Film Director Shekhar Suri

“ My film is a good film, but not a hit film” says the 30 year old film director, who has completed and released his debut film in Telugu, named “Adhrushtam”. Starring Tarun, Reema Sen and Gazala, this 3-crore budget movie has evoked mixed response at the box-office. Khojhyderabad
provides its browsers to read an interview with this confident director who has big plans of doing movies in the future, for Telugu movie lovers.

Born in a middle-class family, Shekhar Suri has come up a long way since he took to this field, since 1985. He has shown his directorial skills in various serials and episodes, in DD as well as Star Plus, until recently, his creativity and self confidence has gone on to the big screen. He has provided scripts for various Hindi movies, and also has worked on the script of the hit movie, “Tere Mere Sapne”. With “Adrushtam”, let us hope that Shekhar Suri will have more of it in the future.

What inspired you to enter the movie industry? What prompted you to become a director, eventually?

From my childhood, my aim has always been clear and single-minded - to be a director. Though my family lacked an exposure to this industry, I was always fascinated by it and I was steadfast on entering it, despite it’s ups and downs.

How did you make an entry into this highly competitive field?

I took a chance to enter this field through the television industry, knowing very well about the strong links the two have. I was lucky to start my career in movies by providing scripts as well as directing single episodes, mostly in Doordarshan. This happened in 1989, and improvised on to TV serials till 1995. I was a student doing my graduation in commerce, from Badruka College. I decided to leave to Bombay in 1995, to get hold of better opportunities. It was a gamble, definitely but it paid. I had opportunities to work with Abhay Chawla, who assisted Subhash Ghai in most of his films. I was given ready chances and I am very thankful for that. Most of my work involved providing scripts and improvising on them, for some of the Hindi movies…….I made an entry into the Telugu industry in 2000, when I got an idea to make a film with Tarun, specifically. I had a good script in mind, but things didn’t work out immediately. Tarun was half-minded to make his career in the same industry. But, as soon as he signed for “Nuvve Kavvali”, I persuaded him to act in my movie too. And there, my tryst with directing movies started.

How did you get into Super Good films to direct your movie?

I should thank Tarun for this. He introduced me to Mr. R.B. Chowdary, who was the producer for my movie. He seemed to be very inspired by my story and readily accepted its theme. He also seemed totally encouraged about my direction skills, and this helped me create a good team. The movie, being a very high budget film costed around 3 crore rupees.

What did you try to project in your movie? And how do you claim it to be different from other films?

I had a basic theme in mind-I wanted to project a movie based on socio-fantasy. This, I thought was nothing but an ideology in reality. I wanted to create a movie with a certain flow, like that found in Hollywood director Francis Coppola’s movies. In fact, I’ve always been inspired by him and consider him an idol. His movies are on the constant run, and wanted to concentrate on this theme. End result: I did portray what I wanted, satisfying all my expectations, except, probably at the box-office.

There’s a comment that your movie “Adrushtam” reflects the same style as that of Bollywood film director Ram Gopal Varma. What do you have to say for this?

I respect Ram Gopal Varma for his directorial skills and talents. No doubt that he’s good and his movies too, but I am in no way inspired by him. My inspiration, as mentioned, clearly arises from Coppola and his movies. I’ll be surprised to hear that my movie making skills resemble those of Ram Gopal Varma’s. I have my own identity, as far my prowess in movie making is concerned.

According to you, does politics play a major role in the cinema industry??

Yes, it does, to a very large extent. Having the right background, contacts, influence, etc. are truly helpful here. I have had to suffer, to some extent with politics. It’s to do with my non-film or political background, but it’s part of the game. Once I had decided to enter this
industry, I knew I had to face it. Hurdles are always going to be there, and politics for one, will never stop. But, it’ll never make me turn back because I have come to make a mark here!

People say that your new movie is disjoint and lacks a proper script. There are also some instants where your movie seems to resemble the Hollywood hit “The Runaway bride”. What are your comments?

I strongly object to this claim. There is a script and let me tell you about the controversial incident between Padmini Kolhapuri and Prince Charles. If I am right, twenty years back, when Prince Charles came to Madras, Miss Padmini went ahead and kissed him impulsively, while receiving him. This incident sparked a story in my mind, and “Adrushtam” is the product. I worked on the idea and developed it independently. Also, I can say with confidence that my movie is not disjoint at any part. The fact that I am inspired to make movies for a certain flow must speak for itself.

It might be total co-incidence that my movie bears a resemblance to “The Runaway Bride”. I did not life any part of the story from there, and it is surprising that there is a resemblance, if any at all.

There’s also criticism that you had wasted the producer’s money by experimenting with unmatched music and outdated concepts too. For instance, your “swayamwaram” theme is not exactly an idea of a modern tale. What would you say for that?

As far as music is concerned, it definitely has a relation to the theme of the movie. I wanted it to be and sound modern, with lot of rock music in it. I wanted it fast paced and to the times. Yes, as far as the “swayamwaram” concept is concerned, it is no longer practiced or prevalent. But, like I said, it’s a social-fantasy based movie, and when people can accept mythological characters and science fiction, then why not my theme?

What would you like to say about your movie not doing well at the box-office?

I don’t know, honestly. It’s a mystery to me. My movie is not a work on incidents or melodrama. My scenes and the drama is not planned or formulated. It’s more of an impulse, with a mixture of humour, action and melodrama. I guess people like extremes, very well formulated movies or no formulations at all. My approach is towards a sophisticated narration and not mass based, who think with their senses, and not brains. Reality is not given a chance in this industry!!! That could be why my movie didn’t do well.

Though my film is not a hit film, it’s a good film…. I can vouch for that with total confidence.

What would be your final analysis of your “Adrushtam”?

Speaking in metaphorical terms, my movie was like a North Indian dish being served to a South Indian, prepared by a North Indian cook. It wasn’t really relished by the eater, but there were exceptions, like there are in every field. I have learnt that I’ll have to stick to people and their likes, rather than changing their tastes. So, in the future, you’ll see a change in my cuisine, because then, I’ll employ a South Indian cook to suit to the people’s needs. And probably then, my films will spell success both financially and critically!

What are your forthcoming projects?

I have signed up for directing two hindi films and a telugu movie. I am not in a position to give more details regarding this.

-- Jhansi Paladugu