Close-up with Priyadarshan
VIJAY GEORGE
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`Bhagam Bhag,' releasing today, has the Priyadarshan touch that has made him a successful director in Bollywood too.
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The first time you make a film, you give your heart and soul to it. while making a sequel, the attempt to make it better than the original keeps bugging you and it might kill the prospects of the film itself.
Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar
DIRECTOR'S TAKE: Priyadarshan plans to make a film on the weavers in Kancheepuram.
Making hits has become a habit for Priyadarshan. After making some whoppers in Malayalam, he has carved a niche for himself in Bollywood with remarkable ease. In his assessment, two factors have worked in his favour: his films do not have a South Indian flavour and his name does not immediately identify him as a South Indian.
His latest venture, `Bhagam Bhag,' which has Akshay Kumar and Govinda in the lead, reaches theatres today. "It has been labelled as the most eagerly awaited film of the year; it is such great expectations that worry me," says Priyadarshan with a wide smile.
Speaking on the sidelines of a seminar on sound recording in Thiruvananthapuram, Priyadarshan took some time off from his hectic schedule to talk about his films and Bollywood. He reminds you that it is not easy being a South Indian in Bollywood and be successful there.
"I consider myself lucky to be accepted in Bollywood, though I am used to being reminded that I am a South Indian, once in every five hours or so," he says.
Plenty of talent
Yet, Priyadarshan points out that though he had stated, some time ago, that artistes in Malayalam are far superior to those in Bollywood, he has changed his opinion.
He explains: "I have seen a big change in the last few years. There have been some spectacular actors like Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav and Manoj Joshi, among several others, who have come from the stage and made a big difference to the whole situation.
"Although I can't explain how, the way actors like Akshay Kumar have polished their histrionic talents is amazing. If they took two to three years to wrap up a film earlier, now it is being done in, say, eight months or even less. There is more commitment and all these have helped to make film-making more professional than what it was a few years ago. Not to forget Ram Gopal Varma who has brought in quite a number of new faces without going behind already proven stars, all the time."
Priyadarshan also plans to make films with some of the reigning heroes, which include a film with Shah Rukh Khan. "He insists that I make a comedy film for him," he says.
In fact, Priyadarshan had made his mark in Bollywood by successfully repackaging some of the phenomenal hits in Malayalam. But his `Malamaal Weekly,' which was not a remake, set the cash registers ringing too.
"Thanks to that film, I could make my own market in Hindi. Except perhaps for some of the lead stars, I have been using new faces, but by now even they have become popular," he says.
Priyadarshan started off in Bollywood with films such as `Gardish,' `Kalapani' and `Virasat', before switching over to comedies. "When four of my films - `Saat Rang Ke Sapne,' `Doli Saja ke Rakhna,' `Kabhi na Kabhi' and `Yeh Tera Ghar Yeh Mera Ghar' - flopped in a row, I was almost out of contention there. Then I took the risk of making a comedy, `Hera Pheri,' which was a tremendous success. And since then, I have been making mostly comedies, most of which have been received well."
No sequels
Although Priyadarshan has no qualms about directing remakes, he is reluctant to direct sequels to hits.
"I believe that films can be made only once and I hate making sequels. The only sequel I made was `Akkare Akkare Akkare' in Malayalam. Recently, I declined to do a sequel to `Malamaal Weekly.' The first time you make a film, you give your heart and soul to it. But while making the sequel, the attempt to make it better than the original keeps bugging you and it might kill the prospects of the film itself," he avers.
After making his presence felt in Bollywood, he is planning to move from comedies to another genre of films. The Hindi version of `Manichithrathazhu' is in the offing, which will be followed by a film for Shemaroo, and then a project with Amitabh Bachchan, which may be in the mould of `The Day of the Jackal.' Also, a Tamil project with Prakash Raj on the weavers of Kancheepuram will begin next May.
Priyadarshan says that though he does not miss Mollywood much, he does, however, miss working with Mohanlal. "If I were not successful in Bollywood, I think, I would have missed Malayalam more," he feels.
However, Priyadarshan thinks that the quality of Malayalam films has come down drastically during the recent years.
"I feel that the `mimicry films' have taken a toll on Malayalam films. Now, with their exposure to better movies, the appreciation level of the audience has gone up. Just look at Tamil, where the young blood has almost completely taken over the reins of the industry. Interesting experiments do happen in Hindi, which sadly is not being seen in Malayalam cinema."
From `Poochakkoru Mookkuthi,' and `Boeing Boeing,' to `Mazha Peyyunnu Madhalam Kottunnu,' `Thalavattom,' `Chitram,' `Kilukkam' and 'Thenmavin Kombathu' ... and the Bollywood flicks, his films linger in the memory and tickle the funny bone of millions. But why is he perceived as someone serious?
His smile lights up his face and he says, "This perception about me has, in fact, done me a lot of good. The moment I get close to someone, I tend to open up a lot and sometimes make a fool of myself. Although it has given me this tag of being arrogant, I enjoy being safe behind such a mask."
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