'Whatever affects my mind gets reflected in my films'
Whizkid director Shankar dropped his guard when he appeared on Rediff Chat. The result? A chat that was more like a conversation between him and his legion of fans, about him and his films, rather than just a Q & A session.
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:1 IST)
Good evening, everyone.
Mehta (Tue Dec 28 1999 7:59 IST)
Do you agree that the Hindi version of Jeans suffered because of the publicity which did not give the true picture of the film, paintiung it as a youthful romace when infact it was a comedy of twin proportions?
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:9 IST)
Mehta: So many people from Bombay also said the same thing. The important aspect of the film was not highlighted, yes. But I really couldn't find the real reason because some remake films from Tamil do well and some do not. Some dubbed versions do well and some do not. It is vice versa from Hindi also. Nayakan did not do well in Hindi but Thevar Magan did well. Yes, Jeans did not do well. If something is there in the film, it will run definitely. But It did well all over south India.
balajiii (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:3 IST)
Vanakkam Shankar
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:11 IST)
balaji: Vanakkam Balaji! Thanks for Tamil vanakkam!
Congress (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:5 IST)
Shankar, Why did'nt Jeans win the Oscars?
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:18 IST)
congress: What can you do, Congress? Somebody else did a better job than me (Rhere may be some politics, 'Congress'!?)!
Madhavan (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:14 IST)
Shanker, you have made 2 love movies, and there are literally hundreds of love movies made in Tamil every year. Yet we always get the same story (including your movies) where hero and heroine fall in love face an obscacle (parents). Why is it so hard for filmmakers to come up with a different love story? I know if the directors spend some time thinking they can come up with one. So why don't they, instead of recycling the same old story?
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:20 IST)
Madhavan: Have you seen my new film Mudalvan? The chief-minister-for-one-day story is, I am sure, a new concept which nobody has done before.
balajiii (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:13 IST)
Padalgalae illatha padam edukkum ennam ullatha..?
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:22 IST)
balaji: Padalkale illathe padam pakkum ennam ungalukku ullatha?
speilberg (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:20 IST)
Shankar do n't u think u can low make budget movies which win the heart & the box office (Fazil's varusham 16, kadalukku mariadai etc)
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:30 IST)
Speilberg: Why are you worried about the budget? What is important to me is that people should enjoy my films. I am able to excite you people only because of the big budget. Otherwise, I would not have been able to give new concepts to Tamil cinema like the Muqqabal song, seven wonders, a big trafficjam (mudalvan) and a 76-year-old man's make-up for Kamal Haasan in Indian and double action excitement and the skeleton dance in Jeans, etc etc. With the big budget, you as the viewers are benefitted the most. If you people keep on asking me about big budgets, I will start showing cow dung, neem trees, same old places....
balajiii (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:10 IST)
Will plane hijack be the concept for your next film..?
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:33 IST)
balaji: See, like you, the same idea might have crossed the minds of many people. So how can I make a film on the theme which flashes in the mind of many?
mani (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:32 IST)
Shankar why this anti-establishment angst in all ur movies, is it a reflection of ur early days or is it just a source of making a hit out of the movie
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:40 IST)
mani: It is defiitely a reflection of my experiences from my earlier days. Whatever I have seen, whatever I have heard, whatever I have suffered, whatever I have gone through, whatever affected my mind gets reflected in my films.
Ruchi (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:37 IST)
According to rumours the dinosaur in Jeans was lifted from Jurrassic Park? Your Humble View, Sirji?
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:43 IST)
Ruchi: Certainly not. It was Mr Venky's (the special effects supervisor) creation. The inspiration is from Jurassic Park.
rajia (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:37 IST)
I heard you are planning to make a mega movie in Hollywood Is it true Mr.Shankar
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:45 IST)
rajia: Yes, people are approaching me. But I have not yet made up my mind. I am waiting for a signal from my mind!
mani (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:37 IST)
Shankar hollywoodie kallaka oru thamizan vendamma (Manoj knight shyamalan a malayalee -The sixth sense)
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:47 IST)
mani: Whether he is a Tamilian or a Malayalee, an Indian has achieved something in Hollywood. Be proud!
Madhavan (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:30 IST)
Shanker, you want your films to be send messages about corruption (which you should be applauded for). But the solutions always seems to be to beat corruption you have to kill people. This was the solution in Gentleman, Indian and Mudhalvan. Do you think this is a good message to send to the young people, instead of beat corruption with legal action?
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 9:1 IST)
madhavan: If you go deep into my films, you will find that I try to kill corruption and not the villain!
mani (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:55 IST)
Shankar kaadalicha anubhavam unda
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 9:3 IST)
mani: Undu. Yeappa! Kalyanam aayiruchu. Ippa poyi inda kelvi ellam kelkaringe?
kumar (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:43 IST)
hi, shankar! you are one among the heros in tamil film industry where people come to see the movie for the name of directors.But, I see in all your movies you are involving a old man & a political concept. are you affected by anyway on these two??
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 9:5 IST)
kumar: That's a big 'blade!' are you ready to listen?
mani (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:44 IST)
thank u Shankar, is it possible to make a hit out of a goody goody movie in tamil (say the one's like hum apke hai kaun, Hum saath Saath Hain etc. where there is no villian no crime, yet we feel good after the movie)
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 9:9 IST)
mani: Of course, you can.
rajia (Tue Dec 28 1999 9:6 IST)
Shankar why all your car numbers are 8. Because everybody say eight is no good, but you likes that
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 9:13 IST)
raji: I hate superstitions. That is why I have taken the number 8 deliberately! I wanted to find out whether the number 8 is really bad. But it did not do any harm to me. I am well-to-do!
Ruchi (Tue Dec 28 1999 8:46 IST)
How are the Seven wonders of the world? Good?
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 9:16 IST)
Ruchi: That was the most exciting experience of my life. It will remain with me forever.
mani (Tue Dec 28 1999 9:13 IST)
Thank U ! Is it true that Mudhalvan is a movie which got its inspiration from AP Chief minister Mr.Chandrababu Naidu
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 9:18 IST)
mani: No
Ruchii (Tue Dec 28 1999 9:17 IST)
Are you an Indian or Inthian, sirji?
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 9:19 IST)
Ruchi: For Indians, I am an Indian and for Inthians, I am an Inthian!
mani (Tue Dec 28 1999 9:7 IST)
Shankar nice to hear U that! Would be seeing a Shankar+Rajni explosion on screen? When?
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 9:20 IST)
Mani: WHEN??
mohan (Tue Dec 28 1999 9:14 IST)
hello shankar.. how long u planned for this mudhalvan story...
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 9:23 IST)
Mohan: Six months.
Shankar (Tue Dec 28 1999 9:29 IST)
I feel my experience is incomplete because we started late. But I have enjoyed talking to you people. I am sorry I could not answer all the questions. I hope our next chat will be a better experience! Bye and good night. Happy Millennium!
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