Seasoned director of photography, Gyan Sahay (of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and Antakshari fame) has finished shooting Bairi Piya, a "modernised remake" of 1968 classic, Saraswati Chandra.
The film, with Bhojpuri dialects and made in a record period of 27 days, introduces Pakkhi (who plays the title role in DD serial, Miss India,) in the endearing part played by the late Nutan in the original.
Raunchy additions
Sahay has cast Pakkhi opposite Mohit Daga (Zee Cinestar Ki Khoj finalist) and Manoj Verma in Bairi Piya, produced by Vivek Shankar and Murtuza Hakim. "Yes, the basic storyline and lead characters happen to be similar (to Saraswati Chandra).
But unlike the original, Bairi Piya is a contemporary subject; in our movie, widow-remarriage is incidental and not the central theme.
We have a different shocking twist in the climax. There are hilarious sub-plots and two raunchy item-songs, none of which were part of Saraswati Chandra," counters Sahay.
Stars too pricey
But wasn't it risky to cast newcomers and swim against the box-office tide? "Yes, I had initally approached top stars, but then the budget would have escalated. Secondly, I needed bulk dates, for the start-to-finish shoot, which the stars could not dole out.
Then I observed that the same top star pair (regional favourites, Nagma and Ravi Kissen) was being religiously repeated in over a dozen Bhojpuri movies. I preferred to cast lesser known, but promising talents. Pakkhi has put in a mind-blowing performance," says Sahay, whose film will release mid-June.
Meaty role
"I grabbed Bairi Piya because it is a decent, meaty lead role in a family entertainer. It was a challenge to improvise on a complex role played by Nutanji almost four decades ago," enthuses Pakkhi, who has already signed another Bhojpuri film, starring Ravi Kissen and Nagma, inspired by Anil-Sridevi-starrer, Judaai. Pakkhi is reported to be playing Urmila Matondkar's character. | | Satish Kaushik: Ab hamari baari
Director Satish Kaushik is also keen on making an "adapted modernised version" of Saraswati Chandra, in Hindi.
Reveals Kaushik "The script, written by Rekkha Modi, is ready and it's my own big-budget home production. It will be a musical social thriller, with established stars in the lead, and will be shot in India and London."
Kaushik denied that Aishwarya Rai was already finalised to play Nutan's character. | | |
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