QUOTE MARTIAL
MAKING WAVES
REVIEWS
SHORT TAKES
SOUTHERN SPICE
ROUGH CUTS
MEMORIES
ARCHIVES
MOVIES CHAT

'Life isn't all about entertainment'

Syed Firdaus Ashraf

Mahesh Bhatt

Mahesh Bhatt has vowed never to be involved in direction again after his Zakhm, other than maybe doing the odd script. No one gave his promise much credence, if only because Bhatt has this mania for film-making that resolutions alone can't resolve.

So it was no surprise when he turned back with a new film, on bonded labour in Kalahandi, one of the poorest districts in Orissa. But, hey, he's keeping his hands off direction. Remember, no directing, he said.

Bhatt told Rediff On The NeT, "I always wanted to make a film on Kalahandi. I think this is the right time to make a film on this subject when everybody is concentrating on an excess of entertainment." He reaffirmed his decision never to direct again.

Ajay Devgan. Click for bigger pic!

"I still stand by my decision not to direct a film. But I will script and co-produce this film." The director is Tanuja Chandra. Yup, that's the same lady who directed Dushman, starring Kajol. And if the point hadn't still got across, he stated categorically, "No, I will never direct a film again. Zakhm was my last film as a director."

Zakhm had run into trouble with the censors and some parts of the film were scissored out. Bhatt objected, but since the film bombed at the box office it made little difference. The protagonist in Zakhm was played by Ajay Devgan. He plays the hero in the upcoming film.

A still from Dushman. Click for bigger pic!

Bhatt announced the film on Kalahandi when he was in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa. He was the chief guest at a function to release a new book when surprised everyone by stating that he is planning to make a film on Kalahandi.

Bhatt told Rediff On The NeT that he always wanted to make a film on bonded labourers, but could not take the step since no one was ready to finance the film.

Devgan will be cast in the main role.

"I'd spoken to the social activist Swami Agnivesh about this subject before. He too showed keen interest, but somehow the project didn't click. But it's always been there on my mind. You know, this project is very close to my heart and it was something I always wanted to do..." said Bhatt.

Tanuja Chandra with Pooja Bhatt and Kajol. Click for bigger pic!

Besides the yet unnamed film, Bhatt is also co-producing Sangarsh. Again, he is not involved in the direction.

Sangarsh too stars Devgan and has Tanuja Chandra directing. And the actress finalised for the role is Rani Mukherjee, this being her second Bhatt film after Ghulam.

According to Bhatt, there is too much of entertainment in recent films and too few issues. He says there is a need for films that touch upon reality and reflect the views a section of our society that has been neglected.

"There is no social realism in our films. It's high time that somebody focussed on the realities of life. Life isn't all about entertainment."

RELATED FEATURES:

• 'Is the police asking me to ignore the heart-breaking fact that many officers looked away while blood flowed on the streets of Bombay?'

• The power for genocide came from the silent approval of the majority'