One Night, One Story – The Inspiration Behind “Merry Christmas”
Director Sriram Raghavan discovered a compelling tale that unfurls over a single night within the pages of a French novel. This discovery set in motion the creative gears of a director well-versed in concocting spellbinding thrillers for the Bollywood audience. Raghavan acquired every version of the book he could lay his hands on, both physical copies and digital on Kindle, fueled by the certainty that this story deserved to be immortalized on film.
“Merry Christmas” was born from his ambition to present a narrative distinctly different from his previous work such as “Andhadhun” (2018), “Johnny Gaddaar” (2007), and “Badlapur” (2015). Despite being rooted in the thriller genre, Raghavan reveals that it’s a story with deeper emotional layers.
Evolution of Mainstream Cinema – Raghavan’s Philosophy
Raghavan sees himself as a dedicated mainstream commercial filmmaker, a belief corroborated by the staggering success of “Andhadhun,” which earned R457 crore globally. However, Raghavan’s movies delve into unorthodox realities rarely explored in conventional Hindi cinema. The latest offering featuring Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi is no exception, promising audiences another exhilarating experience.
Raghavan articulates the responsibility of commercial filmmakers to continually raise the bar. He emphasizes an ambition not to outdo his last success in sheer numbers but to craft another masterpiece with a different aura. According to him, he has a penchant for avoiding the banality of routine narratives, aiming instead to cater to audiences seeking an intelligent and engrossing film.
Embracing Risk, Going Bilingual
The financial pad of commercial backing has bestowed upon Raghavan the freedom to experiment, seen in the intriguing casting choices and the decision to make “Merry Christmas” a bilingual film. This decision was crystallized during the COVID-19 lockdown after the set at Mehboob Studios was dismantled and ample time was at their disposal.
Raghavan expressed a deep-seated desire to direct a Tamil movie, which ultimately materialized with “Merry Christmas” as it developed into a Hindi-Tamil bilingual project. Convincing the cast and crew about this new direction, particularly the casting of Vijay Sethupathi opposite Katrina Kaif, involved showcasing the acting prowess evident in films like “Super Deluxe” (2019) and “96” (2018).
The Writing Process & Diverse Casting
With the movie taking shape in two languages, two independent writing teams were formed. The Hindi script was a collaborative effort between Raghavan, Arijit Biswas, Pooja Ladha Surti, and Anukriti Pandey, while Pratheep Kumar S, Abdul Jabbar, Prasanna Bala Natarajan, and Lata Karthikeyan shouldered the Tamil adaptation. The director described the writing phase as akin to maneuvering in “parallel chess rooms,” with brilliant ideas being exchanged and adapted between teams.
Bringing together Kaif and Sethupathi on set marked a fusion of two diverse cinematic realms; rehearsals were key to achieving a balance in their dynamic. The two stars, strangers within the film’s narrative, acclimated to each other’s presence, striking the necessary chemistry for their performances.
Casting Reflections and Missed Opportunities
The topic of casting invariably leads to the question of past choices. Information had circulated about Saif Ali Khan being the original pick for a leading role in “Merry Christmas,” a topic which Raghavan addresses with honesty, citing the unease in retracting an offer once made. Furthermore, the director shares insight into the decision to cast Kaif over Tabu, who had delivered an exceptional performance in “Andhadhun.” Raghavan clarified that while Tabu seemed an obvious choice, Katrina represented an unexpected and fresh direction for the film. The director also expressed eagerness to reunite with Tabu in future projects, implying that when they do, it must surpass expectations set by their last collaboration.
Raghavan’s “Merry Christmas,” set to unfold over the course of a night, not only embraces innovative storytelling but also navigates the challenges of bilingual filmmaking, with a forecast of transcending language barriers and bringing diverse audiences under the umbrella of gripping cinema.
