Bollywood

From scared to angry, that's the reaction I expect to my movie: RGV

Sweta Kaushal, Hindustantimes.com
New Delhi, February 28, 2013

First Published: 16:10 IST(28/2/2013)
Last Updated: 14:48 IST(6/3/2013)

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Sanjeev Jaiswal (in the image) plays the tole of Ajmal Kasab, the main convict for the 2008 terrorist attacks on Mumbai, in the movie The Attacks of 26/11 taht releases today. (Photo courtesy: Facebook)

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma believes he has been static since his Satya (released in 1998) days. If there's one film that has really changed him as a person, it is The Attacks of 26/11. Speaking to Hindustantimes.com, Ram Gopal Varma said that the research for the film exposed him to various

aspects of psychology and belief systems - an exposure that has changed him forever. The filmmaker further said that the change will also be visible in his future projects.

"There was no

change... I think from Satya I have been quite static. But I think drastic change happened in the course of research for The Attacks of 26/11.. My interaction with the cops, survivors and analysts of the investigation process...all have changed me a lot. I have been exposed to varied elements of human psychology and sensitivities. I could have never thought that things like this can happen. And that I think is bound to have an impact on the films I do after this because you are eventually a sum total of what your experiences are.

When I asked him about the kind of reception he expects from the audience he quipped, "I just dislike the term audience because it almost feels like you are generalising everyone into one mass. Specially for a film like The Attacks of 26/11, I feel, different people will react differently - directly depending upon their knowledge of the incident. I think various people will have various opinions. That's been the general feedback from various screenings we've had so far."

What about the brave take on such a sensitive context?
"One person told me after watching the film, "I am scared to stay in Bombay! To be very frank, I never expected reaction like this ever. Someone is angry at the complete helplessness of the administration. I think people are not reacting to the film, rather it's the general response to a real-time happening. That's what I am expecting on a wider level after the movie releases."

With the film, Ram Gopal Varma has explored psychology of both the victim and the victimiser. The filmmaker said, "If I am only concentrating on the incidents, it becomes too informative. It's a feature film, there always needs to be a perspective, an emotional and a philosophical perspective."

"We as a nation are emotional. Most of the times, we are too emotional to think rationally. And when I say we, I am including myself too, I too am as emotional as anyone else. We are so concentrated on what we should do with ... we are ready to hang Kasab. But what kind of belief system causes a man to ruthlessly gun down so many innocent people without any sense of remorse at all. The film very seriously addresses that."

"The movie also introduces a concept, without being preachy," RGV added.

What do you expect to be the fate of your latest canvas?
"I am not an astrologer to predict the fate of my movie. I am expecting varied reactions from being scared to being angry."