Talktime | Umesh Shukla
The director tells PRAKRITI ROY about his next film with Big B, his inspiration for making Oh My God and the content he enjoys creating
What’s your coming film aboutIJ
102 Not Out with Amitabh Bachchan and Paresh Rawal in which Amitji plays a 102-year-old father and Pareshji plays his 75-year-old son. The father-son share a house. One is positive with a zest for life (the father) and the other is pessimistic and wants to die. The father wants to beat the record of the longest living man, a Chinese man who lived up to 118. It’s a humorous family drama and its shooting will begin in November-December.
Did you have to make efforts to convince Amitabh Bachchan and Paresh Rawal for this filmIJ
They are professionals who go for good content. As actors they can do anything. Amitji has even played Abhishek Bachchan’s son, so...
What kind of stories you enjoyIJ
Since my childhood, there have been certain people whose work I’ve admired — like Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Basu Chatterjee, Majid Majidi (for world cinema) and stories like Malgudi Days. These are memorable stories no one attempts any more, probably because they don’t sell anymore. My motto is to hold on to the soul of a story. A person slipping on a banana peel may be funny, but for me the story starts when someone comes and helps the man up.
The theme of your movies are serious but in a humour garb.
Hard-hitting films like Talvar andNeerja haven’t really taken the support of comedy. But even then, there would be one supporting character who would create some humour. That’s a way of connecting with the audience. People are already in so much stress, why increase it through moviesIJ A chocolate needs a wrapper. My film Oh My God was walking on such thin ice that if I had made the slightest mistake, I would have been in a lot of trouble.
There’s a lot of controversy around the Censor Board. What do you have to say about thatIJ
I would only request the Board to first consider what the filmmaker is trying to say through his or her film and only then ask for cuts. Even if it’s about sex and if that is the purpose of the film, why notIJ Our ancient temples are full of erotic sculptures, kamasutra originated here. So there’s nothing to shy away from. I just don’t like double meaning sex comedies.
Where do you get humour fromIJ
There were so many instances in my life from where I derive humour. I was akarmkandi Brahmin and used to performpujas. The change came in me during that time. I used to be amused by the idiosyncrasies of people. Sometimes, they tell you to wind up in 20 minutes because a cocktail party is waiting. Sometimes, I used to tell them to do things which were not part of rituals, but they would follow faith so blindly that they used to do everything. People don’t know the meaning of puja so what’s the point of being religiousIJ There are so many who spend their life in fear or guilt for things like not reciting the Hanuman Chalisa on a Tuesday. Why do humans need to give God a bathIJ He can do it on his own!
Seems like Rawal’s character from OMG was based on you…
A bit, maybe.
How did you make your way from performing pujas to directing plays and filmsIJ
I always had an interest in stories. I thought that if I presented my lower middle class upbringing to people in a nice way, it would be fun. I experimented with it in theatre first.
Did you get any formal trainingIJ
Not at all. It’s all based on my work experience and my observations. I have just been applying my common sense and doing my work.
What are your thoughts on the content in the film industryIJ
I think it’s the golden age of Bollywood. The kind of films and stories being made today are so different from each other. No one seems to be doing anything similar. On one hand, we have an Udta Punjab or a Rockstar, on the other, a film like Aankhon Dekhi or a Kahaani, or Ship Of Theseus. The audience is enjoying the variety.
Which actors are you waiting to work withIJ
I want to work with Irrfan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Naseeruddin Shah, Rajkumar Rao — there are so many great actors.
Will we see you actingIJ
I’m not planning to act in films for now. Films are a director’s medium and I want to do justice to that. I’m not someone who wants a lot of recognition. I’m happy being able to walk around, havingpakodas anywhere.
You’ve ventured into TV after theatre and films...
TV is the medium through which we can reach people’s homes. Theatre and films don’t always reach rural areas. The format of the show is new. And the stories we have are fit for TV.