Sriram Raghavan talks about Ikkis starring Agastya Nanda.Reveals what he learned from Merry Christmas: “Some people didn’t like the climax or the tempo…” | Bollywood News
Sriram Raghavan makes thrillers, but at the end of the day, there is no suspense, even knowing that he is a realist. It’s a personality trait that isn’t hidden at all and is pretty obvious even in a 10 minute conversation. Sriram Raghavan’s character hides a lot, but the filmmaker is always ready to reveal about his industry, trends, and his own films, including his last directorial film, Merry Christmas. is completed.
Raghavan participated in the Red Rory Film Festival organized by BookMyShow. “When you ask me to curate a thriller or noir, it’s like sending your child to a candy store.” ”, “Dark Passages” and “Psycho”, among others.
In an interview with Indianexpress.com, Raghavan talks about trends, what he learned from ‘Merry Christmas’ starring Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupati, the upcoming war drama ‘Ikkis’ starring Agastya Nanda, and what new releases he has in mind. He talked about thrillers.
Edited excerpt:
When you were a kid working in a candy store when it came to movie selection, did you have an audience in mind?
It’s a combination of choosing movies that resonate with you and keeping your audience in mind. We want people to come see it, but we don’t just feature the most successful movies of the time. So the idea was born to try a mix. It’s a festival, so as a viewer, you’re prepared to watch one type of movie and then watch another with a completely different tone.
What do you think about today’s audience?
When I make films, I believe that the audience is intelligent and doesn’t like being spoon-fed. You do your best to make the film for your ideal audience. Billy Wilder once said, “Individually in the audience they may be fools, but together in the hall they are pure geniuses.” They know what works and what doesn’t. It would be nice if the filmmakers decided that beforehand, but that’s what we’re trying to do.
You’ve been active since the ’90s, and you’ve clearly seen a change in your audience with each stage.I would think today’s audience would be impatient. And distracted?
Yes, there is a little bit of that, thanks to cell phones. When I watched movies as a kid, even if I got bored, I would sit and watch because I had no other choice. That’s why back then, people took bathroom breaks in the middle of songs. Now that people can check their phones, it’s the filmmaker’s job to keep people glued to the screen.
My movie (‘Merry Christmas’) has just been released and there are a lot of people who like it, but there are also a lot of people who think the pace is slow. But it was a choice I made and an experiment I wanted to try. Because if enough people like seeing this pace and these kinds of movies in theaters, it’s of great value to all of us.
So what is it like to be a filmmaker in today’s day and age?
It’s even harder to gather footfall, especially if you’re in certain types of movies. But the advantage is that if your movie really works, people will spread the word and do marketing for you for free. I’ve had this happen to me too, so it’s okay.
I ask because current box office trends show that money is primarily made by big action movies or wholesome entertainers. So how difficult is it to make a movie like yours?
As long as the budget is set, I’m realistic about what kind of film I’m making and I know in my head that this film is (safe). It depends on the actor, but if I’m starring a big star, the advantage for people coming to see that star is also the disadvantage for the fans who are expecting the same kind of movies as the star. If you know, “I’m making a movie like this, so many people are going to be interested in it,” then you work backwards and try to make it possible.
In that context, what did you expect for Merry Christmas and what did you learn today?
I didn’t intend to change the film, but I knew that some people would definitely find it slow. For example, some people didn’t like the climax, but for me, it was the one I liked the most. But now there’s nothing I can do about it, and I’m like, “Some people don’t like it, so let me change it.” To please all is to please no one. You have to go ahead with what you love and hope enough people like it. More people watched it than at least since it was released on Netflix.
There you have the advantage of being able to set the pace of the film yourself. I watched a great movie with 5 breaks in between! That wasn’t what the filmmakers intended, but maybe the doorbell or something rang while they were watching it. Even if you take a break, you’ll be mentally absorbed in the movie. It’s easy to do, but people can be horrified to think they can stop the movie at any time, do something else, and come back again.
After thrillers like “Merry Christmas,” you’re making a moving war biopic “Ikkis.” Is your mind hungry for experimentation right now?
It was a story that I really resonated with and loved. Some of it is definitely very emotional, and there are also fight sequences and action in the typical sense. Hopefully we tried a different method. This is both a war movie and a drama. It was a break from the kind of movies I’ve been doing, and I wanted that so I’d feel fresh next time I do a thriller. That means I don’t have any luggage.
Have you decided on your next thriller yet?
There are a couple of subjects I’m working on. I’m working on them!
(Tag Translate) Merry Christmas
