Pre-Release Confidence in ‘Merry Christmas’
With the release of ‘Merry Christmas’ on the horizon, filmmaker Sriram Raghavan exudes an air of confidence that remains steadfast even after an extended day engaging with the press. At 60, Raghavan’s excitement to delve into this interaction seems to stem from an inherent comfort, as if effortlessly bridging film expertise to conversational finesse.
Challenging Norms with a Bilingual Thriller
His upcoming film marks a bold stride outside his proverbial comfort zone. ‘Merry Christmas,’ featuring Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi, stands as Raghavan’s pioneering venture into a bilingual thriller, with separate extended casts for its Hindi and Tamil versions. Despite the interesting dynamic this presented during filming, Raghavan indicates it may be his singular foray into this format.
The Nitty-Gritty of Crafting a Bilingual Movie
Navigating the bilingual landscape posed unique challenges. Capturing the essence of scenes across two distinct languages with different writers required careful deliberation. The decision of whether to mirror shots or innovate required a balancing act, hence Raghavan’s leaning towards single-language films in the future.
Pioneering Different Trailers for Different Audiences
In today’s filmic landscape, the potency of promotional material cannot be understated. ‘Merry Christmas’ drew intrigue with its disparate trailer cuts for Tamil and Hindi audiences. The intent to distance the work from the perception of just being dubbed content led to Raghavan’s decision to employ distinct creative teams, yielding gratifyingly divergent results.
Embracing the Art of Slow Cinema
Raghavan’s process evidences an impenetrability to the sagging attention spans plaguing modern viewership. He firmly believes in the importance of atmosphere within a thriller narrative, a nuance he feels is often sidelined for more instant engagement. He articulates that ‘Merry Christmas’ takes its time, allowing audiences a momentary scriptwriter’s role, before cleverly subverting expectations.
The Transience and Timelessness of Cinema
The director suggests that fleeting opening weekends are insignificant in the grand tapestry of a film’s life. Crafting cinema, for him, transcends the temporal rush of a premiere; it’s a creation for posterity, a sentiment echoed in a nod to Quentin Tarantino’s words regarding the enduring impact of movies.
The Hitchcockian Element: Sound Design
Sriram’s Hitchcockian flair is evident in his mastery of sound design, a potent tool evidenced in his prior work, including ‘Andhadhun.’ He reminisces on the use of sound in classic cinema, recalling a clever narrative technique involving the word ‘knife’ from Hitchcock’s ‘Blackmail.’ He parallels this with a match-cut from his own ‘Badlapur,’ where auditory cues cleverly encapsulate key thematic elements.
Symbolism through Objects and Motifs
Raghavan’s penchant for embedding physical objects with symbolic weight in his narratives arises from his formative film-watching experiences. He reflects on the organic and deliberate incorporation of motifs in his films, as seen with the origami in ‘Merry Christmas,’ which bore significance throughout the story.
Reflecting on Twenty Years of Filmmaking
‘Merry Christmas’ rings in the twentieth anniversary of Sriram Raghavan’s filmmaking career, commencing with ‘Ek Hasina Thi.’ The director expresses contentment with his journey, acknowledging the good fortune of having filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma as both producer and mentor. As he looks ahead, he seeks continued opportunities to bring his stories to life.
From Thrillers to War Drama: ‘Ikkis’
Currently, Raghavan has launched into the making of ‘Ikkis,’ a war drama depicting the heroics of standout military figure Arun Khetarpal. The film promises a departure from his thriller repertoire, leading him into the realm of war cinema, a genre replete with its storytelling challenges and demands.
Exploring New Frontiers in Film
With ‘Ikkis,’ Sriram endeavors to craft credible tank battle sequences—uncharted territory in Indian cinema. His exhaustive study of war films fuels the ambition for this new project.
Capturing Rogue Inspiration: Charles Sobhraj and Beyond
Sriram had once aspired to create a film on the notorious Charles Sobhraj. While that no longer seems viable, elements of Sobhraj’s personality continue to inspire characters in his work. Moreover, Raghavan discusses the current rush for real-life story rights and the resultant need for unique subject matter, especially with the influx of streaming content.
Opening Up to New Genres
Despite a prolific career defined by thrillers, Raghavan doesn’t shy away from the possibility of romance-centred storylines. The concept resonates with him, leaving the door open for exploration should the right narrative come along.
As the countdown to ‘Merry Christmas’ ticks away, there is a palpable sense of anticipation for what Sriram Raghavan has artfully orchestrated—a feeling that’s likely to persist long after the film’s initial run.
