Bollywood’s survivor

Priyadarshan is one of the few Hindi film directors who has become a legend in his lifetime.

Having directed films on varied subjects such as Gardish, Virasat, Muskarahat, Sazaa-E-Kaala Paani, Saat Rang Ke Sapne, Hera Pheri, Doli Sajake Rakhna, Yeh Tera Ghar Yeh Mera Ghar, Hungama and Hulchul, besides his latest releases Garam Masala and Kyon Ki, he says that after doing about 30 films nothing remains to be said.

He talked at length, at the premiere of his star-studded film Kyon Ki, on various subjects including his films and his recent felicitation for having completed 15 years in Bollywood.

Asked how he felt at the honour, Priyadarshan said he is lucky to be a survivor.

"I am blessed. I consider it an achievement because no other director from the South, whether it is from Tamil films, Malayalam, Kannada or Telugu films, has been able to survive so long."

What do you think is the secret behind this achievement, I ask him.

Nothing special, but most of the South Indian directors' films look like typical South Indian films, which I made it a point not to do.

I only stuck to taking subjects from the south, sometimes, such as Gardish, Muskarahat, Hera Pheri, Doli Sajake Rakhna etc.

Talking about his recent films, Kyon Ki and Garam Masala, Priyan said both films were released on the same day.

"Both are remakes of Malayalam films made in 1986. Although the basic subject is the same, the treatment of the subject and its screenplay are new and different," he said.

Although he is flying high now that Maalamaal has been a hit, Priyan is upset that some people have felt that his latest film Kyon Ki deals with a controversial subject in which an insane guy is done to death by a doctor.

"I had made the same film in Malayalam with the title Thalavattam with Mohanlal in the lead, but no one raised any protest at that time."

Asked whether comedy was apparently his forte, Priyan said, "No, this conclusion is not correct. What about Gardish, Virasat and Kaala Paani?"

What kinds of subjects motivate him to make a film?

"Nothing specific. If the subject holds me and is moving, it's okay with me, but it has to be unusual because unusual always attracts."

Priyadarshan has worked in Malayalam films and in Bollywood. What difference does he find between the two industries?

"Nothing. Only the people are a bit relaxed here. Then again it depends how you handle things and how seriously actors take you."

Is he an ardent fan of Big B?

"No. I feel that as a filmmaker, it depends on what and with whom you are doing which film and what kind of a rapport you have."

His new project is a film called Malamal Weekly.

There were reports that Maalamal Weekly was a remake of Victoria 203.

"The fact is that it is not a remake of any South Indian film. It is a straight film, a comedy film with the backdrop of a village in Madhya Pradesh, India."

What is his consideration while finalising the music for a film?

"I feel that melody should sound good and it should go with the subject of the film. Right now, no one is my favourite music director, though at one time it was R.D. Burman."

With inputs by Atul Srivastava