‘BOLLYWOOD HAS TO STRIKE A BALANCE’

Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi, who has ‘been in love with India for a long time’, feels that Slumdog Millionaire had a ‘touristy viewpoint’ of this country

If you happen to be among those who have been blown away by the sheer minimalism and simple story structures of films such as Father (1996), Children of Heaven (1997) and The Song of Sparrows (2008), you only need to meet the unassuming Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi once to be able to connect the dots. The Oscarnominated Majidi converses through a translator, but his passion and love for cinema is palpable. “My outlook and perspective in films always remain the same. The rhythm may be a little faster (in Beyond The Clouds, his first Hindi film, releasing this Friday) and it could stray a bit from poeticism, but I follow the same cinematic style that I started with in Children of Heaven,” says Majidi.

Right now, what’s your state of mind?

It’s very risky to go to another country and start making movies, but I’ve wanted to do something in India for a long time. I was looking for such an opportunity for seven to eight years. I was a little worried, too, but thanks to good connections and great friends such as my producers [of Beyond The Clouds], I felt motivated to come to India and fulfil my desire.

This is the first film that you’ve made outside of Tehran. How challenging was it?

I’ve been in love with India for a long time. Plus, I feel only the locations had changed for me; otherwise, I was very familiar with the country, its culture, views, the language, etc. I was observing everything all these years, and that’s why I could overcome all the challenges.

Having said that, it’s surely difficult and that’s why I chose my entire cast and crew from India.

Have you seen Bollywood’s song-anddanceladen films?

I have watched them, but I strongly feel that if Bollywood remains stuck in the situation that it is in right now, it will get lost. Filmmakers should step out a little from that atmosphere (of masala films) and go towards the humane side and realities of life.

Hollywood has a good balance between commercial and artistic points of view, but Bollywood remains mostly on the commercial side. The idea should be to strike a balance. Bollywood has the capability — it has talented directors, actors and technicians — to achieve that.

You chose two newcomers in Hindi films — Ishaan Khatter and Malavika Mohanan — for Beyond the Clouds...

I’ve worked a number of times with many new or non-actors. So by now, I know how to make them show their talent and motivate them.

Also, your choice [of actors] is very important. The first 50% of your work is finished when you make the correct choice, and the rest is about the actors’ talent, your communications, and how you make them manifest their talent.

We had a lot of auditions (for Beyond the Clouds) and it was difficult, but the conclusion is nice.

Deepika Padukone also screen-tested for Beyond the Clouds. How did that go?

She is such a humble person, and she never failed [in her screen tests].

She is a really talented actor. The situations were such that things didn’t work out. Also, we were looking for a 23- to 24-year-old girl. It’s not a failure on her part. I really respect her and I hope that we can collaborate on a story that could come from her side (smiles).

You have spoken openly about your love and admiration for the late Satyajit Ray…

I adore him. For me, he’s on an extremely high level. I hope [Indian] cinema gets a rebirth and transforms [into the way it was during Ray’s time]. I have met a lot of Indian directors and they also admit the same, but they say that ‘the current atmosphere in the industry pushes us towards the commercial side’. I hope the government supports the artistic form of cinema.

PHOTO: AALOK SONI/HT Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi’s first Hindi film will release this Friday