"Provoked will hopefully finally convince the skeptics once for all that my films like 'Bawandar' and 'Kamla' are no flukes directed by a 'sleazy' filmmaker" - Jagmohan Mundhra 
By Gaurav Malani, March 29, 2007 - 05:46 IST
Often tagged as a soft-porn filmmaker for the erotic content in his thrillers, Jagmohan Mundhra has often been misinterpreted in the film world. In a no-holds-barred
interview to ,IndiaFM, the filmmaker opens his heart about his film Provoked and how his so-called ‘unsavoury’ image in the industry had many so called
well-wishers warn Aishwarya against signing the film. But with all the acclaim the film has received across the world, Mundhra comes out of the battle, unscathed.
At many instances, you have been wrongly tagged as a soft-porn filmmaker in the media. How do you react to it?
It is difficult to constantly react to myths which are wrongfully perpetuated. I guess it makes a better headline to an article if it is salacious. I have repeatedly pointed out
that I am not apologizing for the films I have made in the US belonging to a very legitimate and commercially popular genre called ‘Erotic Thrillers’. Most respected
Hollywood actors from Angelina Jolie to Michael Douglas to Sharon Stone to Richard Gere to Diane Lane to Antonio Banderas to Kim Basinger to Glen Close to Jeff
Bridges and many other A-listers have done this genre of films. Respected film-makers such as Paul Verhoven, Adrian Lyne, Joel Schumaker and many others have
directed them. Since there is no other director of Indian origin who has done this genre in Hollywood and since the films I directed had smaller budgets and lesser known
actors; the tendency of us Indians to pull down the achievements of our own can only be the reason I can think of, for this kind of condescending attitude of Indian media
towards these films which I directed for famous producers such as Ashok Amritraj and Roger Corman.
Most respected Hollywood actors from Angelina Jolie, Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, Richard Gere and many
other A-listers have done this popular genre of films called ‘Erotic Thrillers’
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Erotica has always been an underlining theme of your films. Why such a fascination?
My films Suraag, Kamla, Bawandar and Provoked have no erotic theme. Open House and Death Mask were horror films. ,Eyewitness to
Murder and Jigsaw Murders were police dramas. It was the unprecedented success of Night Eyes (my first film with an Erotic theme) which got me
brand recognition and therefore most of the films that were offered to me after that had those elements in it as nobody wanted to temper with a successful formula. It is
the fascination of the producer with the box-office and their belief that I could deliver (e.g. Night Eyes) was the reason I got twenty films of that genre without ever
having an agent in Hollywood. Having said that, I think sex, fame and greed are three temptations which drive human behaviour and are great motivators for conflict
which is essential to good drama. As story tellers, we are always on the look out for compelling dramatic stories which people will be fascinated to watch. It is their
fascination which we cater to, not our own.
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I think sex, fame and greed are three temptations which drive human behaviour and are great motivators for conflict
which is essential to good drama.
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Also your films from Monsoon, Bawandar, Perfumed Gardens to Provoked have been woman-centric. What makes you choose on the subject?
My trilogy of strong women centric films are KAMLA, BAWANDAR and PROVOKED. Since all good cinema must have a protagonist the audience can root for, and
since more the hurdles in the path of the protagonist, more the triumph of victory in the end; journey of a woman protagonist in a male dominated society often makes a
compelling story. Ideally, I would like my films to be fast paced, gripping, heart touching and with a message for social reform. I want to dispel the notion once for all that
realistic cinema can't be entertaining. Using the medium of cinema, I want to tell stories that expose the hypocrisy of the so called civilized society. Creating an
awareness is the beginning of initiating change. This need not be done in a ponderous, boring, self-important manner. It can be done in a comedy (e.g Munna
Bhai), drama (e.g Rang De Basanti) and it can even be done in a song and dance flick (e.g. Naya Daur, Guide). I, as a moviegoer like films which have
something to say.
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I want to dispel the notion once and for all that realistic cinema can't be entertaining.
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Post Vishkanya, you hardly made any film in India and almost shifted your base to US. Did you think your kind of cinema would not be accepted in India?
There were other considerations. My daughter's education was most important. My sensibilities were somewhat different than prevailing cinema of the time in India.
When I tried to push aside my sensibilities to accommodate the dictates of the box-office, I made bad films because they were without conviction. I was still trying to find
at that time what my strength as a filmmaker was. I learned my craft by practicing it through trial and error.
When did the idea of making ‘Provoked’ first strike you?
In 2001, I was in London to screen my film BAWANDAR (Sandstorm) at the film festival. After the screening, a couple of women came to see me and presented me
with a book called Circle of Light. They were social workers from Southall Black Sisters. On my flight back to Los Angeles, I read the book. Kiranjit's life story
gave me goose bumps. I wanted to develop a screenplay based on the book but it took four years to acquire the rights as it was already optioned to some other filmmaker
who couldn't make it happen. In 2004, rights were offered to me, but I couldn't find a producer to put money in it. Once Aishwarya heard the story and gave her consent,
funding came through.
Did you meet Kiranjit Ahluwalia personally, on whom the film is based? Did she have any inputs for the film?
Yes, I did meet her personally. The film is based on her book as she narrated her story to co-author Rahila Gupta while she was in prison. That was all the input I needed.
Which of these reasons made you choose Aishwarya Rai for the film?
- because she was a perfect fit for the character
- to attract in the global audience since she is more popular internationally, or
- because Aishwarya is a fabulous actress.
All of the above.
Initially, she was chosen because her globally recognized brand-name made the project financially viable. Her desire to breakaway from the image of her iconic beauty
and play a real character was very important. She proved herself to be a fabulous actress as all acclaimed actors need the right vehicle, right director and right role to
show their talent and be called fabulous. No actor can rise above that. When your beauty which is your boon also becomes your bane as no one can see beyond that;
such opportunities don't come often and as an actor you have to be smart enough to grab it when it comes. Aishwarya grabbed the opportunity and did full justice to the
role and her very expressive eyes brought out the pain, the love, the hurt, the anger, the fear, the gratitude, the joy and the triumph of Kiranjit's character.
Was Aishwarya at any point of time a little wary to do the film considering your sleazy filmmaker image created by the media?
Fortunately for me, Aishwarya had seen Bawandar on TV and liked it. I am sure many of her so called well wishers must have warned her of my "unsavoury"
reputation, but she stood by her conviction and never questioned my authority as director. She had also met me in person before saying yes and hopefully that dispelled
some of her doubts as it did when I met Nandita for Bawandar who gave me quite a run around before saying yes because of my so called 'sleazy' image created
by the media. I thought Nandita winning the Best Actress Award in Santa Monica and Bawandar getting Best Picture Award in 15 film festivals worldwide would
put an end to that perception; but alas, some members of the media still want to harp on the same thing. Deepti's award winning performance in KAMLA; Nandita's
award winning performance in BAWANDAR and now (from the reaction at all festival screenings) Aishwarya's award worthy performance in PROVOKED will
hopefully finally convince the skeptics once for all that these are no flukes directed by a 'sleazy' filmmaker.
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PROVOKED will hopefully finally convince the skeptics once for all that these are no flukes directed by a 'sleazy'
filmmaker.
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Give us a gist of the story of Provoked
It is a multi-layered story. First part is a story of love and betrayal when a young girl, Kiranjit, from a village in Punjab comes to London after an arranged marriage
looking forward to being cherished, loved and respected by her husband only to find brutality and abuse – physical, verbal and emotional. Ten years of this betrayal
eventually snaps her mentally and she sets him on fire while he is asleep. Second part is a story of female bonding when serving a life sentence for murder in a women's
prison in London, she finds a mentor in her English cell mate who nurtures her, heals her, guides her and makes her blossom as a human being. The third part is a story of
triumph when a small motley group of under-funded idealist social workers called Southall Black Sisters appeal the case of Kiranjit in Royal Court and succeed in
changing the British law with the help of a senior British Queen's Counsel. These three parts are intertwined in a multi-layered drama which unfolds on the screen like a
thriller.
Don’t you think Naveen Andrews is an underrated actor with immense talent?
I agree. Naveen's restrained yet menacing performance as a brutally abusive spouse sends chills down your spine. Even though of Indian descent, he has grown up in
England and learned his craft of acting in the western schools and is now finally getting his due with the immense popularity of his character in the popular American TV
series, LOST.
What role does Nandita Das play in the film?
She plays a character called Radha Dalal, leader of the Southall Black Sisters; who is a firebrand outspoken feminist; an idealist who wears her heart on her sleeves. In
Bawandar, she was the victim; in Provoked, she is the saviour.
Tell us about the foreign actors in the cast and their characterization.
Miranda Richardson plays Ronnie, Aishwarya's cell mate in prison who after some initial apprehension takes her under her wings and mentors her education and growth.
Their bonding and love is what gives the story a whole different dimension. Rebecca Pidgeon plays the solicitor who argues her case in crown court and loses. Robbie
Coltrane plays Miranda's step-brother and a well known Queen's counsel who argues Aishwarya's case in appeals court and succeeds in getting her conviction changed
from Murder to Manslaughter, in the process changing the definition of Provocation in British law. Steve Mcfadden plays a racist detective who interrogates Aishwarya
bullying her to confession; Nicholas Irons plays a sympathetic constable and Deborah Moore plays a prison mate.
To what extent has Provoked stuck to the real life story?
The film is factually accurate. All the dates, the incidents, the legal points are taken from court documents and Kiranjit's own recollections as described in her book.
Where the film takes cinematic liberty is in compositing characters, inventing dialogue and in physical resemblance of actors with real people. Since the film is not a
documentary but a feature and since what is important is to capture the spirit of Kiranjit and not replicate her looks and mannerisms; those liberties are taken to tell the
story in a forceful and dramatic manner. In the ultimate analysis, the film has to represent all Kiranjits who have suffered silently in the name of family honour and who
have been subjected to domestic violence at the hands of their spouses.
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Since the film is not a documentary and what is important is to capture the spirit of Kiranjit; some liberties are taken
to tell the story in a forceful and dramatic manner.
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What scope does a film like this have for music, esp. when A.R.Rahman is composing?
Music plays a very significant role in a film like this because it becomes the unspoken language of emotion. The mental state of the protagonist who is not in a position to
verbalize it, gets an expression through subtle appropriate underscore. Its presence or lack of it, manipulates the emotions of the audience at a sub-conscious level and is a
very important tool for a film maker to effectively tell his or her story. In our cinema in Bollywood, we equate music with songs which are items which punctuate a story
and are primarily used as promotional tools for TV spots. A catchy tune with foot tapping rhythm, along with saucy lyrics and a well choreographed dance number is what
we consider the scope for music. In a film like Provoked, such a treatment will disrupt and dilute the drama. I have used an English song composed by Rahman,
written and sung by Karen David on the end credit scroll, as it sums up the feelings of a victim of abuse searching for hope. I have shot a music video of it to wrap it
around some dramatic clips from the film for TV promotion. AR Rahman's background has greatly enhanced the impact of my film as he has organically created it from
the underlying themes of the story.
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The mental state of the protagonist who is not in a position to verbalize it, gets an expression through subtle
appropriate underscore.
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Do you agree that the presence Aishwarya and Rahman adds a lot of grace and class to Provoked?
There is no doubt about that. I had wanted to work with A R Rahman ever since I saw Roja in Chennai and I went to meet him right after the show. I am glad that after
all these years, I found a project which creatively stimulated both Aishwarya and Rahman.
What genre will you put ‘Provoked’ in – crime thriller, courtroom drama, social cause?
It is all that and much more. It is dramatic story of great social significance narrated in the style of a thriller.
Woman being oppressed is regularly shown in Indian films. But Provoked takes the story to new lands showing a woman being victimized even in London. Do you
think injustice against woman is a global issue and not just confined to India, as is a notion?
Not only is this a global issue but it cuts across all class, race and religious boundaries. It is harder to detect on the surface in our culture because of the conspiracy of
silence in the name of family honour. The shame felt by the victim in admitting abuse because they feel it is like washing your dirty linen in public has allowed many a
perpetrators to get away with it. The film's message is to get out of such a relationship before it leads to a tragedy. Aishwarya's character says in the end that it is up to
the mothers to teach their young sons to treat women with love and respect, not violence and anger.
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Aishwarya's character says in the end that it is up to the mothers to teach their young sons to treat women with love
and respect, not violence and anger.
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Provoked has also been showcased at some film festivals. How was the response?
The response has been overwhelmingly positive. It has received standing ovations and men and women alike have said that it brought a lump to their throats and tears to
their eyes.
The film released internationally last year. Why was the Indian release delayed so long? Films targeted at festive audience do tend to get delayed… why so?
Strong word of mouth is very important for these kind of films and festival audiences gradually create a kind of buzz which takes time to spread. If the film gets critical
acclaim, a certain section of the art house audience gets ready to patronize it when it commercially opens. Since these kind of realistic films are not necessarily patronized
by those who want escapist fare and want to leave their brains behind while watching a movie, you can't mass market them by saturating the media with promos before
release. A niche market film to realize its full potential needs special handling.
You also planned a film on Sonia Gandhi with Monica Belluci. What went wrong with it? Did political parties and pressure disrupt your idea?
I hope it is only a temporary setback. The congress party served me a legal notice that I should refrain from making a film on Sonia Gandhi's life without her permission. I
responded by saying that I didn't seek her permission to save her from the embarrassment of a "no win" situation. If she said yes to my request, it will be considered
endorsing a propoganda film for political gain by the opposition; and if she said no, it will be considered curbing freedom of speech in a democracy by the media.
Therefore, I wanted to make an unauthorized biography with no political agenda. My interest was to humanize an iconic figure by presenting a love story of a woman who
came to India for the love of a man and stayed for the love of a country. I have made my point of view known to the congress party. I hope they will withdraw their
objection and let me tell this fascinating story sometime in future.
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I didn't seek Sonia Gandhi’s permission for the biographical film to save her from the embarrassment of a "no win"
situation. If she said yes to my request, it will be considered endorsing a propoganda film for political gain by the opposition; and if she said no, it will be considered
curbing freedom of speech in a democracy by the media.
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What about your other film ‘Backwaters’?
BACKWATERS is a thriller set against the exotic backdrop of Kerala, where a young wealthy white couple goes for ayurvedic treatment for the wife whose leg
is paralyzed because of a car accident in England. When the wife's body is pulled out of the backwaters, the husband is accused of her murder. His only alibi is the wife
of a local fisherman who he is having an affair with. Will the local policeman investigating the murder be able to get to the truth which is far more twisted than what
appears on the surface? "Seduced by paradise, deceived by desire", is the tagline of this thriller starring Nicholas Irons, Tamzin Outhwaite, Jason Fleyming, Gulshan
Grover and Sandra Teles.
Lastly there was news that you are making a film ’Shoot on Sight’ with Naseeruddin Shah and Greta Scacchi. Tell us about that film. When is it going on floor?
SHOOT-ON-SIGHT was the order given by Scotland Yard to its armed officers after July 7 bombings, when the racial profiling of Asians as potential Muslim terrorists
resulted in innocent people getting shot. In such an environment of distrust, the film tells the story of Tariq Ali, a thirty year veteran of Scotland Yard, a commander, a
devout Muslim having a white woman as wife and father of two children, as he is put at a crossroad where he is forced to choose between faith and loyalty; love and
duty. The film stars Naseeruddin Shah, Greta Scacchi, Om Puri, Gulshan Grover, Nafisa Ali, Laila Rouass, Peter Firth, Gary Stretch and many other well known British
actors. It begins a start to finish shooting schedule from May 21 in London.
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Congress to issue a legal notice to Jag Mundhra for Sonia film
