DNA (October 7, 2018)

It was bound to happen. When four bright minds — Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Vikas Bahl and Madhu Mantena — came together in 2011 to form Phantom Films, the Hindi movie industry rejoiced. But a trade source also remarked at the very onset, “This relationship comes with an expiry date.” Quite obviously, this quartet, which was initially celebrated for their maverick thinking, fell apart due to various differences.

CONFLICTS THAT COULDN’T BE RESOLVED
The creative clashes could still be thrashed out at the lunch table, but their personal differences (especially the one where Vikas reportedly made a play for one of Anurag’s ‘special’ friends) is the one that broke the camel’s back. From then on, the four went around in twosomes — Vikas and Madhu stuck together, while Anurag and Vikramaditya worked together.

MOVING ON...
The latest development put up by Madhu, the smoothest-talking partner of them all, said, “Vikas and I have decided to end our partnership in Phantom and go our separate ways. We had a glorious run for seven years and I guess, sometimes even marriages end. I personally believe that Phantom is the best thing that has happened to me in my producing career. I want to thank Anurag, Vikram and Vikas for being great partners, mentors and for holding my hand patiently through dark times. Hope to continue to be friends and may be even collaborate on individual films (sic).”

TOGETHER THE FOUR MADE...
- The first film they produced together was the Ranveer Singh-Sonakshi Sinha-starrer Lootera (2013), which was directed by Vikramaditya and co-produced by Balaji Motion Pictures

- In 2014, the banner backed Hasee Toh Phasee, Queen and Ugly. Queen went on to be a critical and commercial success and also won the National Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi

- The foursome backed Hunterrr, Bombay Velvet, Masaan, Shaandar and NH10 in 2015. The same year, they had signed a deal with another production company to make four to five films, annually

- While Udta Punjab and Raman Raghav 2.0 were their Hindi productions in 2016, they also made the Gujarati film, Wrong Side Raju, the same year

- Trapped was their only production in 2017

- They returned in 2018 with five films which included Mukkabaaz, High Jack, Youngraad (Marathi), Bhavesh Joshi Superhero and Manmarziyaan.

INDEPENDENT OF EACH OTHER...
- Madhu and Vikas are making Super 30, which is slated to release on January 25, 2019
- Anurag and Vikram have directed the first season of Sacred Games. While all four have a lifeline open with their big-daddy of financing, let’s wait and watch what their individual creativity will result in.

NOT IN A BENEVOLENT MOOD
For the second outing of Sacred Games, Anurag and Vikramaditya are reportedly getting double the budget they were allocated for the first season by the digital channel, which streamed the show. Quite obviously, the two are, allegedly, in no mood to share it with their now-former partners.