05 August,2009 08:02 AM IST | | Navdeep Kaur Marwah
Maverick filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma says the media projected him like a terrorist after his visit to the Taj Palace in Mumbai along with then Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh after the five star hotel was attacked on 26/11
'Agyaat' is not a horror movie. A horror film, by definition, deals with black magic, supernatural powers and stuff, but in 'Agyaat' there is a killer who could be anything, anyone. You can call it an adventure thriller.
Why this fascination with the horror genre?
Fear is a strong emotion and makes a great impact on people. I just love scaring people.
You shot the movie in Sigriya jungles of Sri Lanka at the time when LTTE chief Prabhakaran was alive. Tell us about your experiences?
The jungle itself plays a character in the movie. It has its roots in movies like Predator, Friday The 13th, Anaconda that have dealt with similar subjects. But I decided not to show the killer and that changes the dynamics of the movie. I wanted the sound to play an important role and create that impact of horror. When you see something, it elicits a definitive response but that is not the case with sound. Hence, the background score, the sounds, the camera movements will ensure that the audience use its imagination.
Why this whole gimmick to append corpses to 'Agyaat' hoardings in Mumbai?
To be honest, this was done to create curiosity and I think it succeeded in achieving its purpose. It drew the attention of people and that was what was important for me. As they say 'The best publicity is bad publicity'. People are use to regular stuff and when there is anything, which deviates from the regular, it is bound to make heads turn. But normal things don't excite me and I feel they are boring.
You have been never shy of controversies. How do you reflect upon the stir created by your visit to the Taj Palace after 26/11 attacks?
I have said many a times that I visited Taj because Ritiesh asked me to accompany him. I wanted to see the damage upfront but it was projected in the media as if I am a bigger terrorist than the real ones. I want to ask everyone, what possible damage could I have posed there? Media talked about the fact that I am interested in making a movie on the incident. But I never said anything like that.
You are known to promote young talent. Any reasons for picking up rookie actors?
I don't promote anybody. I just pick the one which suits the character in my movie the best.
Your so called tribute to Sholay Ram Gopal Varma ki Aag is called the biggest dud of your career. Any plans to improve upon it?
I would love to make a remake of Ram Gopal Varma ki Aag. Ram Gopal Varma ki Aag was made when I tried to make a sequel to Sholay. Now probably if I would try a sequel to my take on Sholay, I might come up with a similar blockbuster like the Ramesh Sippi one.
Tell us about your future projects?
My next release will be Rann, which will release in December this year. We are doing the final editing. Then there will be Rakta Charitra. It is a five hour movie that will release in two parts by April next year. It has Vivek Oberoi and Surya as lead stars and is loosely based on the life of Paritala Ravi, a murder accused and one of the most feared individuals ever in the blood-ridden faction politics of south India. While the film will be shot at a stretch, it will be released in two parts over a month.
