Nonika Singh
I am not a political person”... strange words from a man who has been raising the political temperature for quite some time! Maker of films on real personalities, like Mary Kom and Sarbjit, as Omung Kumar is ready with his biopic on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he insists, “It’s not a political film.” Nor a propaganda, which is what the film is being dismissed as.
Rather he views it as inspirational story of a man who came from nowhere to become the Prime Minister of the country. “It is this journey of his from a chaiwala to PM that intrigues me more.” Seriously, a film on a political personality sans the politics of it? He agrees that politics is there as a backgrounder and significant political markers of Modi’s life are accounted for.
Clean chit?
But if the trailer is anything to go by, it seems to be more glorification of the man; giving him a clean chit on all counts, including Gujarat riots. Reasons Omung, “I am just stating facts. It’s not me but SIT which gave him the clean chit on Gujarat riots.” Besides, he is adamant that the film does factor in the flak which Modi, the most loved and most hated man in the country, has received from certain quarters. “The film is not just targeted at Modi bhakts alone.”
Cinematic quality
You and me might be looking at the acerbic criticism what with twitter going berserk and memes ruling the net. However, he does not think the feedback to the trailer or the idea of the film has been outright negative. “For every naysayer, there is a votary too. The other day I was listening to the debate and someone said if Omung is making the biopic, there has to be something in it.”
Undeniably, his track record is not bad. If Mary Kom was motivating, Sarbjit was an emotional roller-coaster. So what can we expect from Modi, which anyway seems to be a rush job made in 39 days flat. Omung explains, “An average film is made in 52 days and here we had double units. I assure you its cinematic quality has not been affected or diluted. Nor has the research been given a short shrift for I am a stickler for details.”
Release time
Granted, but why the tearing hurry to release it? He replies “It is purely a box-office decision. April 5 suited us best for thereafter big budget Kalank is set to release. Besides, don’t films release on Christmas, Eid and Diwali?” Does he think a film can sway voters? “If that were true, then politicians would stop campaigning and just make films.”
Indeed, he reposes faith in the power of films, but mainly to inspire. To the opposition his only rebuttal is; first watch the film. Indeed, he is prepared for criticism and though critics do matter, he has also learnt to put them behind him.
Real subjects
For a maker who goes to town about imagination and what it can achieve, what explains his fascination for real subjects? “I have many wild fantastical subjects in mind, but their time has not yet come.” Modi biopic ka time aa gaya hai, right hai ya wrong... well as they say, proof of the pudding lies in its eating. Besides to watch it or not is your prerogative too (though the release date has once again been stalled.) To like it or not, too is yours!
nonikasingh@tribunemail.com
Casting coup or faux pas
If like many, you too are wondering about his choice of casting Vivek Oberoi as Modi, well, he scoffs, “I have been through this before. When I cast Priyanka Chopra in Mary Kom, everyone said she doesn’t fit the bill; ditto for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Sarbjit. But I dare say Vivek is a very fine actor and will grow on you.” In fact, the biggest challenge for Omung was that unlike Mary Kom and Sarbjit, Modi is in your face and making his actor act like him sure was an uphill task.
from The Tribune http://bit.ly/2OTdVao
via Today’s News Headlines
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