Why Karan Johar is so upbeat about Wake Up Sid

By Joginder Tuteja

Promos of 'Wake Up Sid' have made an instant impression and urban audiences have already been sold to the concept, mood, treatment and the flavor of this Karan Johar production.

While it is pretty much clear that with 'Wake Up Sid', Bollywood would be seeing Dharma Productions' first quintessential multiplex film, one wonders whether Karan Johar, director Ayan Mukerji and Ranbir Kapoor are also targeting single screens and smaller cities and towns for the film to make a wider impression.

"See, time and again, we kind of tend to make a generalization and divide, that so and so film is only for multiplexes or for that matter single screen audiences.

Yes, definitely the film is about the angst of urban youngsters, is reflective of their lifestyle and of course comes with associated demography perspective as well. But then that's the world of Sid, so we have to present it that way.

We have to show that in the promos and we can't fool the audiences, right", says Karan Johar who allowed Ayan Mukerjee a free hand in making the film. As per Karan, the film is not just about the lead protagonist Sid but also his parents.

"The film also talks about the kind of dilemma that parents go through. They have a son at home who is almost grown up and neither can they take all decisions on his behalf nor can they allow him to be let loose.

This brings in a quite a lot of emotional energy in the narrative of 'Wake Up Sid' as both sides of the stories are heard, " details Karan.

Coming back to the original question around the film being targeted at multiplex audiences, Karan agrees that 'Wake Up Sid' is being perceived as a quintessential multiplex film but in the meanwhile is also hoping that it goes beyond that as well.

"I am not just hoping but also quite positive that the film would cross the boundaries of multiplexes audiences", he says, "The film has all the right ingredients of connecting with larger audiences.

Yes, the visual content is such that 'Wake Up Sid' is being perceived as a multiplex film but the subject and the treatment is so strong that it would cut across all segments of audiences.

All of us have been a Sid once in our growing up years and it won't be difficult to see a part of us in story which is told through this film."

Didn't he ever contemplate having a non-English or a different title than 'Wake Up Sid'?

Karan nods in agreement, "Yes, we did try to think of a title; something which could perhaps cater to a wider perspective. But then eventually 'Wake Up Sid' resonated with the world of Sid most and we stuck to it.

We have it out in open now and it has to be seen how much it eventually manages to entice audiences once the film releases in theaters."

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