“Ranbir Kapoor will continue to succeed even in his failures” – Prakash Jha (Part 2)

By Devansh Patel -

June 3, 2010 - 1:58 PM IST

Albert Einstein once quoted, "Politics is a pendulum whose swings between anarchy and tyranny are fuelled by perpetually rejuvenated illusions." Prakash Jha's Raajneeti is based on similar lines. Characters you've never seen before, anger you've never faced before, conspiracy you've never been a part of before and a film that you've never ever been a witness to before. Raajneeti is epic in all way. Politics is just a pitch on which these politicians will play a match which is fixed, a match which can still go either way and a match which is as predictable as it is unpredictable...and the only way you can win it is by losing it all. UK's Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent Devansh Patel brings you Part 2 of this ongoing match called Raajneeti. Commentary by Prakash Jha.

Writing

Actually, I've enjoyed writing Raajneeti. I had this whole structure of Mahabharata available to me. It wasn't there in Apaharan, it wasn't there in Gangajal, etc. Here, we had to take a conscious decision of how much of the politics, drama; love had to be included in the film. I am always trying to make a bridge all the time when I write and direct my films. I keep my fiction within the realm of reality. We Indians have a culture of nautanki. It all began with theatre, folk, classical art, etc. We have been a bit loud in all aspects of art. Whether its songs, dance, dialogues, etc. We love that. To keep the writing within that framework, it still seems real and fictional.

“Ranbir Kapoor will continue to succeed even in his failures” – Prakash Jha (Part 2)

Speech

Yes, the speech is the sword for all the politicians. All great politicians are remembered through their body language and their speech. Their talk is more powerful than their weapons. There are very few good speakers in our country. I've heard a lot of them in my real life. But it's not only the lingo; it's the way you connect with the public. The way you connect with the issues that they want you to deal with. I personally have been in several situations where I have spoken publically. Somebody like Lalu Yadav connects to the public in spite of people thinking that he isn't a great administrator. He is a damn good orator. Nitish Kumar too is a great orator. Each of the actors in Raajneeti have got one great speech which people will take back with them.

The speech is the sword for all the politicians

Neta's

What will make this film interesting is the fact that the politicians you will see in Raajneeti aren't the ones clad in dhoti, kurta. They are more young, stylish, affluent and energetic. We have deliberately kept them as the young neta's in Raajneeti so that the people can associate with them.

Ranbir Kapoor

The best quality about Ranbir Kapoor is that he always gives you a feeling of security that he is secured. For him to do a film like Wake Up Sid, Rocket Singh and for him to suddenly decide to do a Raajneeti with a great ensemble cast was quite something. It takes guts man! Ranbir is so secured in any kind of atmosphere and that is what will keep him going far for a long time. Ranbir Kapoor will continue to succeed even in his failures.

Ranbir is so secured in any kind of atmosphere and that is what will keep him going far for a long time

Ajay Devgn

He will always be a part of all my films because he never comes with any baggage. That's great. In terms of looks, persona, achievements, etc, he comes as a simple guy who turns himself up into a strong performer and slips into any character you can think of. When you look at Ajay, you don't look at the actor, you look at the character. He is so economic in his acting. Wherever he is placed, he is so comfortable. A great human being, no promise but good in commitments.

Special screening for politicians?

I don't think the politicians are going to take any lessons from Raajneeti. They won't. They don't like to be talked about. But one thing is sure. They will enjoy the entertainment quotient of Raajneeti.

Click here to read the first part of this feature