For Nishabd, Ram Gopal and Amitabh Bachchan have once again become the center of attention of film critics and Indian audience. Amitabh Bachchan has stated clearly that Nishabd is not Nobokov’s Lolita and he is happy with his role and he believes that Indian audience is matured enough to accept such films.
In an interview with Indian Express Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) said that he could not resist the idea of seeing Amitabh Bachchan being involved with a teenager and his reactions in that situation. Here is an excerpt of that interview:
What prompted Nishabd?
The idea was sparked by a conversation between Mr Bachchan and me. Mentioning one of his forthcoming films, Cheeni Kum, he told me it’s a story of an older man and younger woman. Since he didn’t mention the age of the woman, my immediate thought went to Lolita. I thought of making an opposite of the feel good romcom that Cheeni Kum is. I was excited to see an actor of his caliber and dignity in a setting where he has to justify his attraction for a teenager. I was excited to see what a young girl can generate in him.
How did you zero in on Jiah Khan as the teenager?
In order to make the story more believable I needed somebody new. The idea was that the audience discovers her with Mr Bachchan in the film. As far as Jiah is concerned, I had met her a year back. When I was casting for Nishabd, her image just came in my mind. She is much like the part. She comes from abroad, has an accent and comes from a broken house also. So it all fell in place.
In another interview published in Rediff.com RGV explains why he does not bothers about controversies and what is Nishabd all about.
Your film is about a 60-year-old man and a barely-adult girl. Aren't you annoyed every time comparisons with Lolita come about, which was a story dealing with paedophilia?
I'm really not bothered. The media makes up its own mind. They'll call it 'RGV's Lolita,' because they think it's a good headline. It's an amazing novel and maybe I've been influenced by it, but Nishabd isn't about that.
So what, in your own words, is Nishabd about?
Fundamentally speaking, bodies age, feelings don't. Age is a relative thing, and at one level, it is all in the mind. But society has conditioned us towards so many wrongs. There are restrictions of family, religion... And then, in this case, there is not just an age gap, but the man is a married man in love with his daughter's friend. Which brings about, for him internally, a big question of sin. There is a sense of responsibility, but a question of temptation might overpower that.So in Nishabd, I want to show his emotional state. I want audiences to feel his conflict, not judge him.
While the subject is a potentially volatile one, your trailers seem sensitive. Would you call this a film with shock value, or is that just to lure audiences?
See, the subject is the subject. I think there is no shock in Nishabd. You can write that for your readers right now. I think it's the most emotional film I've ever made. The thing about audiences is that we can't generalise them, it's very unfair. My film could connect with them, could offend them, sure. But my attempt is to definitely make an impact, based on the convincing power of the narrative. If that is strong, the film will work.
And Jiah Khan, the poison ivy for Mr Bachchan in the film, is a brand new heroine. Wasn't it a bit of a gamble taking an unknown actress for such a demanding role?
She's absolutely new, and that's what I really wanted. I wanted an unknown entity, someone fresh. That's the only way this film could be convincing. And I think she has the correct look for Nishabd.
From the beginning of his career, Ram Gopal Varma has established himself as a director who loves to deal with dark subjects in his films. Except one or two films like Naach, Raangeela, most of his films are based on underworld. His next movie is the remake of old Hindi blockbuster Sholay. In the earlier version, Amitabh Bachchan played hero and in the Ram Gopal Varma’s version Amitabh Bachchan will be playing the main villain.
If you want to know more about Sholay visit the following link:
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