Milap Zaveri’s Marjaavaan will bring back movie-viewing experience of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. “The dialoguebaazi, song sequences, ruthless villain, romance — are all inspired by those times. It’s the kind of film that Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan), Sunny Deol used to do. It is an unabashed entertainer,” says the young director, adding that it’s ‘a violent love story’, a story of love, passion and revenge.
The film clearly looks like it’s made for the single screen. Milap says, “Films like Satyameva Jayate and Marjaavaan are targeted more at the single screen audiences. But audiences at multiplexes too watch such films. If you see the business of films like Wanted, Dabbangg and Baghi, they have done well at the multiplexes too.”
He adds that the advantage of Marjaavaan is that it’s got a strong love story. “Usually action films do not have love stories, which work at multiplexes. Our film has both. In addition to that, the music is a rage right now. We are hopeful that the love story and music will attract the younger crowd to multiplexes,” he adds.
Marjaavaan, which is releasing today, stars Riteish Deshmukh, Sidharth Malhotra, Tara Sutaria and Rakul Preet Singh.
AN ODE TO THE PAST
Both Milap’s writing and direction show that he is inspired by the era when filmmakers focused on making mass entertainers. “I have grew up watching and loving Manmohan Desai, Mukul Anand, Raj Kumar Santoshi, Ramesh Sippy films like Agneepath, Hum, Ghatak, Muqaddar ka Sikandar, Lawaris, where the heroes were larger-than-life and had clapworthy entries and dialogues. I am a huge fan of that kind of films both as an audience and writer,” he says, adding, “Marjaavaan is a tribute to the films made by those filmmakers.”
He believes that today very few people attempt this kind of cinema out of the fear of being criticised. “But whenever the genre is done in the right way, people always go to the theatres to watch it,” he points out.
And isn’t he worried of not getting critics’ approval? “The industry absolutely loves these kinds of films because they usually make a lot of money, which brings in trade. As far as critics are concerned, I don’t have an issue with them for not liking it because they are just doing their job. If you give me an option between getting five stars from the critics and making good business at the box-office, I will choose the latter. We are not here to please the critics but to make money. The ultimate critic is the audience. The day they reject my film, I will introspect over it,” the filmmaker says. But he adds that he would love critics to love his films as well.
RITEISH AS THE FUNNY MAN OR VILLAIN
This is second time that the audience will see Riteish as an antagonist. He impressed critics and audience with his portrayal of a serial killer in Ek Villain, the dialogues for which were written by Milap.
While the audiences love Riteish’s comic act, the writer-director says that villainous character suits him better. “I am the one who suggested his name to Mohit Suri for Ek Villain. Mohit asked me why and I replied, ‘Nobody would believe that the nicest person in the industry can be so evil on screen’. In fact, the first name that came to mind even for Vishnu’s character in Marjaavan was Riteish because I know his acting talent. He is good at every genre but somehow his comic acts have got more appreciation,” says Milap.
He adds that Vishnu is a wicked and evil person with a crazy sense of humour. “When I approached Riteish, I knew when he is playing the negative role for the second time, he would expect it to be better than the first. I was confident that he would love it and the moment he heard it, he agreed to do it,” Milap adds.
A COMPLETE TRANSFORMATION
Till 2016, Milap made people laugh either through his writing or direction with films like Heyy Babyy, Housefull, Desi Boyz and adult comedies like Grand Masti, Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3, Mastizaade. Why the sudden change towards such serious, violent stories and he replies, “I use to make people laugh but they made me cry so much. There was self introspection after some of my films did not do well and the industry kind of wrote me off. I was angry with myself on how I have allowed myself to get typecast and work on projects which were not up to the mark. I had to channelise that anger of mine into my work. Normally, I am a very happy-go-lucky person.”
He adds that he made a short film, which went on to win critical acclaim and gave him the confidence to make thrillers, dramas and entertainers. “I have written Kaante, Shootout at Wadala, so I thought why not give a chance to the genre, as a director? Also, during that time, an angel called John Abraham came into my life and changed it completely. He had conviction and faith in me. I enjoyed the phase of angry, passionate, powerful cinema. It’s worked with Satyameva Jayate and hopefully it will work further with Marjaavaan and Satyameva Jayate 2,” he concludes.
