Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
The real in the reel
RANA SIDDIQUI ZAMAN
|
It takes some hard hitting scenes and dialogues to make a film like ‘Kurbaan' a success, says Saif Ali Khan.
|
The poster is shot veryaesthetically. I fail to understandthe hypocrisy behind suchreactions. Out girls wear backlesscholis and mini skirts, then whyfuss on a poster?
Success comforts. It humbles one too. It often helps one take unsavoury behaviour or remarks in one's stride. A successful actor, constantly under media glare, often forgives the media for its ‘unprofessional' attitude — for he, after all, is a by-product of media hype.
Almost five years ago, Saif Ali Khan, the actor of royal descent, was a different man. One recalls an interview for Ek Hasina Thi. He wouldn't take dim-witted queries on himself or his films lightly. He would rather pick and choose specific, serious and sensible mediapersons to talk to him first. He would ask the rest to wait outside. He wouldn't even take any noise coming from his home lightly. He would take corrective measures, then apologise.
Cut to 2009, and Saif seems more relaxed as a person and much more successful as well as sought after as a professional. Despite his royal lineage, he hasn't forgotten to be humble, and the awe-inspiring demeanour has certainly been replaced by a visible ‘let it be' attitude. Earlier his stare would freeze a scribe asking a personal question, now even a direct question about marriage and romance doesn't seem to bother him. Meet the new Khan: more mellowed, stylish and less vary of frivolous questions.
Khan was at PVR cinema, Hyderabad, to speak on Kurbaan, his film releasing today.
Talking to us, he defines his role of Eshaan Khan in Kurbaan: “I play a temporary professor in Delhi University who falls in love with Avantika (Kareena). She comes to the university from New York to teach. It is a love story between a Muslim boy and a Hindu girl who get married to live in New York but with a twist. The girl later finds that she has married a terrorist who used her as a pawn for his end games.”
Directed by debutant Rensil d'Silva, a former ad maker, and produced by Karan Johar, the film, assures Khan, is no mushy affair as Karan's other family dramas are. “It's right that Karan's other films have been melodramatic but this time, he has taken a completely different approach. It is more realistic than stylised. It communicates the difference between fundamental and moderate Muslims but at the same time, it is an intense love story. It is generously entertaining but also hard hitting.”
Not playing ‘Saif' Saif Ali Khan talks about breaking the norm with 'Kurbaan'.
Non-Indian culture?
The film's poster, in which Kareena poses backless, has created a furore in Mumbai. The Shiv Sena has reportedly sent a sari to Kareena, burnt posters and organised rallies to protest the spreading of ‘non Indian culture'.
Says Khan stoically, “We aren't afraid of anything. The poster is shot very aesthetically. I fail to understand the hypocrisy behind such reactions. Our girls wear backless cholis and mini skirts, then why fuss on a poster? It is alarming, but Karan's Dharma Productions will take care of it.” The Film's ‘A' certificate doesn't bother Khan. “I am not disappointed. This films is adult and has violence too. My Race and Omkara also got ‘A' certificates. But it didn't change their fate at the box office.”
Films made with terrorism as a background often dilute the issue with melodrama as well as repetitive storylines — that of a ‘normal' Muslim killing a ‘Muslim terrorist' to declare his patriotism in public, a friendship sacrificed to save the country, etc. We have films like Fanaah, New York, Sarfarosh as examples that ‘distinguish' between good and bad Muslims. Khan argues, “Certain films are treated in a certain way because they deserve to be treated like that. Here, the message is not getting diluted. It asserts the need for change. Whether or not a relationship survives against such a background is the crux of the story.”
The film industry now works in a way where a production manager takes care of the film's ‘look' and merit comes later. “I would say that film industry is now more organised. With corporate houses investing huge money in it, expect professionalism. We have improved technically and filmmakers like Shimit Amin, Anurag Kashyap and Vishal Bhardwaj are bringing merit and talent too, so why complain?” he quips. “We Indians have a certain way of making films — with song, dance, melodrama — and we shouldn't sacrifice it because ‘others' think it is ‘funny',” he signs off, smiling.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
|
