Big B hits back at Aamir Khan

Bachchan reacts to Khan's statements

guess who's over the top! Amitabh Bachchan

What did you think of your Black director's Saawariya?
Saawariya was poetry on celluloid. An exquisitely presented Broadway-styled musical set within Indian sentiments. It boldly defied the routine format of escapist commercial fare…. a malaise that all our films have come to be so doggedly accused of.

It's daring and original and with such a high quotient of aesthetics, beauty and form!

Why do you think it was panned by critics?
It quite unwittingly got caught in media hyperbole the strength, might and penetrative influence of which formed viewers' opinion before they had barely stepped out to see the film. But the two young stars were a breath of fresh air. The narrative is almost like a Beethoven symphony. For my Black director and the conductor of this exquisite symphony, I shall repeat what I wrote to him after seeing the film. He's a genius, will always remain a genius. Ever brilliant. Often misunderstood.

You were also a small part of Om Shanti Om. What did you think of it?
Shah Rukh called me to Om Shanti Om's trial a few days before the release. It was great fun. A tongue-in-cheek satire constructed around the film industry, adrenaline- pumping, young, a magic- mountain joyride. I told Shah Rukh I was apprehensive about the audience catching on to the subtle digs on the film fraternity and its happenings. But post-release, it has worked and washed away all apprehensions. Deepika was statuesque, regal and endearing. Shah Rukh was competent as always. But I keep telling him, he was best in Swades and in portions of Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna.

Aamir Khan has called Black insensitive. Comment.
Aamir is a free individual in a free society. He has the freedom to express his opinions. I cannot understand why he finds the film 'insensitive and manipulative'. All story- telling, at times, tends to touch areas which are sensitive. They could have been done to achieve dramatic impact, emotional expression or effective endings. Remember, we as film makers, dwell almost unabashedly on that unwritten mantra of bringing poetic justice in our stories. That has been the most remarkable quality inhabiting the reason behind the popularity of Indian cinema.

What about Aamir's opinion that Black was manipulative?
'Manipulative' …hmmm… the clever and sometimes devious means of controlling or influencing people, is also an accepted ingredient in a film. We need the attention of the audience towards the product. We need to sufficiently influence them in order for them to remain attracted to the product till the last. If not for a lifetime, at least for the duration of the film. So in a sense, every film is manipulative.

Aamir seems unhappy with this traditional way of establishing character and narrative mood.
If Aamir is unhappy with this, let him demonstrate otherwise. I would be keen and anxious to educate myself on any prospective change that he might introduce to cinema. With due respect, all the films that he features in and that I have had the great pleasure in watching, have all adhered to the very qualities that he dislikes in Black. From using the distinct handicap, or to be politically correct, challenged condition, of a crippled human in his cricket team in Lagaan, to the 'sensitivities' of a blind girl in Fanaa.

Has Aamir expressed his misgivings about Black to you?
In a private meeting after the release of Black, Aamir had told me of his reservations on the film. He had not liked it. He had issues, he said. He told me the film did not work for him because he disagreed with the voice-over of Rani as soon as the film started. The argument being, if the girl is deaf, dumb and blind how can she have a voice-over! Till date, I have not been able to understand that remark. Maybe you can.

He has also called the performances in Black "over-the-top". Comment.
I cannot comment whether my performance was towering or not, but Aamir may be right on the other maybe the performances did go 'over the top' of his head!