashed if it deserved to be.
But it defeats all logic to say Saawariya is a bad film just because some critics didn't appreciate it. But slowly, I can see people are going to the theatres and appreciating different aspects of the film. It's a positive change. The wave has begun.
And what's positive about it?
That I made a film with two absolute newcomers and released it with a film that has the country's reigning superstar, Shah Rukh Khan. And the fact that their performances are widely appreciated is moment of pride for me.
If you could, would you change anything in Saawariya ?
No, it's the most elegant, evolved, delicate, important and best work of my life. But people feel it's an exercise in self-indulgence. I am always accused of something or the other. I am living in the hope that the audience will understand that there is an approach which goes beyond the typical potboiler in filmmaking.
You've taken potshots at Om Shanti Om and Shah Rukh Khan because things haven't gone right for you?
I love Shah Rukh Khan and have great respect, admiration and regard for him. He has the same for me. But as human beings, we tend to sometimes unconsciously give in to that one moment of competition. My larger point is, why compare a tennis match to a 100 metre race?
After this, will foreign investment in films be affected?
Sony is proud of the film. They have benefited from the initial opening. The figures are mind boggling. I have a strong belief that more investors will come now.
CID
