Court Martial - Sangeeth Sivan, director Ek - The Power of One 
By Joginder Tuteja, April 4, 2009 - 13:03 IST
Ek - The Power of One starring Nana Patekar and Bobby Deol has released and had left it's director Sangeeth Sivan surprised. Reason? He isn't able to comprehend the backlash coming the way of his film when the fact is that it is a remake of a super successful Telugu film Atahdu [starring Mahesh Babu in the lead] which brought in masses by thousands in theaters when released four years back. Though thousands may not have thronged his Ek - The Power of One, Sangeeth is still delighted to see a reasonably good response for this action flick which has been released after a delay of two years.
Charge 1 - Do we have audience for such cinema today?
Absolutely yes. Ghajini has shown that to us just recently. The film was a complete masala potboiler and same is in case of Ek as well. Action was the USP in case of Ghajini and Ek too boasts of some fantastic action. I have been continuously getting calls about the fantastic sequence featuring Bobby when he jumps from a sky scraper to a moving train. It was meant to be a moment where adrenalin starts pumping and this is what exactly happens to the audience in the theaters as well.
Charge 2 - The film is not bringing in crowds
Hello, from where did you hear that? If you are asking me about the lack of audience then let me tell you that it is doing very well in the single screens. This is where the target audience of my film resides. In fact for me it is quite an achievement that even after this long delay; the film is still bringing in crowds. It will easily break even since it has been priced moderately!
Charge 3 - The film seems old fashioned, especially in today's multiplex era
Agree to some extent. Yes, the film doesn't cater entirely for the multiplex 'junta'. The problem is the fact that everyday films are changing. You must realize that the film was written almost three years back and has been ready since two years. Moreover, the original film, Athadu was made even earlier. So for a segment of today's audience would be finding something amiss. But one thing is for sure; had I got this subject today, I would have treated it differently. Remember Zor, my first action film with Sunny Deol? At that time it was said that it was ahead of it's times. The problem is not the subject; the problem is the timeline in which a film arrives.
Charge 4 - Dramatic and thrilling sequences hold the audience but not the emotional content
Again, I agree. And this would be more in case of the audience that has perhaps seen Athadu before or has heard about the story. We announced Ek three years back and in the time gone by, it's story and the twist in the plot was no more a hidden secret. No wonder, people were more looking forward to the action sequences and interaction between Nana and Bobby, which I hear has been fetching the best response from the crowds as well. I know that for especially the village portion and the comedy part in the film, audience isn't as engaged. But then the film was stylized well with good edits and camera work due to which the USP of the film, action and drama, is being grabbed well by the audience.
Charge 5 - Bobby has repeated his Baadal, Bicchoo, Soldier and Chamku act
And let me again remind you that at least three out of the four films that you mention have been quite successful. See, Bobby's market amongst the action lovers can't be ignored. He has proved his mettle over the years and that's the reason why even in Ek, he was the best fit for the role. He plays an assassin because he suits the part well and I have no complains. Sometimes the delay in a film's release can result in wagging tongues. Its ok, one can't help it. As for some reviews going ballistic over his repetitive act, then well I think that there are a lot many out there who have some personal grudge to grind with Bobby and me. My only humble request to them with folded hands is - 'Please visit a single screen theater and check the audience response for yourself!'
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"If not for Ek, I could have been in Slumdog Millionaire" - Chunky Pandey
