Backed by ‘Bodyguard'

Director Siddique has made a huge impact on Bollywood with his Hindi debut ‘Bodyguard.'

September 18, 2011 08:19 pm | Updated 08:19 pm IST

'Bodyguard' director Siddique. Photo: Thulasi Kakkat

'Bodyguard' director Siddique. Photo: Thulasi Kakkat

The man behind Bollywood's current rage, ‘Bodyguard,' which is scorching the box office, couldn't be him surely! Siddique comes smiling into the beautiful white-themed drawing room in his newly built house on the outskirts of Kochi, on the banks of Kadambrayar, for he has been at home, since the release of ‘Bodyguard', his directorial debut in Hindi, two weeks ago.

No premieres for him

“I was not there for the premiere. Yes, there were many calls to say that it is doing very well both in India and overseas. I usually never go for the releases of any of my movies. The crowds scare me,” he says in his trademark jolly way, for Siddique is one who treats both triumph and disaster the same.

Just then a call comes from the Malayali Association in Mumbai saying they want to felicitate him. So, what's the difference, being a successful director in the South (he has directed movies in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu) and in Bollywood? “For the same efforts taken, one gets so much more adulation and remuneration in Bollywood than in a regional language. That surprises me,” says the frank Siddique. The movie, ‘Bodyguard' in Malayalam had Nayantara and Dileep playing the lead. In Tamil, (‘Kaavalan') it was a boost to Vijay's career, which was going south. Both did somewhat well, but the Hindi version is breaking all records. How?

Only storyline same

“Each version, though a remake, had only the storyline as a common factor. Almost everything else was different, the locations, the situations and the moods. I made the lead character's real life characteristics stand out, for instance, Dileep's character has more of comedy, Vijay's character is more romantic in Tamil and Salman's character suits his body. While in the first two versions, the hero was forced to become bodyguards, in Hindi, Salman's profession is a bodyguard. This way, I was able to trim the length of the movie, as the incidents that led to them turning into bodyguards could be cut. It is compact.”

The year 2011 will be special to Siddique, for both ‘Kaavalan' and the Hindi ‘Bodyguard' released this year. ‘Kaavalan' was released on January 15 and he started shooting for the Hindi version the very next day. The Telugu and Kannada versions will have only the story credited to him. “I have done my best in this Hindi version and I don't think I can improve upon it,” says the candid director, who started his career as a mimicry artiste.

Assisting director Fazil for some years, he turned independent in tinselworld (Malayalam movies) with the story of ‘Pappan, Priyappetta Pappan,' which had death and comedy intertwined, something the audience did not take kindly to. But his story of the hugely successful Mohanlal starrer, ‘Nadodikkattu', made people sit up and take notice.

He teamed up with his friend, Lal later and they had a saga of success with their joint directorial ventures like ‘Ramji Rao Speaking', ‘Godfather' and ‘Mannar Mathai Speaking', to name a few. Yes, they all had English titles. While Lal moved on independently to produce and act in films, Siddique continued with direction. ‘Hitler', ‘Friends', ‘Chronic Bachelor', all were big hits. “I will continue to be a director, no hassle-filled production for me,” he says with a finality.

Fazil used to make his assistants don small roles in his movies to make them understand the plight of the actor. “How useful this was, I came to realise later.”

Siddique's style of direction is simple. “I don't act out the scenes. Why should I do so to seasoned actors like Salman or Kareena? I let them emote while giving them the correct situation.”

Siddique is getting ready to go to Bollywood next week. “Four big banners have offered me movies, but nothing has been decided. I do have the kernel of my next story ready, but I will have to meet them.” Will Malayalam and Tamil filmdom be able to afford him now? “Of course, I have a project with Mohanlal, which he is producing soon,” says Siddique as his assistant calls him.

A production controller had passed away and he simply had to leave for the funeral. Yet, he never once looked at his watch during the interview. Success, one supposes, will never ever go to his head as has in most.

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