Mumbai:
Anurag Kashyap is a happy manwith his three films being screened at the ongoing Cannes filmfestival in different sections but the director says histwo-part revenge saga Gangs of Wasseypur almost did not getmade as no one believed in the script initially.
"Gangs of Wasseypur is a film that people did not believein. I have been wanting to make this film for quite sometime.People asked me why I wanted to work on this film and notsomething like Dev D which was a success. So it almost didnot get made. I don't understand the concept of re-doing the samething. But then Viacom 18 people came forward knowing that ithad no big star cast, it was in two parts and was too long,"Anurag said.
Kashyap, who is already in Cannes, says he is awaitingthe screening of two part Wasseypur and home productionPeddlers with a lot of nervousness.
"We have to deliver first. I have not seen the films so Iwill watch them with the audience but I am scared about theirresponse to the films," says the director, who is keen to takehis films beyond the Indian diaspora.
Kashyap's films have been recognised worldwide for theirunique approach in storytelling, which is often bereft of theusual Bollywood cliches.
The director says he wants to continue reaching out tonew audiences. "I had a dark period from 2007 to 2009. Thatwas the time when my biggest support was outside India.Because I am getting to make movies here I can't abandon them.For me that market is very important as it kept me alive as afilmmaker when I had no support here."
"The audience defines your longevity in this business. Myaudience is non-diaspora. It was hard for Indians to digest afilm like Yellow Boots, the diaspora is more conservative.But there is a different audience which is interested in myfilms and I want to explore that," said Kashyap.
Wasseypur, Kashyap's most ambitious project till now,tells the story of revenge set in the world of coal mafia. Thefilm stars Manoj Bajpayee, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Huma Qureshi,Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Reema Sen and others.
"Revenge is a very interesting theme but it is importantto use it well. Through revenge we are telling many moreinteresting stories. The canvas is bigger in this film becauseI am telling the entire story of the mafia's origin."
Kashyap, the man behind films like Black Friday, DevD and That Girl In Yellow Boots, says it is his firstcommercial film with lots of songs and dance.
"If I get the chance to make a commercial film likeWasseypur then I want to make commercial films all my life,"maintains the director who feels that the film has thepotential to change the ways of Bollywood.
"I hope that it brings change. I would want it to happensomeday, this film or any film. Kahaani has changed a lot ofthings but I want to fix it further. If this film works, makesthe cost and shows profit, I will be set free. My lifelongstruggle has been that to make a good film, you need a goodstory, a good team and good actors.
"You don't need a star. If something like Wasseypurworks, everybody would get a bit more confidence. I feel theindustry has to change. The filmmakers don't often get enoughcredit for their work and that should change," said Kashyap.
The two parts of Wasseypur will be screened back toback at Cannes parallel section Director's Fortnight while hishome production Peddlers, directed by debutante Vasan Balawill be competing at the Cannes Critics Week.
Kashyap, whose production house is dedicated to encourageyoung storytellers, says he does not make it easy for hisdirectors.
"I always tell people to work on their script first.Vasan is one of the most brilliant boys in our company and hewanted to experiment in a certain way. If he wants to do thatthen he needs to take the harder route. I don't make it easyfor anyone because I don't have money. I have to raise moneyfor every film."
"Guneet (producer) is always running around to raisemoney. I need to believe that here is something I will standby till the end. It is important to make it difficult for thefirst timers. If it is easier then they take it for granted,"he said.
"Gangs of Wasseypur is a film that people did not believein. I have been wanting to make this film for quite sometime.People asked me why I wanted to work on this film and notsomething like Dev D which was a success. So it almost didnot get made. I don't understand the concept of re-doing the samething. But then Viacom 18 people came forward knowing that ithad no big star cast, it was in two parts and was too long,"Anurag said.
Kashyap, who is already in Cannes, says he is awaitingthe screening of two part Wasseypur and home productionPeddlers with a lot of nervousness.
"We have to deliver first. I have not seen the films so Iwill watch them with the audience but I am scared about theirresponse to the films," says the director, who is keen to takehis films beyond the Indian diaspora.
Kashyap's films have been recognised worldwide for theirunique approach in storytelling, which is often bereft of theusual Bollywood cliches.
The director says he wants to continue reaching out tonew audiences. "I had a dark period from 2007 to 2009. Thatwas the time when my biggest support was outside India.Because I am getting to make movies here I can't abandon them.For me that market is very important as it kept me alive as afilmmaker when I had no support here."
"The audience defines your longevity in this business. Myaudience is non-diaspora. It was hard for Indians to digest afilm like Yellow Boots, the diaspora is more conservative.But there is a different audience which is interested in myfilms and I want to explore that," said Kashyap.
Wasseypur, Kashyap's most ambitious project till now,tells the story of revenge set in the world of coal mafia. Thefilm stars Manoj Bajpayee, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Huma Qureshi,Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Reema Sen and others.
"Revenge is a very interesting theme but it is importantto use it well. Through revenge we are telling many moreinteresting stories. The canvas is bigger in this film becauseI am telling the entire story of the mafia's origin."
Kashyap, the man behind films like Black Friday, DevD and That Girl In Yellow Boots, says it is his firstcommercial film with lots of songs and dance.
"If I get the chance to make a commercial film likeWasseypur then I want to make commercial films all my life,"maintains the director who feels that the film has thepotential to change the ways of Bollywood.
"I hope that it brings change. I would want it to happensomeday, this film or any film. Kahaani has changed a lot ofthings but I want to fix it further. If this film works, makesthe cost and shows profit, I will be set free. My lifelongstruggle has been that to make a good film, you need a goodstory, a good team and good actors.
"You don't need a star. If something like Wasseypurworks, everybody would get a bit more confidence. I feel theindustry has to change. The filmmakers don't often get enoughcredit for their work and that should change," said Kashyap.
The two parts of Wasseypur will be screened back toback at Cannes parallel section Director's Fortnight while hishome production Peddlers, directed by debutante Vasan Balawill be competing at the Cannes Critics Week.
Kashyap, whose production house is dedicated to encourageyoung storytellers, says he does not make it easy for hisdirectors.
"I always tell people to work on their script first.Vasan is one of the most brilliant boys in our company and hewanted to experiment in a certain way. If he wants to do thatthen he needs to take the harder route. I don't make it easyfor anyone because I don't have money. I have to raise moneyfor every film."
"Guneet (producer) is always running around to raisemoney. I need to believe that here is something I will standby till the end. It is important to make it difficult for thefirst timers. If it is easier then they take it for granted,"he said.
