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The Ismail Merchant Chat

Parthasarthy: Well thats hard to say, all our films speak something very special and we cannot think in terms of favourite films . All have interesting experiences connected with the films .

Do you think you'll ever collaborate with Robert Altman? I wonder what kind of movie'd come out of it...

Are you a good Muslim? Are you religious? Do you still consider yourself an Indian?

How exactly did a little Bombay kid become as successful as you have in Hollywood?

(contd.) will you tell us the secret of your success?

Chaplin: None of our films are sweet and naive . Right from the beginning including Householder and Shakespearewallah. We have our style which was set in 1961 and has continued to Surviving Picasso and The Propreitor.

LAST FIVE QUESTIONS

Did you have a late night? Your answers are tepid, to say the least. Could we jazz it up, please? When did you and James Ivory decide to move out of films located in India? Was it a historical necessity that you made your initial films in India?

I loved that scene in Remains of the Day when Anthony Hopkins' father died. Was it rewarding working with a team as talented as Hopkins and Emma Thompson?

Tell me Ismail, is this your first experience with the world wide web?

Ismail, old chap, you turned up late, Surely, you could do us the couresy of staying for an hour which is the minimum length of any decent chat. Where do you see yourself going from here? Have you ever thought of retuiring and opening up a restaurant in Cannes?

Okay, so none of your films are sweet and naive. However, I don't think there's any argument that there's been a major evolutionary process between householder and your most recent films. So what were the turning points along the way?

Could you rate the following on a scale of 1 to 10? Hugh Grant, Anthony Hopkins, Shashi Kapoor, Emma Thompson? Could you share some anecdotes about working with them?

I haven't been around long enough to have seen your early movies. And nobody seems to stock them anymore. Any idea where I can lay my hands on copies?

A P Kamath: I didn't start as a director I produced the first film The Creation of woman which was nominated for Oscar. James Ivory and my partntership is very unique we share creative responsibility together . As a role I'm the producer he is the director and I wanted to find the right subject my first feature film and In Custody was my first feature film, and I will continue to direct if the subject excited me .

Waht's your opinion of Emma Thompson, I thought she was absolutely brilliant in HOWARDS END. What did you think of sense and sensibility. DID you think Emma did a good job with it?

What special thing do you and James Ivory share? What is the secret of your relationship?

What special thing do you and James Ivory share? What is the secret of your relationship?

What special thing do you and James Ivory share? What is the secret of your relationship?

What special thing do you and James Ivory share? What is the secret of your relationship?

Sparky: All our films are available in video Blocbuster carries them and you can place an order and they'll get it for you

Don't you think it'd be a good idea to have different people write the screenplays for your films?

Parthasarthy: Shashi Kapoor, Hugh Grant., Emma Thompson, Anthony Hopkins are all excellent actors I don't have any scale for them . They are the best. There are many anecdotes and you must read my book The Propreitor which will give you many anecdotes .

You assume wrongly, Mr. Merchant, that I live in the US. Well, out here, we don't have that moviegoers bible that they call the Blockbuster catalog! This is good ol' MUMBAI that we're talking about.

Tell me, Mr. Merchant, are you as good a writer as you are a PR man?

Ismail, now I know what makes you so hot in Hollywood. You have hardsold your book, your videos. Your royalties are bound to increase! Let us have some real answers now!

I'm terribly disappointed to see that your appearance here is little more than a plug for your most recent projects? Where's that artistic integrity that your films seem to tout?