Showing posts with label Shankar interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shankar interview. Show all posts
Indian thatha is like Superman. I’m against restricting him inside boxes like age-Shankar
8:57 AM
M Suganth (BOMBAY TIMES; July 9, 2024)
For the past three decades, the name Shankar has been synonymous with grandeur and big-budget commercial films. The filmmaker, who has been working on two high-profile films — Indian 2, the sequel to his 1996 blockbuster Indian, and Game Changer, his first Telugu film — almost simultaneously, talks to us about why he reunited with Kamal Haasan for Indian 2, why corruption is an issue that needs to be addressed, opting for Anirudh over AR Rahman, the criticisms directed at him and more. Excerpts:
‘INITIALLY, EVEN I FELT THAT I MIGHT BE REPEATING MYSELF IF I DID INDIAN 2’
After 2.0, I was thinking of doing another sci-fi film. It didn’t demand a big star. It’s a film in which the character was more important than the actor playing it. Like, say Spider-man. But its budget demanded a big star, so I had to drop it. That is when the idea of Indian 2 struck. You come across news about corruption constantly. It has not been possible for us to eradicate it. So, what if Indian thatha were to return now? That thought was interesting for me. But even I felt I might be repeating myself as the idea for a film did not form within me. But once I started thinking about what all I shouldn’t be doing for the sequel to not seem repetitive, I started getting ideas for angles that might be novel and true to life.
‘IF NO ONE CONSIDERS CORRUPTION TO BE A SERIOUS ISSUE, DOES THAT MAKE IT RIGHT?’
Why would there be news about corruption if people have moved on from considering it a serious issue? So, the problem still exists. Just a few think that it’s no longer an important issue. Also, if no one considers corruption as a serious issue, does that make it right? In fact, that’s when the need to create awareness becomes bigger. If it has become an issue that people have gotten used to and are not shocked about, it becomes a necessity to remind them again of its evils.
‘I CONSIDER INDIAN THATHA TO BE A SUPERMAN-LIKE CHARACTER’
I consider Indian thatha to be a Superman-like character. I’m against restricting him inside boxes like age. I see him not as an old man but as a superhero who happens to be old. Also, Indian thatha is the collective form of all our anger — from a teen to an 80-year-old — against a social evil. Does anger have an age?
Kamal sir actually wanted us to do a sequel right after Indian as he felt there were more messages that could be given through this character. But at that time, I didn’t have a story to take this character forward and I had told him I’d reach out once I got a premise. When this idea struck, I went to Kamal sir, and he, too, loved it. Frankly, neither of us went into an exploration of what the character’s age would be in the present. Because if we begin to obsess over details like age, we’ll miss out on the chance to see a character that’s a representation of our anger.
‘I DIDN’T WANT TO BURDEN RAHMAN WITH THIS FILM AS HE WAS WORKING ON THE BACKGROUND SCORE OF 2.0 THEN’
I’m interested in working with many composers. Each one has their own, unique flavour. Fortunately, I’ve a great rapport with Rahman. In this film’s case, I’d completed the shoot of 2.0 but had to wait for a year for the VFX work. So, during this time, I almost finished scripting Indian 2. Kamal sir, too, was ready to shoot. But Rahman had a heavy workload with the background score of 2.0, so I did not want to burden him by asking for songs for this film. I enjoy the kind of music that Anirudh is coming up with, so I decided to get him on board. His songs are catchy, and his background score is also good. He gives a variety of songs, from melodies to fastpaced dance numbers, so I felt he’d be apt.
‘I DON’T START WITH TECHNOLOGY, AND DON’T LOOK AT WHAT SOMEONE ELSE IS DOING’
I believe in my imagination. Everyone’s imagination is their own. I don’t see what someone else is doing. I just think of what I need to execute to bring my imagination to life. In fact, 2.0 had a huge budget and scale. After that, I didn’t think of doing a film that was bigger than it in terms of budget and scale. I focus more on the thought that I have after a film. If that thought demands a bigger scale, then the film will be of the required scale. I only look at what I feel I should do next, the idea that I’m excited about, and what the audience is expecting from me. I try to find a story that satisfies all these factors and work on it. I don’t start with technology. I never think, ‘Oh, this technology is available today, so let me create a couple of scenes that might need it.’ It’s the story that demands all that.
‘Game Changer is my way of returning love of Telugu fans’
Thanks to producer A M Rathnam, who dubbed every single film of mine from Gentleman till Boys in Telugu, many people in the Telugu states have been following my work right from the beginning. I feel I owe something to that audience, and I have been wanting to do a film in their own language. Projects like a film with Chiranjeevi sir and a Telugu remake of Nanban didn’t materialize. With Game Changer, I finally got the opportunity to do a Telugu film. It’s my way of returning the love that they have been showing me. It’s a mass film that will have all the elements that audiences expect from my film.
On his writing process...
Once I arrive at an idea, I start thinking it over and expanding it. Later, I discuss with my assistants and turn it into a screenplay. Then, I bring in the dialogue writers. They read more than us and write in an even more detailed manner, in a language that’s powerful. So, even if we write a script, when our thoughts go through a writer’s mind and come out, they get a new flavour. But we have to rework it to use it for a medium like cinema. So, I do a rewrite, which is a huge process that can take 200-240 days. I begin this simultaneously as we start preproduction work and somehow manage to finish it right before we begin shooting.
‘Social media criticisms don’t bother me’
I do follow social media. Earlier, we used to look at newspapers, radio and then TV for feedback. Now, you do that with social media. Since it’s also part of this particular story, I had to keep track of it. But like everything else, this medium, too, has both good and bad. So, we have to pick and choose what’s constructive and ignore the rest. You just have to go to the profile of the person posting a negative comment to get an idea about the person, so you can easily ignore it if you find it not constructive. So, criticisms on social media don’t bother me. The criticism about me highlighting a specific caste also doesn’t hold. But some people want to view my films only through the prism of caste. With both Gentleman and Anniyan, the story decided the Brahminical milieu, which served as a contrast to the actions of the protagonists. I never want to be for or against any particular community. My films are made only from the common man’s point of view.
I believe that 2.0 will be close to what audiences have seen in Hollywood films-Shankar
8:31 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; November 27, 2018)
He is considered to be a visionary filmmaker, who has the knack for pulling off high-concept movies with panache. Although he is a prolific filmmaker in the Tamil film industry, director Shankar’s ability to tell universal stories has fetched him recognition from across the country. Movies like Enthiran (2010, titled Robot in Hindi) and I (2015) have earned him a reputation for making slick films with unique subjects. He has also shown a penchant for using stateof-the-art technology in making movies. As his film 2.0, sequel to Rajinikanth’s Robot, is set to hit theatres, BT caught up with the director to talk about the future of big-ticket Indian films. Shankar also gave us a low-down on the use of VFX and his aspiration of making movies on out-of-the-box ideas. Excerpts...
2.0 is releasing eight years after Robot. You chose to take your time rather than immediately follow up its success with a sequel...
As soon as part one released, everyone was interested in a sequel, but I was clear that I didn’t want to make a part two just for the sake of it. In the end, it’s the content that would matter and I was waiting for the story to evolve. It has taken me so much time to come up with this story. One-third of the budget went into VFX. But the script demanded it and also, we can’t deliver something we did in 2010. The audience, who watches sci-fi films and superhero franchises like Spider-Man, Superman and Avengers, will come to watch 2.0, expecting the same quality they see in Hollywood movies. We can’t tell them that their films have Rs 500-1,000-crore budget for VFX and we can’t spend so much. So, we pushed the envelope and worked with a budget that no other Indian film would spend on VFX. I believe that 2.0 will be closer to what Hollywood is delivering and soon the lines between our films and theirs will blur out.
Technology plays an important role in your films...
The most interesting part of the story are mobile phones. Nowadays, everyone has a cell phone so, our film will resonate with almost everyone. As far as the technology is concerned, it comes only after the script. I go by what the scenes demand, in terms of technology. For me, content is the king.
How did you cast Akshay Kumar in this film?
It’s been a long journey (smiles). I thought that the film would connect with the audience world over if a global star features in it. That’s when I thought of casting Arnold Schwarzenegger. He had seen Robot twice, was impressed with the concept and had allotted dates. He even performed a few scenes during the narration, including the one in which Chitti is armed with multiple guns. Great artistes, irrespective of the industry, are impressed with ideas that are interesting, original and new. However, the deal fell through during the negotiation stage. Hollywood artistes’ way of working, their contracts and conditions are very different from those in India. So, we were not able to proceed with him. People suggested other international stars, who were ready to play the part. Though they are good in their own right, I didn’t find them suitable for this particular role. Then, I decided to go ahead with one of our best Indian stars. The production house was in talks with Akshay sir for a Hindi remake of a Tamil film, and that’s how his name came up. I narrated the story to him and he liked it.
It’s not always easy to turn anti-hero for a star of his stature. Did he take time to give his nod?
No, he agreed immediately. Even after achieving so much and being one of the biggest stars in Hindi cinema, he is constantly looking for something new, which is evident in his other films as well. He has raised the bar for himself and other actors by doing the kind of films he's done off late. I believe that those who enjoy great stardom should be given different scripts and roles. That’s what the filmmakers are also looking to do now. Our job is to make sure that whatever the character is — negative or positive — it should excite the actors and have sufficient material to explore their hidden talents. Also, in 2.0, you won't be able to label Akshay sir’s character as black or white, it has different shades and layers. We can’t call him just an antagonist.
You had also approached Kamal Haasan for the part. Interestingly, he was also your first choice for Robot, before Rajinikanth stepped in…
For 2.0, after the deal with Arnold fell through, I thought if Kamal sir joins the project, it would be great. It wasn’t just about seeing Rajini sir and Kamal sir together on screen after several years. The script also demanded it. But since Kamal sir and I were already in talks over Indian 2 for a long time, he was more keen on doing that film. I will starting the shoot for it next month, too.
Will you work on the storyline of Indian 2, keeping in mind that Kamal Haasan has now joined politics?
The story was locked before he had joined politics. It has been decided upon and complete. Whether he is in politics or not, it will appeal to the audience. It will match up to his stature as well.
When did your fascination with the sci-fi genre begin?
After I finished my first film, Gentleman, I was asked what kind of films I would like to make. I wanted to incorporate lifeless objects and characters other than human beings, into my stories. I have had such ideas for a long time. But it was difficult to convince producers to show interest in such subjects. They are mostly interested in heroes, anti-heroes and big star-casts. Who would be interested in producing a film, in which a cell phone is the hero? But that was the interesting part for me; I was also planning to make a film with a television set as the main character. I had a lot of ideas, but I knew no one would produce them. Besides, such projects demand huge budgets. So, I had to wait for long. Even Robot is a depiction of the human form. If it was just a machine, I don’t know how many people would have been interested in producing it. But I am glad that the perception is changing slowly and I can try and explore other ideas, too (smiles).
It’s been long since you last made a Hindi film, Nayak. Any plans?
I am open to that idea, if things fall into place. Language is no longer a barrier. With Akshay sir in 2.0, will you call it a Tamil or a Hindi film? It’s an Indian film.
We start sequel to Indian with Kamal Haasan in December-Shankar
8:28 AM
Shankar, who is gearing up for the release of Robot 2.0, his third collaboration with Rajinikanth, on his upcoming project, spinning a superhero franchise and the challenges of shooting on a budget
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 26, 2018)
Shankar describes his upcoming film, 2.0, as a sci-fi social. The director, who deals with the concept of “Fifth Force” in the film, reveals that there are many surprises for the audience to look forward to. Excerpts from an interview:
2.0 was initially planned with Aamir Khan as the protagonist and Arnold Schwarzenegger as the antagonist. Were you disappointed when your dream casting didn’t work out?
Such things are common with all my films. We go to an actor, things don’t pan out, we move to the next and so on. Rajini sir (Rajinikanth) wasn’t feeling well at the time (2014) so I approached other stars. But Lingaa gave him the confidence to take on 2.0 which is a difficult film with all its prosthetics and action sequences. After three years, I’m waiting to see how the audience reacts to our effort.
What was the biggest challenge with this film?
Bringing my imagination to celluloid. It required craftsmanship, technology and dedication. Every shot was reviewed a hundred times at different stages, from the art work and CGI to previsualisation and VFX. It was a tedious process but then, every element was difficult to execute. Also, the budget was significantly higher so convincing the producers initially was difficult.
Did you have to compromise on your vision owing to budgetary constraints?
Our market is India, so we couldn’t push the budget beyond a point and spend as much as a Marvel or DC film on VFX. But despite not having a Rs 500 crore-plus budget only for VFX, we are trying to match the standards set by Hollywood films. At times we did have to compromise monetarily, but not on vision. If we get their kind of budget, we can make a far superior film.
When you work with a superstar, do you write the character keeping his image in mind?
I do keep the expectations of a fan in mind, but I also stay honest to the script. I wouldn’t go overboard just to satisfy the fans.
Rajinikanth’s last few films haven’t worked as per expectations at the box-office. Is that cause for concern given that your previous two films with him were blockbusters?
The audience is always open to seeing their favourite star on screen irrespective of the fate of his previous films. As far as 2.0 is concerned, they will be viewing it as another collaboration of Shankar and Rajini sir after Robot and will be coming to see it with a fresh mind. And I’m confident that they won’t be disappointed.
What was it like working with Akshay Kumar?
Great, I’m amazed by his discipline and commitment! He spent three-four hours every day on prosthetics and another couple of hours to remove the make-up. He’s not just the antagonist, his role has many shades which makes it interesting.
Any plans to take the franchise forward with or without Rajinikanth?
We definitely plan to make 3.0 but I can’t think of this franchise without Rajini sir. He’s the only name that comes to my mind when I think of Chitti. As an audience, I want our industry to have a superhero franchise like Superman, Spider-Man and Batman. Chitti is loved by all and I would love to see the character again on screen. But for that to happen, the creative in me should get the right script. I would not want to make 3.0 just for the sake of carrying the franchise forward.
Have you ever thought of making a superhero crossover film, like Chitti meets Krrish or G.One?
I can’t think in that direction. I imagine and create a script organically, once that is done, if the story has a potential for a crossover superhero film, I’ll head that way.
So, what’s next?
We have signed Kamal Haasan for Indian 2. Once 2.0 releases, we will go ahead and finalise the rest of the cast which could be drawn from Bollywood or the regional film industry. We start shooting in December.
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