Assignment cinema
VIJAY GEORGE
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Director Major Ravi talks about his new film ‘Kurukshetra.’
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I am trying to exhort the public to maintain a sense of unity.
Action arena: Major Ravi with Mohanlal and a couple of crew members on the set of ‘Kurukshetra’ in Kashmir.
It’s back to Kashmir for writer-director Major Ravi. After the success of ‘Keerthi Chakra,’ the former army officer-turned-filmmaker has again teamed up with Mohanlal for his new film, which is based on the Kargil war.
The shoot of the film, ‘Kurukshetra,’ produced by Damor Cinema, has just been completed in Kargil and the film is slated for release on October 2. Mohanlal’s character ‘Major Mahadevan’ in ‘Keerthi Chakra,’ is now a colonel in ‘Kurukshetra.’ In an interview, Major Ravi, who directed ‘Mission 90 Days’ and ‘Punarjani,’ talks about his films.
Why did you choose the Kargil war as the subject for ‘Kurukshetra?’
The Kargil war is fresh in the minds of our people. The nation stood united when the war broke out. Through ‘Kurukshetra,’ I am trying to exhort the public to maintain a sense of unity.
In fact, ‘Keerthi Chakra’ had this message about our national spirit, which goes beyond barriers of religion, while ‘Mission 90 Days’ was on the behaviour of certain individuals who could not go beyond personal gains even during a crisis. What is the basic premise of ‘Kurukshetra?’
‘Kurukshetra’ says how and why the war happened in Kargil. Actually, Kargil is an almost barren place without much vegetation, but it is of great strategic importance to the country. The armies had to fight without direct confrontation. ‘Kurukshetra’ is not a continuation of ‘Keerthi Chakra’ or a sequel for that matter, but we have retained the character of Major Mahadevan who has now become a colonel.
How different was the atmosphere in Kashmir when compared to your previous trip?
We had shot ‘Keerthi Chakra’ at Sri Nagar and we went even closer to the border this time.
The location for this shoot was in the actual mountains of Kargil. We didn’t come across tense situations during our time there, but the weather, with strong and dusty winds, was pretty tough. We could actually see Pakistani soldiers watching us shoot the film. The picture in Kargil is quite different from what we generally perceive. We couldn’t find a single person who was willing to act in front of the camera wearing a Pakistani uniform.
We should salute their patriotic fervour. It is perhaps not the difference in caste or creed that really matters, but the feeling that we are all Indians.
Your films are mainly autobiographical. How convincing then is Mohanlal as a soldier?
We have known each other for more than 16 years and he is well aware of the incidents that are narrated in these films. I think, except perhaps for the physique, he’s quite like me while enacting the situations that I myself faced.
What was it about ‘Keerthi Chakra’ that helped it find acceptance with the Malayali audience?
The main reason could be that we did not go in for melodrama. It was a realistic movie, without a macho hero who is larger than life.
Major Mahadevan’s deeds were more that of a normal human being and so the audiences could relate to him quite easily. He had professional differences with his superior officers at times, which is absolutely normal, and he himself was never infallible on the battlefront.
Has the State film award for the best screenplay for ‘Keerthi Chakra’ made a difference?
I have become more responsible after the award. Now I have to live up to expectations and in fact, that thought makes me pretty tense as well.
New projects
I am planning to make a film based on the Kandahar hijack episode next, perhaps with Kamal Hassan and Mohanlal in the lead. I have talked with Kamal Hassan about the project but no decision has been taken.
You seem to share a good rapport with Mohanlal
I met Mohanlal during the shoot of ‘Kalapani.’ We give each other the space that is needed in any healthy relationship.
I am close to Mammootty as well, but he never really knew that I had this plan to be in films when we first met some years ago. But then I was not initially convinced about what I wanted to do in films.
Are you planning to move away from war-related stories, as there is the risk of being branded?
(Smiles) I believe that this genre is the toughest to direct.
I have handled some challenging subjects. Of course, I will come up with good stories of a different nature.
Films and the man
Focussed: Major Ravi
It was his decision to pursue his dream that took the former army officer to tinsel town. Ace cinematographer Santosh Sivan had recommended his name to director Raj Kumar Santoshi during the shooting of ‘Pukar.’ Major Ravi worked as a consultant for the film and helped the crew with military matters. He continued as a consultant for Santoshi’s ‘China Gate’ and then associated with Kamal Hassan in ‘Alavandhan.’ He was a part of director Priyadarshan’s team during the making of films such as ‘Megham,’ ‘Vettom’ and ‘Malaamaal Weekly.’ Major Ravi shot to fame co-directing ‘Punarjani’ with Rajesh Amanakara, which had Mohanlal’s son Pranav in the lead.
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