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`Remixes are great on mute'
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Theatre person Vinay Pathak and VJ Ranvir insist that food as a visual treat should be exploited in films
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Fiery Take Anchor-turned-theatre artiste Vinay Pathak and VJ Ranvir hit it off over spicy food on a hot day Photo: Mohammed Yousuf
IT WAS probably one of the hottest afternoons in town when Ranvir Shorey and Vinay Pathak decide on an over-the-coffee meet. The duo has been doing the rounds with Mumbai's Company Theatre for staging of The Blue Mug for the Society to Save the Rocks. As the afternoon progresses , the duo decide to pack up after the zillion questions and flashes — they have moved beyond their Channel V VJ (starred on House Arrest) image only to add chutzpah to commercials, television serials and films etcetera, hence the paparazzi mob.
Their hunt for good Andhra food takes them to almost every tiffin centre on the way. With the harsh summer sun coming on, they decide to go to the closest gourmet street. Here, they are greeted with the we-saw-you-on-the-television appreciation. And get to wait for fast five minutes for a table. Discussions range from how chic Rabbi Shergill's video is to why Andhra food rocks, as they place orders and wait for their Andhra thali.
Syeda Farida captures the wide-ranging yet together chinwag.
Ranvir: Sir (addressing Vinay), I feel food as a visual treat hasn't been explored. Hence there should be a food film.
Vinay: Like Chocolate. And more, revolving around Andhra menu (enjoying his platter of Andhra meal heartily).
Ranvir: The title should be Idli goes Camping.
Vinay: Or when Idli Met Sambar or better, when Idli Met Chole.
Ranvir: Oh what a fantastic combination. Think about it. That can be simply truly parallel cinema. Or imagine this. Remains of the Thali...
Vinay: But no, its not about the thali.
Ranvir: It is the story of the relationship of the restaurant doorman with a child to whom he gives remains of the thali every day.
Vinay: Thank you Telugu Desam for Silk Smita and Nagarjuna.
Ranvir: The actor or the restaurant?
Vinay: The actor who brought about change in film industry.
Ranvir: Today, when north Indian filmmakers come to south India, they are provided with certain kind of hospitality and culinary experience.
Vinay: In fact, he should come to Mumbai and open south Indian restaurants.
Ranvir: Ironically as far as food is concerned, Mumbai has Thai, Mexican, Continental and other speciality restaurants and so far only one Andhra restaurant.
Vinay: So they should open lots of Andhra restaurants. Andhra cuisine is a hot favourite.
Ranvir: In Lokhandwada, in west suburb where you stay, it has huge business opportunity (very elated with his natu kodi pulusu and mutton iguru).
Vinay: Yes, and we will do the promotion and advertising.
Vinay: Koffee with Karan is a great show. (The discussion meanders to alma mater television) Karan is doing a great job.
Ranvir: He is influential.
Vinay: Wish we hosted the show.
Ranvir: Then it will be called different... (another hot topic tickles his imagination)
Vinay: And why should films be singled out as bad world, there are other places more tinted than it is. (Enter the flavour of the season - sting operations)
Ranvir: News channel scram for TRP will be the trend next as it has happened in the West. They will pick up one odd story and blow it out of proportion.
Ranvir: Instead of Shakti Kapoor had they cornered the producer, it would have made a decent story.
Vinay: Casting couch will become more organised. Now it will come back with a bang. People will now know there are other routes to stardom.
Ranvir: What kind of sting operation is this? You are luring somebody pretending to be a wannabe actress. Making everything sensational. This is worse than remixes.
Vinay: Remixes are great. I see them on mute.
Ranvir: Remix is such a shitty thing to do. The music bit. (Pauses before he gets back to the earlier debate) Nothing will change. It is not affecting anything.
Vinay: So there it is, tragic.
Ranvir: Prime time serials are wasting hours of the masses.
Vinay: Soaps are good for hygiene.
Ranvir: You are my godfather when it comes to theatre. You are solely responsible for my achievements.
Vinay: I disagree on that. You were sitting on your lazy ass with great talent.
Ranvir: I guess we share a common thread that is love for the craft and respect for the media. And films.
Vinay: Bad Boys II, I would like to act in a film like that.
Ranvir: At the moment we have Rajat's film (wrapping up with dahi, asking for some sugar to go with it).
Vinay: Soaps are good for hygiene.
Ranvir: I feel food as a visual treat hasn't been explored.
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