New Delhi: It was in 1981 that Muzzafar Ali became a household name, thanks to the tremendous critical acclaim received my ‘Umrao Jaan’. Featuring Rekha as the titular character, the movie is regarded as an all time classic and still enjoys a tremendous fan following in certain parts of the country.
Now, nearly, 25 years later, the filmmaker is back with his latest directorial venture ‘Jaanisaar’. Touted as a romantic-drama, it features stylist-turned-actress Pernia Qureshi and Pakistani star Imran Abbas in the lead.
In this interview, Ali speaks exclusively to IBNLive.com about the making of ‘Jaanisaar’, highlighting his views on the current state of India society
What are the parameters you keep in mind while choosing the subject of your films?
The only parameter that I keep in mind is that the subject in question should inspire me in some way or the other. As far as the subject of ‘Jaanisaar’ is concerned, I chose as it as it deals with the history of Awadh. The glorious past of Awadh can divided into two stages—pre 1857 and post 1857. Before the events of 1857, Awadh was at its zenith. It had a beautiful composite culture and people from different backgrounds lived together in absolute harmony. Once the events of 1857 happened, things changed for the worse and cracks developed. Sadly, such a thing is happening even today. My film, which is set 20 years after the war, explores this missing/inconvenient aspect of history.
Whyt did you decide to make ‘Jaanisaar’ with newcomers in the lead?
‘Jaanisaar’ is all about the passion of dance. Pernia is a trained and skilled dancer. As such she can do justice to her role. As far as Imran is concerned, he has a very expressive and intense face which is just what I was looking for.
As a filmmaker, what is your ultimate objective- commercial success or critical acclaim?
Commercial success is very important as it helps me in getting a broader understanding of how well my work has been received. The number of seats sold is a strong measure of a film’s success. In fact commercial mortality is something that cannot be overlooked. If less successful films are not removed, then theatres will get choked.
What is your take on the ‘100 crore’ club which has become a buzz word these days?
You cannot refute/ignore public acceptance. Any filmmaker who made a commercially successful film needs to be respected. That said and done, if a movie is genuinely good it will find a place in the virtual space regardless of its commercial fate. In other words it will be viewed /liked by people even decades
after its original release.
What are the challenges associated with making period films?
In order to make an authentic period film, one needs to have an artistic visual sense. For, at the end of the day, all we are actually doing is creating an illusion out of reality. Then, there is also the need to have a trained eye and a dedicated team.
In India, it is not easy to make period films as it is almost impossible to get a proper understanding of history. This happens because our museum guides are confused. While period films can be made using VFX. I am honestly not a big fan of that technology. It must be used sparingly. I like to be as authletic as possible while dealing with old things. They must be in synch with the cultural palate of the period in question. Only then can cinema be viewed in the context of a larger cultural milieu.
What do you make of contemporary Bollywood music?
The current music scene is quite healthy. All the current singers are good. But the thing is these days all songs sound the same. You can use a song from one film in another without any problem. For music to be unique, the audio design must be in synch with the mood of the film. For ‘Jaanisaar’ I did not let even a single note go out of my supervision.
You hail from Lucknow. What are some of the things you would like to change about the ‘city of nawabs’?
To begin with, the youth must understand the rich dialectics of the city and develop a futuristic vision. The goal should be to become creative individuals rather than mere consumers of art. For that to happen, people must understand human history, developing some sensitivity. That way people will be able to appreciate the cultural aspects of art forms such as music.
Moreover, people in general must focus on the upliftment of rural areas. It can’t be ignored. The problems faced by farmers have to be understood. They suffer as they are forced to grow things that of no use to them. But most importantly, there is a need to think with your heart and be compassionate.
Lastly, have you seen any of your son’s films? Where do you feel he needs to improve as a filmmaker?
Yes, I have watched all his films. He makes his own kind of films. Needless to say my perspective is different from his. I do not always agree with his choice of subject. Moreover, unlike me, Shaad(Ali) prefers working with stars and his commercially driven. However, there is nothing wrong in what he does as it is in synch with today’s demands.
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