| JV |
To begin with, tell me why are you making a realistic
film like 'Satya' after a flight of fantasy like 'Rangeela' and 'Daud'? |
| RGV |
As a maker, I have never stuck to one particular
genre of films. If I started off with a violent film like 'Shiva', I later did a horror
film like 'Raat'. Then I did a light entertainer like 'Kshana Kshanam' with Sridevi in
Telugu. Then I did a sort of a violent love story like 'Drohi'. After making 'Rangeela',
I went on to do a spoofy film like 'Daud'. |
| JV |
Would you say that it is a deliberate
attempt on your part to make films of different genres? |
| RGV |
It is a concious, deliberate attempt on my
part to go on making films which are different from one another. I generally tend to
make a film in any genre which excites me at that particular point of time. I do not
make any film to prove any point to anybody. |
| JV |
How did 'Satya' take shape in your mind? |
| RGV |
Actually, I decided to make 'Satya' as an action
film since I had not made one for quite a long time. Mumbai has always attracted me because
it is a fascinating city. In the process of making an action film, I bumped into some of the
people in the underworld. And I realised that the human side of theirs attracted me much more
than what they did. It never occurs to us that anyone, who is shot dead in an encounter by
the police, has a face. To us he is just a name in print to be forgotten the very next day.
'Satya' is the story of people who are put in a position which the average man may not be
able to identify with. |
| JV |
'Satya' is able to leave an impact even though it
does not have mindless violence. How was your approach to violence in the film? |
| RGV |
The mainstream definition of violence may be horses
falling off, a chase, bombs exploding or a brutal fight, but in 'Satya' it could be just a
gun-shot which creates violence. It is the mental thought process of the person resorting
to violence which brings out the violence, not the physical thing. You are basically into
the psyche of the man who is doing the shoot. It is precisely because of this that the
violence in 'Satya' does not appear to be mindless to you. |
| JV |
What was your motive behind making 'Satya'?
|
| RGV |
Saurabh, Anurag and myself have written the story
of 'Satya'. In 'Satya', I have tried to probe into the mind-set of a person who is forced to
take to the world of crime unwittingly. Making 'Satya' was a process of self discovery for
me. |
| JV |
In what way do you feel 'Satya' has been a different
experience for you as a filmmaker? |
| RGV |
In Satya, I have not tried to be exhibitionistic.
I am not trying to show my technical talent or acumen in terms of photography. 'Satya' has
evolved out of the emotional content in the film. As far as my other films including 'Rangeela'
was concerned, the form and the technique was fixed first and then I tried to mould my story
around them. It was a reverse pattern as far as 'Satya' was concerned because I was moved by
the story and the complexity of the relationships of my various characters. |
| JV |
What is your perception of a gangster today?
|
| RGV |
To me, a gangster today is just a strategist. I do
not think he is a physical guy anymore. It is not necessary that he should fight with five
people with bare hands. It is more on a planning level that he shows violence. Unlike in
'Deewar' where Amitabh Bachchan had to prove his mettle by fighting with ten people, today
he gets the job done. |
| JV |
What exactly went wrong with 'Daud'? |
| RGV |
I totally blame myself for the 'Daud' debacle.
The script writer and the actors trusted me. They thought I knew what was happening and
enjoyed their individual scenes immensely. Everyone who saw the film thought that the film
was a fantastic presentation. Till the audience told me otherwise. I assumed that everything
was okay with the film. In a film like 'Satya', which runs on an emotional hook, I could detect
a flaw here or there, but with 'Daud', it was difficult for me to prevent getting carried away.
I lost track of the film completely as it progressed. The problem in 'Daud' was that there was
no emotional hook in the film unlike say in 'Rangeela'. |
| JV |
As a director, do you allow improvisations by
actors? |
| RGV |
Basically, I love to watch actors perform in front of
the camera and hence I allow a lot of improvisations by them. But at times, it may go overboard
too because I enjoy them. When you get entertained, it is difficult for you to be objective
as a director. |
| JV |
You have cast Chakravarthy in 'Satya'. Why?
|
| RGV |
Chakravarthy has the kind of face which is very
vulnerable and at the same time he has the unique ability to look very violent, which the
script demanded. His presence is very volatile and strong and he has a certain depth in his
face. Moreover, I have already worked with him in 'Shiva' and a couple of Telugu movies.
|
| JV |
Why did you throw Mahima Chaudhry out of 'Satya' and
replace her with Urmila? |
| RGV |
I did not throw Mahima out. We parted mutually because
I realised that I needed a more established actress like Urmila because 'Satya' was essentially
a love story set against a backdrop of violence and underworld. |
I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your fantastic performance in the movie
"Satya". I was greatly impressed with it !
With 35 movies under my banner and the kind of films and performances I have seen, I have
never seen anyone else perform so naturally and so very down-to-earth !
