Leh: Even though filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra clearly states that he doesn't make films to send out any message, his much-talked about film 'Rang De Basanti', lauded for its humor, light-heartedness and positivity, left an indelible impact on the viewers. And the way it blended past with the present, political with the social aspect, 'Rang De Basanti' deserves to top the list of the most respected and inspirational movies we have ever seen.
In Leh, to be a part of Ladakh International Film Festival and to attend the screenings of his wife PS Bharathi's 'Rubaru', a documentary on 'RDB' and his film 'Bollywood: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told', Rakeysh speaks exclusively to Divya Pal of IBNLive.com about his reason to stay away from politics, the flawed Indian education system, his take on 'Bandit Queen' and why Smriti Malhotra should not be targeted for not being a graduate.
It is a fact that the social or political aspect help your films find several takers. But the profound messages that they carry, make them an instant hit. Is it a conscious decision to use your works as a medium to send out strong message?
My film 'Bollywood: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told' carries no message. I don't make films to send out any message. As a kid, each time I would listen to the stories that my grandmother narrated, I'd ask her why she'd be interested in telling us the same thing multiple times? She would narrate the story and explain its moral too. While listening to the stories - which would mostly be about demons, gods, arrows, and aliens - I would be wide-eyed, but it never occurred to me that deep down there was a hidden message in every story she narrated. I thank all grandmothers who taught me the art of storytelling. If the viewers find any message, for me, it is just as an aftereffect of the film.
Agreed, 'Rang De Basanti' made an impact. But do you think it fizzled out with the viewers overlooking all the lessons it taught?
I'm the wrong person to talk about the impact of 'Rang De Basanti' because I believe it happened only because of active media and active people. The film just worked as a catalyst. The candle were the people who burned themselves, 'Rang De Basanti' just worked like a matchstick. Down the ages, you need a spark. When Bharathi spoke to me about her decision to make a documentary on 'Rang De Basanti', I told her, 'Are you mad?' We have already made the film and now you want to make a documentary? To this she replied, 'You stay out of it and let me do it my way because I can see a pattern in this." Mai toh newspaper bhi nahi padta.
It is sad if the impact doesn't stay forever. But during, the Delhi gang rape case, people did take to streets to protest and vocalize their thoughts. It is essentially driven by parents. We have to give it to our kids, and make them understand and allow them to be fearless. As parents, we shouldn't not drill in them thoughts such as 'Do waqt ki roti kamani hai', 'Shaadi karni hai', 'Naukri karni hai'. Humei bolna chhaiye tum karo jo karna hai, karo. You said who is to be held culpable? It is the grown-ups and parents because we instill the fear in them.
You have a deep perspective on Indian political system, and the flawed Indian education system. Since there is a dearth of people who have such clarity of thought when it come to Indian political system, why don't you become a part of the system to incorporate the changes you feel are important?
Whether you like it or you don't, we all are a part of the system. Whether I deny it or I don't, I'm a very bad politician. You must have got to know about it by now. I'm just trying to tell stories, I'm a storyteller. This is what I know best. And I know this is also what comes in my dreams. Through this if something can happens, it is great. This is just my way of being what I'm in reality. There are 120 crore people, and if we all understand our responsibilities and change the person we see in the mirror every morning, I think we can change everything. Aur logon ko bolne ka fayda nahi hai.
Do you agree that different kinds of films are being made today, not strictly adhering to the romantic genre? And that now there is more scope for filmmakers to experiment and come up with path-breaking films?
I believe we saw the best variety during 50s, Raj Kapoor, Vijay Anand were making films that they believed in. That was the golden era. Abhi different cinema kam hai, bhaed chaal zyaada hai. But the influx of money exists now. Maza ayega jab Rae Bareli se koi film banaega. Maza ayega jab koi Ballabgarh - Sehwag ke shehar - wahan se koi kisan ke ladke ki kahan ibaneaga. So cinema will have to come out from the lanes and villages of India. Otherwise there is no point.
Is it true that you don't like the term 'Bollywood'?
Yes. It is a monkey term, it is a me too. Ab itna bhi bura haal nahi ho gaya hai ki hum apne aap ko koi naam bhiu na de sakein. Call your son George Bush. Are you willing to do it? Call your daughter Margarett Thatcher Diana Ross or Madonna. Will you do it?
When did the idea to make 'Bollywood: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told' strike you?
There is a gentleman called Shekhar Kapoor, he is the culprit. He woke me up at 3am and asked me, 'It is 100 years of cinema, what are you doing?' I said, 'Right now, I'm sleeping. In the morning I will do something', and I went back to sleep. Later I told him, it is a wonderful idea to do something for 100 years of cinema but I also told him how busy I would get with the shoot of 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' which went on for the next 8 months. He asked me to do before the shoot started and I replied, 'I will do it my way. Whatever I can.' And I asked him to put together some money. He called up Ronnie Screwvala and everything was arranged, they gave me some money and we made it a couple of years ago.
It is a fact that people watch films if they can empathise with the subject and feel as if they are witnessing an event that happened in reality. Do films really draw from reality?
Yes even my film 'Bollywood: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told' is also based on reality. In a way, whatever I have used my film to show what occurred in reality. It says everything - about India's Independence, Gandhi's assassination and Bengal famine. So yes it shows the political aspect, and draws from reality.
Ladakh remains special for you because 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' was shot here. Any personal memories you'd like to share?
This place holds great significance in my life because Bharathi and I came to Ladakh for our honeymoon. Must have been, say, 22 years ago. And we had come to Ladakh with just 300 bucks. And went back with Rs 100. The experience was memorable because everybody gave us free food and shelter. Later, I came here to shoot 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'. It was shot in Nubra valley, behind the Khardung La Pass. I come back to Ladakh because I'm in love with this place.Jo bahana milta hai mai aa jata hoon. Thankfully, we didn't face any difficulties while shooting the film here because the locals are amazing. They take care of you and are always willing to help you out. The only difficulty which we had to combat was the weather. We had to acclimatize to the weather to ensure the film was shot successfully. Oxygen is rare in this area and it is essential for everyone to breathe without much difficulty. You need to give yourself at least 3 to 4 days. We had brought Farhan 21 days before the shoot of 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'. This was done to ensure it was easier for him. It wasn't a scene that he had to enact or a dance sequence that had to be shot, but it was strictly meant for his physical training and it was very difficult for Farhan. The same holds true for our crew of 150 people. They would be carrying heavy equipment, cranes and the camera. They were working harder than anybody else.
As an alumnus of Delhi University, what's your take on Four Year Degree Programme (FYUP) row that hogged the limelight a few weeks back?
I don't believe in the Indian education system. I think we should just burn all the books. I know it is a harsh statement to make. But take a look at the education system here, it is just about pitching one youth against the other and putting them in some kind of competition. I call it is a 98.7 syndrome because you don't get admission in colleges unless you beat someone. I'm an alumnus of Shriram College of Commerce. The college wanted to honour me with Best Student Award a few years back. About 5 students including Arun Jaitley were honoured by our college. But I know, any organization which is unidimensional in nature and looking towards 100 per cent is a shame. According to me, 50 % should be about what kind of a person one is. Whether you help the old, whether you clean the streets, etc we should also focus on the simplistic things. You could be bad in math, but great in singing, and that doesn't mean that you should be denied education. Unfortunately, education here is directed towards seeking jobs, which means it is controlled by industrialists and capitalists.
Smriti Malhotra's appointment as HRD minister sparked a debate with many believing someone who isn't a graduate doesn't deserve to hold such a prestigious position...
Smriti Malhotra is a human being. Can anyone deny that? She has a heart that beats and it beats for the country. Can anyone deny that? One needn't be a pseudo intellectual, na? Before this, were all our ministers graduates? What have they done? They just brought us down the drain. Unko kya karein? Gold medal dein? Logon ko sirf bolna ata ahi, hum jaise logon ko, mujhko bhi. Par hum karte kuch hain nahi. Give Smriti a chance and let us see if she can bring in a change. Having said that, her post also brings additional pressure on her for which I'm very happy. Achcha hai graduate nahi hai ab peform toh karna paedega. I'm not sure if Asoka the great was a graduate either.
Which films have impacted you the most?
There are hundreds and thousands of films - Indian cinema, world cinema, Hollywood, all of it. As far as Indian filmmakers are concerned V Shantaram has inspired me a lot. Works by Bimal Roy, Chetan and Vijay Anand have been impressive. Among my contemporaries, I have huge regard for Rajkumar Hirani. He is making deep-rooted films and Shekhar Kapoor is my all time favorite. His film 'Bandit Queen' was huge and we didn't recognize him in India. He left the country, which was such a sad moment for us, we just didn't recognise the masterpiece in India. That's deep-rooted Indian cinema, and not your pseudo cinema.
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