“Gangs Of Wasseypur is entertaining cinema” – Anurag Kashyap: Part 1

By Devansh Patel -

June 9, 2012 - 4:18 AM IST

The Box Office in Bollywood has snubbed every movie he has made, except for Dev D that garnered a few critical applauds. Then he has cut his birthday cake with Quentin Tarantino, got help from his friend and colleague Danny Boyle on his dream project Bombay Velvet and met Michael Winterbottom and does a cameo in his movie Trishna starring Freida Pinto. So, is Anurag Kashyap a brand? A perception? Or a reality? On the arrival of the first showers in Mumbai yesterday, I met Kashyap at Novotel Hotel in Juhu over a delicious cup of cappuccino to talk that and much more, including his much talked about film that got a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival a few weeks ago. Anurag shrugs calmly, "I am proud of every film I've made so far. But I've learnt from my mistakes too". Confidently, he also admits, "Gangs Of Wasseypur is my most commercial film ever". Kashyap talks about it with enthusiasm that borders on aggression that Gangs Of Wasseypur is an extravagantly entertaining piece of work about vengeance with oodles of humour. Although his films are instantly recognisable - his imprint lies in the sassiness of the characters, the pungency of the dialogue, the shrewdness of the soundtracks - they feel united in the manner of products belonging to a carefully controlled brand, rather than by a common heart of personal revelation. In Part 1 of this exclusive chat, the uncompromising director discusses his route to success and beyond.

"If the brand means that I can do things easily, well, let me tell you it's still not easy for me to make movies"
I don't know whether I am a brand, a perception or a reality. I've heard this so often that people call me a brand. But what does a brand mean? If the brand means that I can do things easily, well, let me tell you it's still not easy for me to make movies. For the first time we've actually gone out and sold both worldwide, Peddlers and Gangs Of Wasseypur. It's the first time we'll see actual profits in both these films. I've always believed that films, if doesn't make money, should not lose any money. We have a team of people working in the office, some of them work voluntarily and we also want to be in a position where we can pay salary to people. That has started from last month (laughs).

“Gangs Of Wasseypur is entertaining cinema” – Anurag Kashyap: Part 1

"Gangs Of Wasseypur is an entertaining and an engaging cinema I've ever made"
Gangs Of Wasseypur is an entertaining and an engaging cinema. To begin with, we were confused which movie to release first - Part 1 or 2 because I was super confident that both films can stand alone too. We showed Part 1 to people and they were urging to see Part 2. We tried the reverse too. We showed Part 2 to people and the film held them. When we showed both the parts together, people were stunned. At the Cannes Film Festival, the European audience that reads the subtitle and does not know the language sat through the entire film. Normally, they walk out if any movie doesn't interest them. They sat throughout. Now that's what gives us more confidence on the content and commerciality. 800 strong audiences watched Gangs Of Wasseypur and gave a standing ovation.

"Gangs Of Wasseypur moves faster than a bullet train"
I never wanted to make a mafia film because I was a part of Satya and Black Friday. What's the point to make another one? But I finally had a story - the beginning and the end of it, to be precise. There I could trace the origins of the mafia, as to why the mafia existed in the first place. Gangs Of Wasseypur is a story of mafia, a story of family feud, a story of changing country; it's a story about everything. In five hours and twenty minutes, there's so much to see. It's an extremely fast moving film that moves faster than a bullet train. There's so much to explore about the mafia in Gangs Of Wasseypur.

"I was urging to trace everything I could about Wasseypur and how the gang wars started"
There's a place called Wasseypur that exists and its not even on Google Maps. Then the whole 'gang war' that started intriguing you only because you come to know that it exists since 50 years. I wanted to know why it started and was urging to trace everything I could about Wasseypur. I mean, think about this - People fought over petty things and who'll be the ruler of Wasseypur, and that Wasseypur is mere two streets. It was insane for me not to make such unbelievable story into a believable one. It's a crazy story for any outsider.

"The parallel cinema that was considered art house and boring are not boring anymore"
The lines between commercial cinema and art house cinema are blurring. The main stream is being redefined and the good thing is that it coexists today, thanks to Kahaani, Paan Singh Tomar, Vicky Donor, etc. The parallel cinema that was considered art house and boring are not boring anymore. They've become entertaining. Even the parallel cinema is being redefined.

"I've learnt what I had to from RGV"
RGV's Factory made films that Ram Gopal Varma believed in. We, including Madhur, Shimit and the many who worked with us during 'factory' days wanted to make our kind of cinema but it was RGV who made films he wanted to make and we all were working towards his goals. Today, I don't tell Vikramaditya Motwane or Bejoy Nambiar or Vasan Bala what to make. Factory made films that RGV believed in and that filmmakers didn't believe in. RGV controlled everything back then. I don't control the background score and music. We don't control anyone. I've learnt what I had to from RGV.

Part 2 of Anurag Kashyap interview...coming soon!

Watch the video: Anurag Promotes 'Gangs Of Wasseypur' At Cannes