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On May 14th 'Kites' madness officially kicked off in NYC. Indeed, on the fateful Friday afternoon, Reliance Big Pictures and Rakesh Roshan's FilmKraft introduced to the international media their much-anticipated upcoming release, accompanied by director Anurag Basu, music director Rajesh Roshan and, of course, the film's stars Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori.
It was a magical afternoon, one that left many members of the press as giddy and electrified as the utmost die-hard Bollywood fans out there. After all, when you are given the opportunity to sit just inches from such superstars of their fields and get to ask them the questions that you have till now only dreamt of asking them, how much different can a journalist appear from a star-struck groupie… But through the electric energy in the room, the intense magnetism of Rakesh Roshan notwithstanding, allowing for the velvet-voiced replies of Anurag Basu, the unassuming gorgeousness of Barbara Mori and the sparkling charm of Hrithik Roshan, AVS managed to get a few personal quotes and quite a few answers to the questions on everyone's mind. And do stay tuned for a review of 'Kites' coming this Thursday, right here on the AVS blog.
'Kites' the movie will be released as two versions. On May 21st, the Hindi-Spanish-English, full-length - nearly 130 minutes long - version with subtitles will premiere worldwide on 2300 screens, with more than 1800 screens in India and 500 in countries such as the US, UK, the UAE, Australia and South Africa. The following week will see the release of a faster-paced, action packed re-edited, all English version of the film titled 'Kites: The Remix' which was reworked by Hollywood action director Brett Ratner - best known for his 'Rush Hour' series. Ratner jokingly calls it his 'ADD version' for people who need the most action and entertainment in the least amount of time…
I asked Anurag Basu, the film's director, how he felt about another filmmaker coming in and working on the English version:
"Initially, I was not very happy, because no director would have been about somebody else taking over and cutting their thing. But I spoke to Brett. Indians, we have a different structure of writing because there are intervals in our movies. We have the pre-interval drama and the post-interval drama and it is written differently from the structures of Hollywood films. Brett saw the film and he loved it. The fact that he was giving his services and time said it all, because he felt passionately about the film and that's why he was doing it. If somebody feels so passionately about a film you can't say anything. Then I saw his 90 minute version and it was good because he managed to cut 25 minutes - a long time - without losing the essence, while keeping the soul of the film still intact. He said that he wanted to cut it with a US sensibility." And was Ratner's work basically about editing the film? Basu's answer: "Yes, Brett came much later. Because in the very beginning we had the script but we never knew the film would enjoy such a huge release all over the world. Once 60% of the film was completed, Rakesh saw it, they took it to Cannes, people showed interest and this film grew bigger and bigger. And that's when Brett came on board, when the film was brought here by Rakesh Roshan."
Basu is a charming, easy to talk to man with a palpable passion for cinema. He's also known for his amazing storytelling and I won't shy away from declaring that he's a favorite of mine, since his touching and poignantly real 'Life in a Metro'.
When I asked him who his favorite filmmakers are,
he confessed "In our generation I love Rajkumar Hirani, I think he's my favorite. He's a great storyteller and a great screenplay writer. And my namesake Anurag… Kashyap." While his most beloved non-Indian director is Wong Kar-wai. His own film education started in his birth town of Bhilai where "There were hardly any movies. Two theaters. One with Amitabh Bachchan recycled pictures constantly playing, again and again, and one hall with fresh movies. I can count on my fingers what I've seen in my childhood. My education with movies came through the TV at night. I was lucky that I saw Ghatak's and Ray's films in those hours of the night."
About the romantic aspect of the film, its tone,
Basu said: " I would not say this is lighthearted. As a director, you put your own personality into the film and I did that with this film. You'll see the film and understand what I am saying. This story also has a darker side in it, my characters are not black and white, they are grey, they have their weaknesses."
Then it was time to welcome into our conference room the stars of the film, Mexican actress Barbara Mori and the superhunk of Hindi cinema, Hrithik Roshan. To say that his eyes are a sparkling shade of grey, with just a touch of golden green iris in the middle, is to state the obvious. They need to be seen to fully believe in their hypnotizing magic! But gushing aside, if Indian cinema possesses the perfect weapon for 'crossover' appeal, it is embodied in the charismatic, kind and ego-free persona of Hrithik Roshan.
Although when questioned about the crossover appeal of the film, he firmly answered "I don't really understand the term 'Crossover'. I believe in good films and I believe in films that are made with a certain kind of honesty, are about human beings and human stories, which will cater on a world platform no matter what. Whether in Chinese or Hindi or whatever."
Mori and Roshan sported matching tattoos on their wrists, a tiny diamond shape - eerily resembling a kite - which Roshan explained: "We all did it while shooting 'Kites', to celebrate the journey. It's forever, the whole world, the universe - the sign for that. A permanent tattoo. Suzanne, my Dad, Barbara's Mom, we all have one. A symbol of how well we connected and shared some fantastic moments."[/i]
A true believer in fate, Roshan struggled with a knee injury throughout filming and even contemplated "Changing my passion and doing something else. Cause I didn't want to continue as a compromised actor." Thankfully for his fans, he stuck through it and 'Kites' showed him the way, with its unique story and unconventional characters. He talked candidly about his career and beliefs: "I've done 14 films in ten years. How is this film different? Every film has been a stepping stone towards my magical light. I'm just following this magical light that I know exists and I'm choosing my stepping stones which are guiding me towards that. They've become my films - 'Lakshya', 'Krrish', 'Dhoom' - and with each film I grow and my films become a reflection of what I am inside. It's all about the interpretation of how you live your life. You are never going to be able to create something that you are not inside. The painter is not separate from the painting. You can't say which is better. If I want to make better films I need to learn from my experiences and keep rising above, keep trying to evolve and keep finding peace, to interpret the world in a more beautiful way. And keep finding love to give. Every single film has been a milestone for me."
Barbara Mori, in all her dark-haired, smooth skinned, pouty lipped beauty then shared her experience on filming 'Kites':
"It was very exciting for me, this was my first English movie, first action movie, first big budget movie, as well as first Bollywood movie so there were a lot of new things for me in this film. I fell in love with the script and fell in love with this honest love story. So I had a great time and I enjoyed all the action sequences. We shot three months in the US and then two months in Mumbai. I was there, really far from my country and my family but I was feeling really at home because the Roshan family treated me so well and made me feel like part of their family. Everyone was lovely with me." Mori will next be seen in the film 'Viento en Contra' which she also produced, while Roshan's next projects include Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Guzaarish' and Zoya Akhtar's tentatively titled 'Running with the Bulls'.
Last, but definitely not least, we were introduced to the captivating energy and indisputable good looks of Rakesh Roshan, who also shares his son's magnetism and magical grey eyes. His presence in the room was the stuff legends are made of. And his invitation for all of us to view 'Kites' at the official premiere was an obvious indication of his integrity, the belief that he possesses in his films, his perfectionism and vision.
He spoke of how 'Kites' began its journey to its status as a global film: "I always take on subjects that challenge me, give me sleepless nights. So I thought I wanted to make a global film. the kind of film that all the audiences from all over the world would come and see. So what is the story I would like to make? A love story. People identify with love stories easily. I thought then I would make two versions. Keep the Indian diaspora happy… "
He continued "I took a spanish girl who doesn't speak English, a boy brought up in Las Vegas who speaks English and Hindi, but doesn't speak Spanish. And in their first meeting they fall in love. Without knowing the other's language, how do they communicate. And how can we show that in the end, love has no language. That in itself makes the story global. Even if the film was silent people would understand what they are seeing."
On adjusting Indian cinema to fit today's market
he admitted that "Today's generation, they don't know what emotions are and how to portray those emotions because basically in them they don't have emotions. So they are borrowing emotions from outside. Sometimes they succeed, sometimes they fail. But if you see all Raj Kapoor's, Mehboob Khan's films, you will see the film and immediately relate to that situation. Nowadays you can't, aren't able to. Because of the generation gap. But we have to go with this generation, they represent tomorrow." And yet "This is how generations change. They are changing. If you don't go with this generation, you will not be able to make a film, you'll be outdated. Your takes will be outdated, your thoughts outdated."
Rajesh Roshan, the music director on the film, composed an incredible soundtrack which will only be heard in the full-length version of 'Kites'. I asked the man whose melodies make us dream and dread throughout the film, how he managed such a global sound, yet without straying too far from the type of songs that will fill the airways of Indian radio for years to come: "First thing to my mind I knew I had to go global. Reach to the West as well. I had a goal in mind, remembering all the classics of Tom Jones, that was in my mind, where the West would reach there automatically. I hope I have succeeded." And how did he feel about the absence of all songs in the Brett Ratner version? "Look at my face. It speaks volumes. I have a broken heart." To which Rakesh Roshan added "If people want to hear songs they will have to come and see the longer version…"
Without a doubt, 'Kites' will be a groundbreaking film, changing the landscape of Indian cinema in one swell swoop. Be part of the revolution and among the first to watch it, this Friday, May 21st.
http://news.avstv.com/2010/05/17/love-has-no-language-the-kites-press-conference-in-nyc/
It was a magical afternoon, one that left many members of the press as giddy and electrified as the utmost die-hard Bollywood fans out there. After all, when you are given the opportunity to sit just inches from such superstars of their fields and get to ask them the questions that you have till now only dreamt of asking them, how much different can a journalist appear from a star-struck groupie… But through the electric energy in the room, the intense magnetism of Rakesh Roshan notwithstanding, allowing for the velvet-voiced replies of Anurag Basu, the unassuming gorgeousness of Barbara Mori and the sparkling charm of Hrithik Roshan, AVS managed to get a few personal quotes and quite a few answers to the questions on everyone's mind. And do stay tuned for a review of 'Kites' coming this Thursday, right here on the AVS blog.
'Kites' the movie will be released as two versions. On May 21st, the Hindi-Spanish-English, full-length - nearly 130 minutes long - version with subtitles will premiere worldwide on 2300 screens, with more than 1800 screens in India and 500 in countries such as the US, UK, the UAE, Australia and South Africa. The following week will see the release of a faster-paced, action packed re-edited, all English version of the film titled 'Kites: The Remix' which was reworked by Hollywood action director Brett Ratner - best known for his 'Rush Hour' series. Ratner jokingly calls it his 'ADD version' for people who need the most action and entertainment in the least amount of time…
I asked Anurag Basu, the film's director, how he felt about another filmmaker coming in and working on the English version:
"Initially, I was not very happy, because no director would have been about somebody else taking over and cutting their thing. But I spoke to Brett. Indians, we have a different structure of writing because there are intervals in our movies. We have the pre-interval drama and the post-interval drama and it is written differently from the structures of Hollywood films. Brett saw the film and he loved it. The fact that he was giving his services and time said it all, because he felt passionately about the film and that's why he was doing it. If somebody feels so passionately about a film you can't say anything. Then I saw his 90 minute version and it was good because he managed to cut 25 minutes - a long time - without losing the essence, while keeping the soul of the film still intact. He said that he wanted to cut it with a US sensibility." And was Ratner's work basically about editing the film? Basu's answer: "Yes, Brett came much later. Because in the very beginning we had the script but we never knew the film would enjoy such a huge release all over the world. Once 60% of the film was completed, Rakesh saw it, they took it to Cannes, people showed interest and this film grew bigger and bigger. And that's when Brett came on board, when the film was brought here by Rakesh Roshan."
Basu is a charming, easy to talk to man with a palpable passion for cinema. He's also known for his amazing storytelling and I won't shy away from declaring that he's a favorite of mine, since his touching and poignantly real 'Life in a Metro'.
When I asked him who his favorite filmmakers are,
he confessed "In our generation I love Rajkumar Hirani, I think he's my favorite. He's a great storyteller and a great screenplay writer. And my namesake Anurag… Kashyap." While his most beloved non-Indian director is Wong Kar-wai. His own film education started in his birth town of Bhilai where "There were hardly any movies. Two theaters. One with Amitabh Bachchan recycled pictures constantly playing, again and again, and one hall with fresh movies. I can count on my fingers what I've seen in my childhood. My education with movies came through the TV at night. I was lucky that I saw Ghatak's and Ray's films in those hours of the night."
About the romantic aspect of the film, its tone,
Basu said: " I would not say this is lighthearted. As a director, you put your own personality into the film and I did that with this film. You'll see the film and understand what I am saying. This story also has a darker side in it, my characters are not black and white, they are grey, they have their weaknesses."
Then it was time to welcome into our conference room the stars of the film, Mexican actress Barbara Mori and the superhunk of Hindi cinema, Hrithik Roshan. To say that his eyes are a sparkling shade of grey, with just a touch of golden green iris in the middle, is to state the obvious. They need to be seen to fully believe in their hypnotizing magic! But gushing aside, if Indian cinema possesses the perfect weapon for 'crossover' appeal, it is embodied in the charismatic, kind and ego-free persona of Hrithik Roshan.
Although when questioned about the crossover appeal of the film, he firmly answered "I don't really understand the term 'Crossover'. I believe in good films and I believe in films that are made with a certain kind of honesty, are about human beings and human stories, which will cater on a world platform no matter what. Whether in Chinese or Hindi or whatever."
Mori and Roshan sported matching tattoos on their wrists, a tiny diamond shape - eerily resembling a kite - which Roshan explained: "We all did it while shooting 'Kites', to celebrate the journey. It's forever, the whole world, the universe - the sign for that. A permanent tattoo. Suzanne, my Dad, Barbara's Mom, we all have one. A symbol of how well we connected and shared some fantastic moments."[/i]
A true believer in fate, Roshan struggled with a knee injury throughout filming and even contemplated "Changing my passion and doing something else. Cause I didn't want to continue as a compromised actor." Thankfully for his fans, he stuck through it and 'Kites' showed him the way, with its unique story and unconventional characters. He talked candidly about his career and beliefs: "I've done 14 films in ten years. How is this film different? Every film has been a stepping stone towards my magical light. I'm just following this magical light that I know exists and I'm choosing my stepping stones which are guiding me towards that. They've become my films - 'Lakshya', 'Krrish', 'Dhoom' - and with each film I grow and my films become a reflection of what I am inside. It's all about the interpretation of how you live your life. You are never going to be able to create something that you are not inside. The painter is not separate from the painting. You can't say which is better. If I want to make better films I need to learn from my experiences and keep rising above, keep trying to evolve and keep finding peace, to interpret the world in a more beautiful way. And keep finding love to give. Every single film has been a milestone for me."
Barbara Mori, in all her dark-haired, smooth skinned, pouty lipped beauty then shared her experience on filming 'Kites':
"It was very exciting for me, this was my first English movie, first action movie, first big budget movie, as well as first Bollywood movie so there were a lot of new things for me in this film. I fell in love with the script and fell in love with this honest love story. So I had a great time and I enjoyed all the action sequences. We shot three months in the US and then two months in Mumbai. I was there, really far from my country and my family but I was feeling really at home because the Roshan family treated me so well and made me feel like part of their family. Everyone was lovely with me." Mori will next be seen in the film 'Viento en Contra' which she also produced, while Roshan's next projects include Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Guzaarish' and Zoya Akhtar's tentatively titled 'Running with the Bulls'.
Last, but definitely not least, we were introduced to the captivating energy and indisputable good looks of Rakesh Roshan, who also shares his son's magnetism and magical grey eyes. His presence in the room was the stuff legends are made of. And his invitation for all of us to view 'Kites' at the official premiere was an obvious indication of his integrity, the belief that he possesses in his films, his perfectionism and vision.
He spoke of how 'Kites' began its journey to its status as a global film: "I always take on subjects that challenge me, give me sleepless nights. So I thought I wanted to make a global film. the kind of film that all the audiences from all over the world would come and see. So what is the story I would like to make? A love story. People identify with love stories easily. I thought then I would make two versions. Keep the Indian diaspora happy… "
He continued "I took a spanish girl who doesn't speak English, a boy brought up in Las Vegas who speaks English and Hindi, but doesn't speak Spanish. And in their first meeting they fall in love. Without knowing the other's language, how do they communicate. And how can we show that in the end, love has no language. That in itself makes the story global. Even if the film was silent people would understand what they are seeing."
On adjusting Indian cinema to fit today's market
he admitted that "Today's generation, they don't know what emotions are and how to portray those emotions because basically in them they don't have emotions. So they are borrowing emotions from outside. Sometimes they succeed, sometimes they fail. But if you see all Raj Kapoor's, Mehboob Khan's films, you will see the film and immediately relate to that situation. Nowadays you can't, aren't able to. Because of the generation gap. But we have to go with this generation, they represent tomorrow." And yet "This is how generations change. They are changing. If you don't go with this generation, you will not be able to make a film, you'll be outdated. Your takes will be outdated, your thoughts outdated."
Rajesh Roshan, the music director on the film, composed an incredible soundtrack which will only be heard in the full-length version of 'Kites'. I asked the man whose melodies make us dream and dread throughout the film, how he managed such a global sound, yet without straying too far from the type of songs that will fill the airways of Indian radio for years to come: "First thing to my mind I knew I had to go global. Reach to the West as well. I had a goal in mind, remembering all the classics of Tom Jones, that was in my mind, where the West would reach there automatically. I hope I have succeeded." And how did he feel about the absence of all songs in the Brett Ratner version? "Look at my face. It speaks volumes. I have a broken heart." To which Rakesh Roshan added "If people want to hear songs they will have to come and see the longer version…"
Without a doubt, 'Kites' will be a groundbreaking film, changing the landscape of Indian cinema in one swell swoop. Be part of the revolution and among the first to watch it, this Friday, May 21st.
http://news.avstv.com/2010/05/17/love-has-no-language-the-kites-press-conference-in-nyc/
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