"If I have to make my film profitable then the first thing that I need to do is bring my rate down" – Anurag Basu 
By Joginder Tuteja, December 4, 2006 - 09:13 IST
Close on the heels of ‘Gangster’ celebrating its Silver Jubilee run, Anurag Basu is almost ready with his next film
‘Metro’. With an interesting title like this and a unique starcast in hand, he is a man who is working on different genres
with each of his films, whether it is ‘Murder’, ‘Tumsa Nahin Dekha’, ‘Gangster’ or now ‘Metro’. Over to the
man on the hot seat!
What should we expect from a film that has a title like ‘Metro’?
Let me set things clear at the very onset that ‘Metro’ comes with a very simple story which doesn’t have dramatics as seen
in ‘Murder’ or ‘Gangster’. It is a film that is straight out of our lives because anyways our lives too are full of drama.
Whether it is paying out EMIs or worrying about job satisfaction or peer pressure; there is so much happening in each of
our lives. There are numerous complex situations that we face while living in a big city and how we cope with them forms
the backdrop of ‘Metro’.
How did the idea of the film germinate?
Story of ‘Metro’ was there in my mind for quite some time and while there were so many incidents happening around me,
I thought why not bring them all together and try to present them in a story format. Once on an outdoor of ‘Gangster’ I
started thinking of all such stories that were directly or indirectly impacting me and I became sure that this had to be told
on screen.
What was the inspiring factor for making the film?
If you spend just a day at Churchgate, you will see so many people walking in and walking out and each of them would
have a story to narrate. There are so many love stories happening around us where a city is a hero and a city is a villain.
What are we there? Mere characters! These kind of ideas sound really interesting and this is what inspired me to even
go ahead and try out to a complete different genre.
| If you spend
just a day at Churchgate, you will see so many people walking in and walking out and each of them would have a story to
narrate |
With number of stories in the film, is it again one of those episodic tales?
No no no, not at all. ‘Metro’ is certainly not episodic. In fact all the stories run in parallel and are connected to each other
in some way or the other. So while Shiney plays the role of a looser who has been left behind in a rat race, Shilpa and
Kay Kay are a married couple who have everything when it comes to luxuries but still have love missing in their lives.
They have managed to build a house but are still craving for a home.
| ‘Metro’ is
certainly not an episodic film. |
Konkana plays a 30 year old working woman who is still a virgin and is now looking forward to getting married while Irrfan
Khan is a plain hearted bachelor who keeps appearing and disappearing from her life. Sharman and Kangana are the
young ones in the film as they work together in a call center. While for Sharman what matters most is money, Kangana is
a girl who has achieved a lot professionally in quick time and is in the middle of a love triangle with Sharman on one side
and Kay Kay on another.
So what’s the common factor here?
That none of them ever know what they are living for and what they actually want from life! They are worried about their
next promotions, money, success etc. but then at what cost? Their lives go on and they continue along with it but the
direction is strictly missing.
You mentioned about Kangana in the midst of a love triangle. What really happens?
See, to be honest it is a new phenomenon in the cities if you look closely. In order to move up the ladder, even girls are
ready to compromise, whether it is through there looks or bodies. I am not generalizing here but then I have myself
observed quite a few of such girls. Girls are quite fast today and all these casting couch stories are just for effect. In reality
there are so many of them who are just ready to bend for better opportunities!
| All these
casting couch stories are just for effect. In reality there are so many of them who are just ready to bend for better
opportunities! |
Your film deals with a life in a metro, while Madhur Bhandarkar had a city based ‘Corporate’ a few months back. Any
similarities here?
Oh no, not at all. It has nothing to do with ‘Corporate’ since the two films have a different story and are told by
different directors. Even the genres of the two films are different so you can’t tie them together by any means.
Does ‘Metro’ tend to turn heavy at any points?
That’s not the case. The film does have its dramatic moments but the idea behind making the film is to entertain. There is
nothing arty or preachy about the film and the film has been treated in a commercial fashion. See, I have always traversed
a middle path which means that neither would my film be on the lines of some routine out and out masala blockbusters
nor would they be heavy duty art house cinema. I am sure people would have a smile on their faces when they see the
film.
Why is that so?
Because of the identification factor! You can see scenes unfolding just the way your own life may have at some point of
time.
Coming to film’s music; there must be immense pressure on you and Pritam to recreate ‘Gangster’ magic.
Yes, there has been a lot pf pressure. In fact we started off saying that let’s make music which surpasses
‘Gangster’ and becomes superhit. Later we realized that we were spending a lot of time just ‘trying’ to make things
happen differently which was turning out to be counter productive. So we finally decided to just go ahead and immerse
ourselves in making good music without thinking about how it would do commercially. If the music would be good, it
would become hit eventually but let’s not try it the other way round. Pritam has come up with 6 songs that would be
featured on a band in the film at different junctures.
With such a multi-starcast in your hands, how does the screen time of each of the characters look?
No worries there since the script ensured that each of the characters get an equal footage in the film. Hence you can
expect each of the characters in the film to be there for same amount of time.
Kangana made her debut as a sole heroine in ‘Gangster’. Now she has Shilpa and Konkana for company.
Wasn’t she apprehensive about this fact?
Not really. I was open to her about her role in the film and asked her if she wanted to be a part of this large set up or wait
for a single heroine film. She was fine with the former approach and in fact said yes to the film during ‘Gangster’
itself.
| I am delighted
that all my first options for the roles are there in the film. |
Was it as easy getting UTV as the producers too?
Yes, it was. Everything just happened on its own. I approached UTV with the script narration and within 30 days we were
ready to shoot. While I am also the Executive Producer of the film, even for UTV it is a different kind of film altogether. It
was in fact quite easy to get all the actors on board too and I am delighted that all my first options for the roles are there in
the film. Also it is quite a good setup to be a part of since I have been given a free hand in executing the film.
But was that missing in case of Vishesh Films, the production house where you built your film career?
See, in Vishesh Films there is always a life jacket in the form of Bhatts. You know they are there for support in case you
feel you are going wrong somewhere. In case of UTV it is different because I have got a free hand and have been
loaded with all the responsibilities. [Laughs] So while it is exciting and interesting, it is also tough and challenging as I am
out there in the arena all alone and ready to fight the battle!
| If I have to
make my film profitable then the first thing that I need to do is bring my rate down. |
So has your price in the market also shot up? Are you also in the list of Rs. 1 crore director?
[Laughs] Not yet, though I can be one today if I want! But then do I want to do that? No! Because if I have to make my film
profitable then the first thing that I need to do is bring my rate down. I have to make a film which is safe and recovers the
investment quickly and earn a lot more.
There had been talks of Yash Raj films approaching you for directing for them. How true was that?
Arrey, nothing of that sorts happened. I didn’t get any call. Yes, there have been feelers from 1-2 corporate houses but
that’s about it. While I am filming ‘Metro’, I am not really finalizing on anything since I want to keep my options open.
| There is no
contract with Bhatts because I believe that a paper contract is used only for a divorce! |
Is one of these options pairing up with the Bhatts again?
Absolutely yes, I certainly want to continue with the Bhatts. We would soon be working together again on ‘Suicide
Bomber’. There is an emotional attachment with them which makes me work with the Bhatts again and again, though
there is no contract with them per se. This is because I believe that a paper contract is used only for a divorce!
|
Anurag Basu introduces METRO cast
