Source: MM
Date: April 25, 2006
By: Subhash K Jha
Hrithik Roshan is set to act in his costliest film to date. Made at an approximate budget of Rs 45-50 crore, Krissh has much at stake. “The film will be released either on June 23 or 30,” says Rakesh Roshan, producer-director. “I'll take a call in a week. I'm waiting for all my special effects to come. I don't want to announce the release until the F-X is completely done.”
So far Indian cinema has lagged behind Hollywood in terms of spectacle. “That's because we never have budgets of 100 and 200 million dollars like King Kong and Superman,” says Rakesh. “We can't play around with our visuals as much as Hollywood filmmakers. I wish I had a bigger budget. I tailored my vision to my budget.”
Speaking of the whopping budget of Krissh, Rakesh says, “Whatever I've spent is visible on screen. I haven't edited anything. I don't believe in over-shooting or bad planning. I make only one film every two or three years and I plan every detail in advance.”
Rakesh Roshan will be releasing above 800 prints of Krissh.
Now for the controversy. Salim-Sulaiman have done the background music for Krissh while Rakesh Roshan's resident composer, Rajesh Roshan has composed the songs.
Rakesh laughs it off. “It all started with my thinking that why are we so sold on tapping the overseas territory only?,” he says. The South territory is also huge. A Rajnikanth film generates up to Rs 70-80 crores. So I decided to release Krissh in Tamil and Telugu. I took the decision in February. And I needed the background music right away for all three versions. Rajesh couldn't handle both the songs and background music.”
The three versions will have exactly the same vocal tunes and background music. “Rajesh got busy doing the six songs in three languages sung by the same voices. He wondered how he'd handle both. I suggested I bring in Salim-Sulaiman for the background score,” he adds.
Hrithik's voice will be dubbed in Tamil and Telugu by the same voice. Says Rakesh Roshan, “This the first time that a Hindi film is being released simultaneously in two other Indian languages. Earlier I had released my Karan Arjun in South Indian languages, but not simultaneously.” According to Rakesh, his hero isn't Superman. “Superman, Spiderman, Hanuman….they've their own distinct identities,” he says. “Krissh is like none of the above. There are no special effects for his stunts. You'll see Hrithik doing all the stunts on his own.”
In Krissh Hrithik plays the son of the character he played in Koi …Mil Gaya. “Of course, I was told sequels don't do well in India. It isn’t like that. Any well-made film runs. How does it matter to the audience if a film is related to something else?" he asks.
Rekha who played a stunningly mother to Hrithik Roshan in Koi…Mil Gaya returns in the sequel as Hrithik's grandmother.
“She's the only link between the two films, the only character from Koi…Mil Gaya who recurs in Krissh,” explains Rakesh. Though Rekha plays the grand-mom there's no overt aging involved. “No no, Rekha has just greyed her hair slightly, that's it. No more aging was required. After all Rekha played a young mother in Koi…Mil Gaya. So she's a young grandmother in Krissh.”
Would Rakesh Roshan consider falling for the current remake trend? “Not me! Some filmmakers want to go back instead of moving ahead. Maybe they're short of ideas,” he replies. “However if I'm forced to re-make one of my films it will have to be my first directorial venture Khudgarz. The story of two friends who fall out has a universal quality.”
He also sees Hrithik's journey into direction as inevitable. “It'll certainly happen. He's helping me with the post-production of Krissh.”
Speaking about the rest of the cast, he adds, “I've worked with Naseeruddin Shah for the first time. He plays a scientist. It was wonderful. I had heard certain things about Naseer. But he was a delight to work with. He came on the sets on time, sat in a corner reading…and when he gave his shot, it was a revelation. We never had any difference of opinion. He did want some changes in the script when I narrated it to him. But since those changes were within the parameters of my vision I didn't mind making the changes.”