Coming of age
ANUJ KUMAR
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As "Aashiq Banaya Aapne" and "Ramji Londonwaley" open this week, young directors Aaditya Datt and Sanjay Dayma give the first take.
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At times I had to lie about my age Aaditya Datt
Photo: R.V. Moorthy
FRESH CROP Sanjay Dayma and Aaditya Datt (below) are new entries in the industry's increasing list of young directors.
Time was when grey hair used to be a criterion to don the director's hat. Now with the unprecedented success of the likes of Farhan Akhtar and Vishram Sawant, age is no longer a bar. Younger, the better these days. This week two more young directors Aaditya Datt and Sanjay Dayma are making their debut. In his early 20s, Aaditya Datt has come up with "Aashiq Banaya Aapne" starring Emran Hashmi, Sonu Sood and the latest beauty queen to crossover, Tanushree Dutta.
Aaditya admits his storyline is no different from the usual college triangular love stories. "It is the screenplay that is experimental. Instead of dramatic reactions to film situations, `Aashiq... ' has real life responses giving the film a natural effect."
No chocolate
Usually in Hindi cinema, college romance is deciphered as chocolate heroes and touch-me-not girls, but Aaditya has dared to be different when it comes to the cast. "Yes, our films do spread the notion that only sweet guys attract girls, but Emran's character Vicky proves that you don't need to have a chocolate face to sweep the girls off their feet. He has got the gift of the tongue and the right mannerisms to woo the girls. Similarly, Karan played by Sonu is the introvert who has created lots of boundaries around him. The film will connect with the youth because I feel most of us are like Karan and each one of us want to be Vicky."
He says he had seen Sonu in "Yuva" and liked his controlled expression of emotions. Talking about Tanushree, Aaditya says he didn't want a cold beauty. "Tanu appears accessible but looks sensuous at the same time"
Aaditya, who joined the Bhatt camp at the age of 16, assisting Vikram Bhatt in "Kasoor" and Tanuja Chandra in "Ye Zindagi Ka Safar" and "Sur," recalls,"At times I had to lie about my age." Having opted out of academics after completing senior secondary school, he feels, "University education doesn't help much here." His name and cast may not have been able to create the hype, but the music is already popular. It was expected though, as Aaditya happens to be the grandson of legendary lyricist Anand Bakshi. However, he hasn't used any of his songs. "I have a huge collection of his unused songs but I wasn't sure my film would stand up to his standards. ."
Talking of age!
`Engaging and entertaining'
Sanjay Dayma has been the unknown face behind "Lagaan". The scriptwriter and the chief assistant director of the epic has now turned director with "Ramji Londonwaley," an adaptation of the Tamil film "Nala Damayanti." A copy, after the mother of all originals? "It is the script which has chosen me, not the other way round. I believe there is nothing wrong if the idea is engaging and entertaining."
Sanjay says he was aware that South Indian films have some elements of melodrama that do not go down well with audiences in the North. "We have seen this with films like "Nayak." So instead of going for a remake we adapted Kamal Hasan's story. The second half of the film is very different from the original and the comic part has been made subtle."
"Ramji... captures the trials and tribulations of a young man who goes to London to earn money for his sister's marriage. Coming from a village like Tikampur he is jeered at but his cooking skills help him out. Now, moving out from small villages for greener pastures is common these days. However, most people get adapted to the surroundings and cry only when they listen to a "Chhithi Aayi Hai." Here Ramji is different. He strives for his identity."
Still a cast led by Madhavan and Samita can mar the opening? "We didn't want stars because this would have diluted the characters. Madhavan had already done the original and was conversant with the nuances of the character. In fact, he has supported with the script and penned the dialogues."
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