Priyadarshan is all set for the release of his 87th film. In a candid chat with Divya Kaushik, the director shares his love for values, culture and life that exist in the heartland of our country
He is one of those rare people in the industry who would not think twice before opening up his mind and heart to you. Everything that he says comes as an honest reply, without any coating of pepper, salt or any other spice. Priyadarshan is the man who gave us cult comedies like Hera Pheri, Hulchul, Garam Masala, Hungama, Malamaal Weekly, the films that talked about real India and its people and made room for further experiments in the comedy genre. He did try his hands in action and horror as well, some worked and some didn’t, but that doesn’t bother the filmmaker anymore.
“My forthcoming film Rangrezz, starring Jackky Bhagnani, is my 87th film. You do not bother about criticisms, success or failure of the movie after spending almost 30 years in the industry. Flops and hits become a part of your life. When I started making films, every release used to take two days of my life, because I was insecure and that was the time when I felt that those films would decide my fat — whether I will be able to survive in the industry or not. But now all such fears are gone, I can take risks and can make films on any subject that I want to,” said the director, who says that more than genre or style of filmmaking, it is the interesting subject that inspires him.
“I don’t care whether the film will be action, horror, comedy or serious, if I find the subject interesting I go ahead with the movie. And I have enjoyed everything that I have done so far. More than comedies it is my film Kanchivaram, that won an award and got me the international acclaim that is close to my heart. It was a realistic film, based around the silk weavers. It is one film that I will always feel proud of. Even today wherever the film is screened, I can see tears in the eyes of the people after watching the story. I feel satisfied that I managed to create something that could move people. I have always felt a great satisfaction making my Malayalam films. It is films that I do in South India that brings me job satisfaction. We have to make movies in Bollywood because that is what gets us money,” added Priyadarshan. Rangrezz revolves around youngsters from the lower middle class of India. It captures the period when a person is out of his college and is looking for a job.
“That is the most volatile period as that is the time when everything is so uncertain. We all go through that phase and I still remember my time when I finished college and was looking forward to my future. That is the time when we only have friends, as they are the only ones who can understand since they also are going through the same phase and it is the time when youngsters can turn to criminals or terrorists or anything they want to. So the film captures this important phase of life,” explained the filmmaker and why youth from lower middle classIJ “Because I was born and brought up in the middle class family. I can relate to them and their stories and I understand their values. I always feel that middle class has the best values. People who belong to that group have maintained our culture and they are not spoilt. They do not imitate anybody, they have desires but since they have financial constraints they do not allow themselves to get spoilt. The only thing that they don’t have is freedom to do certain things and that I feel is good in a way since that is how our culture is supposed to be. They are ambitious and that ambitions take them to heights but they never give up on their values. A man who comes from a middle class family, no matter however rich he grows to be, will always teach his children to be grounded and would want them to grow the way he grew up and follow the values that he believes in,” shared Priyadarshan.
The director says that he didn’t want to work with the stars. “I was looking forward to work with young actors. Stars are not easily available today. They come with the set image and their own tantrums. With youngsters you are not bound as a director, you have the liberty to mould them as per the demand of the story,” he said and ended by saying that he would continue focussing on good subjects and stories that have a mass connect.