Bangistan’s debutant director Karan Anshuman said becoming a film critic wasn’t his first pick for a career.
“I always wanted to become a director since several years even before I became a critic. Becoming a critic was a detour in my career. But I always wanted to be a director since I was a kid,” he said.
A film critic for a leading Indian tabloid, Anshuman was known for his innovative style of reviewing films.
“It was just for some time that I decided to write about films. I really understood a lot about cinema, especially Indian cinema in terms of the current trends, what are the kinds of films people are making, what does the audience like and not like, what do I like and what would I like to make. So that really helped me in shaping my first film,” he said.
About the difference between filmmaking and critiquing films, Anshuman said: “As a filmmaker you are responsible for many people, your cast and crew, your audience and you’re just trying to make the best you can for all of them.
“As a film critic, a review is just a reflection of your personal thoughts on a certain film and how you liked or disliked [it] or how it could’ve been a better film or to highlight the good points. It’s ultimately up to the reader to choose to listen to you or not.”
Since the start of promotions for Bangistan, he has kept a low profile and let his lead actors, Riteish Deshmukh and Pulkit Samrat, handle the promotional duties. Anshuman might be hoping that on August 7 (the Indian release date), other critics aren’t as harsh on his film as he might have been with his reviews.
The director also explained why the film’s release was pushed back.
“It [was] due to Bahubali and Bajrangi Bhaijaan as both these films are doing well.
“[We] did not anticipate this huge business. We wanted a good space where there are no major releases so that we get space for our film. We got one extra week to blow our trumpet,” Anshuman said.
Salman Khan film Bajrangi Bhaijaan is having a mega run at the box office and S S Rajmouli’s magnum opus Bahubali is also doing well.
Bangistan revolves around two wannabe terrorists who decide to swap their religion in order to destory the other community. Apart from Deshmukh and Samrat, the satire features actress Jacqueline Fernandez in a cameo.
Even before its release, Bangistan has faced some trouble.
“As far as I know, [Pakistan] have banned the film after seeing the promos. Promos are created to titillate the imagination, excite you so that you can come to watch the film. When you see the whole film you will understand the message. The film is about the fight against terrorism, it is not against any religion or any country,” Deshmukh said
