Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Not at all at sea

Local lad Sagar Ballary, fresh from the smash success of his debut feature Bheja Fry, tells MINI ANTHIKAD CHHIBBER he is exploring the possibility of making a Kannada film

PHOTO: BHAGYA PRAKASH K.

THE GRADUATE Sagar Ballary: `I know my craft and do not need to study DVDs to see how a film is put together'

All dudes, dudettes, uncles, aunties, and bachcha parties are rushing to the nearest cinema hall to get their bheja (brains) fried. We are not talking about the latest in S&M, we are talking about "Bheja Fry", the little film that has people rolling in aisles wiping tears of helpless laughter. Sagar Ballary, the 31-year-old director is sitting pretty as his film hurtles to the finishing post on an avalanche of mirth and merriment.

Ballary, who was in town to promote the film, said it was a combination of factors that led to the making of the film. "At film school, (Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata) I watched a lot of world cinema. I liked European cinema for its technical excellence. There was this movie called "Dinner Game", which inspired me."

Ballary, who assisted Rajat Kapoor on "Raghu Romeo" and "Mixed Doubles", says he always wanted to make a "children's film. But when I was with Rajat, I was in the potbelly of comedy so to speak. There was Rajat's show "C for Clown" which had all these great actors. It was also the time of "Indian Idol" and all sorts of arbit people becoming singers. So I thought it would be interesting to make a movie about an idiot singer. When the producer of "Mixed Doubles" asked if I had any project in the pipeline, I mentioned this as a telefilm. It was originally called "Ding Dong Baby Sing a Song". He said to make it as a feature film for theatres. Later he wanted to know if the name could be changed, as it sounded cheesy. "Bheja Fry" was just the working title but the producer liked it a lot and so "Bheja Fry" it was."

The film was shot on a very modest budget over six days and 13 nights. "We did not compromise on technique. Only on salaries!" The cast practically chose itself. "I had seen Vinay Pathak's work in "Mixed Doubles" and knew he was my idiot singer. I have worked with Rajat and know him to be an excellent actor. He has this `smooth criminal' image, which I wanted to exploit. For Sarika's role I needed someone who is very glamorous. When I narrated the script to Sarika, she was completely convinced."

"Ranvir Shorey said he wanted to be part of the film and I felt that the chemistry between Ranvir and Vinay has not been exploited on screen. Tom Alter, Harsh Chaya and Milind Soman acted in the film to support this kind of cinema. I like to cast people who bring value to the screen. Like Milind for example, every time he comes on screen there are bound to be girls who go "Ooooo!"

About "Bheja" being a lift of "Dinner Game", Ballary says: "I have adapted the content. Maybe structurally I have borrowed from the film but that is a form of creative expression. It is not a frame for frame lift. I have gone to film school and know my craft and do not need to study DVDs to see how a film is put together!"

Ballary is all for learning at a film school. "You are exposed to different kinds of cinema. On the other hand, I have friends who have learnt filmmaking with hands on experience." Next on the agenda would be the "children's film. And it would be a money spinner all right. I feel there are not enough films made for young people."

Though Ballary has grown up in Mumbai, he is very much in touch with his Kannada roots. "I think in Kannada and I in film school, we used to discuss Kannada cinema. I have always been keen on using what I have learnt in Kannada cinema. It is precisely for this reason that I came for a longer stay here. I have met producers and they have been positive. At present I am studying the ethos of the land and the minute I land a good subject, I will make a Kannada film."

Ballary wants to experiment with genres. "I have tried my hand at comedy, now I would like to do something else. I need a trip to be making films right?"

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail