Your Ad Here

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

An interview with Subhash Ghai


The showman of tinsel town Subhash Ghai explains that the subjects of all his films are related to the society. According to the filmmaker, his current film BLACK AND WHITE will also represent another social issue.
What is BLACK AND WHITE all about?
BLACK AND WHITE is the story of love and hatred. While black represents hatred, white is for love. I have tried to show the shades of love and hatred between Hindus and Muslims based on the concept of these two colors.
Is it true that the story of the film has a backdrop of terrorism? There are many films based on the same subject. So, why make another film on this oft-repeated subject?
Well, you can say that terrorism forms the backdrop. As far as the question of many films having been made on the same subject is concerned, I can give you some examples. Aamir Khan recently made TAARE ZAMEEN PAR which is based on children. If anyone makes another film on children then would you say there's nothing new in that! As there are many subjects related to children there are many fields related to our society too. I just have tried to touch those issues through my film.
Do you think that the audiences will appreciate your approach?
I won't call it my approach, it's my thought. Whatever I have done is based on my thoughts and the acceptance of the thought is absolutely on the audience.
Don't you think it's yet another film based on the Hindu-Muslim issue?
It's not based on the Hindu-Muslim issue, but it's a sensitive movie with social issues. What is Hindustan? I think Hindustan is a rainbow comprising of all the colours.
It's a very tough job to make films on a small scale. How tough was it for you?
Yeah, it's very tough to make films on a small scale. But I faced very little problem in making this film. It's only because the subject of the film was very simple. Most of the shooting was done at the Chandni Chawk area in Delhi. Thus, the budget of the film was very low.
What's the reason behind keeping the directorial baton away from you for almost four years now?
(Smiling) Everyone is asking me the same question. What if I was not directing movies, I was busy in many other meaningful jobs. I started my institute 'Whistling Woods International' in those four years. Students are learning the nitty-gritties of the film making at the institute. That job is equal to making ten films together. But, yeah, I have fulfilled my dreams now. And I am back to filmmaking. I promise you I will make one film a year.
Now-a-days there are lots of changes in filmmaking. What would you like to say about this?
If our lives are changeable then why not films? Since our birth if we have changed a lot then what's wrong with changes in filmmaking? It's the result of this transformation that I am working as a filmmaker and you as a reporter.
You go for very versatile subjects in your films. How do you deal with them?
It's very easy for me. My daughter is five years old now and in the same house I have my father who is now 80. I talk to both of them and that too in their own ways. Films are also something like that.
Your film KARZ is now being remade by another director. What would you like to say about this?
I wish that all my films are remade. I think remaking my films means honoring my films. Twenty years down the line I would like to see someone remaking my film BLACK AND WHITE. I am happy that Shahrukh's OM SHANTI OM is last year's best commercially hit movie and the name of the movie is based on a song from my film.
Your last film BOMBAY TO BANGKOK didn't do well. What do you think is the reason behind that?
Look, it has always been my habit that I never watch any movie after it is released. And it is a fact that I have never seen any of my movies after their release. A director's work never gets lessened with a movie being a hit or a flop. When Naagesh came to me with the story of IQBAAL I readily accepted it and even allowed him to direct the movie. In the same way he worked hard for BOMBAY TO BANGKOK too. May be the audience didn't like it. But I cannot tell you the reason for the film not doing well in the market, as I didn't watch it.
Please tell us about your next film MEIN YUVRAAJ.
MEIN YUVRAAJ is a romantic film in which Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Zayed Khan will work together. I am still shooting for that film and I hope to complete it by the end of April. I expect to release the film on the occasion of Diwali so that people may enjoy it at the best.

No comments: