Over to backseat driving
ANUJ KUMAR
|
Arindam Choudhuri on the new trends in film business and his biggest catch, Amitabh Bachchan.
|
ANOTHER ATTEMPT Arindam Choudhuri says the subject required Bachchan.
Arindam Choudhuri continues to swear by the blend of aesthetics and management strategies despite the failure of Rok Sako To Rok Lo. Now he has signed Amitabh Bachchan for his next-yet untitled-production to be directed by Rituparno Ghosh.
"My goal is to come up with a bouquet of movies where each subject is different from the other." Arindam backs his decision with research answer.
"The study of film business in the last four to five years shows that movie watching has become a weekend-picnic in the metro centres. While earlier, people used to watch films in three months, now it has become a once-in-three-weeks exercise. This has resulted in a demand for more films and newer subjects with a fresh perspective. So this year we are coming up with six films out of which Sunglass by Rituparno Ghosh and Mithya by Rajat Kapoor, are ready for release."
Subject to presence
As for signing Bachchan, Arindam says, "It is not just that we wanted to sign him, it is the subject that wanted his presence. It is inspired by Late Utpal Dutt's Bengali play Aaj Ke Shahjahan about an aging actor of the Shakespearean mould. Rituparno has adapted it and he has told me that he got Bachchanji's nod during the first narration itself. Preity Zinta and Shefali Shah have also been signed in key roles."
But he adds there is nothing like Preity being cast opposite Bachchanji.
"According to the script both are doing the same film. A small part of the film has to be shot in a foreign location, for which we are still scouting."
Arindam shares the film would be in English and would be made for a global audience.
"It is for the first time that Bachchanji is playing an actor and is doing an English film. It has always baffled me that an actor who can walk English, talk English and act English, has never been cast in an English film."
Hoping to take a festival route, Arindam says, "The film is about human emotions, something Rituparno is very good at relating. This is my third film with him after Dosor and Sunglass. And as emotions are global we have kept the language English so that audience can easily identify with it."
Myopic view
His bouquet-talk is refreshing, but there is hardly any place for the audience in Gorakhpur and Jabalpur in such cinema. As unemployment and scarcity is seldom portrayed, regional ethos doesn't find space; everything is painted from a myopic view of free economy.
"That's true. But there is also an advantage of this view. Suddenly there is a surge in regional cinema. Films in Bangla and Bhojpuri are again drawing crowds."
After the disaster of Rok Sako... Arindam is again bracing himself to wear the director's cap, again with film based on youth.
"I have learnt my lessons. Never be too passionate with your film that you couldn't edit it judiciously and before the release show the film to different set of audience, who must not be related to you in any way."
Plan check
After Rok Sako To Rok Ro, Arindam's company targeted the festival circuit and produced two Bangla films:
Dosor directed by Rituparno Ghosh and starring Konkona Sen Sharma and Prosenjit tackled the issue of infidelity.
Faltu directed by Anjan Das and starring Indrani Haldar, Yash Pandit and Manjari Phadnis was about discovering one's identity.
Now looking for national appeal, two Hindi films are ready for release:
Sunglass, directed by Rituparno Ghosh, stars Jaya Bachchan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Naseeruddin Shah and Madhavan.
Mithya, directed by Rajat Kapoor, stars Ranvir Shorey, Neha Dhupia and Naseeruddin Shah.
The company promises to come up with 30 films in the next five years.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
