This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Bollywood film ‘Ek Hasina Thi’, a pivotal moment in the career of acclaimed director Sriram Raghavan, well-known for his recent success with ‘Merry Christmas’. Reflecting on the beginnings of his cinematic journey, Raghavan recalls the serendipitous events that led to his first directorial venture.
The screenplay of ‘Ek Hasina Thi’ was originally penned by Pooja Ladha Surti, who was under the mentorship of famed producer and director Ram Gopal Varma. Varma had envisioned a film centered around a female protagonist, an atypical request for the time. Initially, Surti had believed that Varma himself would direct the movie. Concurrently, Raghavan had aspirations to direct a different movie for Varma concerning encounter police, a project that Varma felt was premature and which ultimately evolved into ‘Ab Tak Chhappan’.
Noticing Raghavan’s visible disappointment, Varma presented him with the script for ‘Ek Hasina Thi’, knowing well that Raghavan had graduated from the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune 12 years earlier and was yet to make his directorial debut. This gesture was a catalyst for Raghavan, as he absorbed the script during a ride home in an auto-rickshaw and resolved to take on the project.
Raghavan was captivated by the script, which he describes as being written with the intrigue of a novella. He felt an immediate connection to the story, drawn to its darker elements and the potent setting of a prison. Collaborating with Pooja Ladha Surti, the two honed the script over two months, with Varma providing guidance throughout the process.
A significant plot device—rats within the story—was born out of logistical necessity. Originally, the climax was to take place in an abandoned mine, but due to the shooting practicalities, an alternate setting was needed. Raghavan aimed to add a layer of creepiness to what felt like a romantic thriller. Inspired by a scene from ‘Godfather 3’, Varma pitched an idea involving a mundane rat scare escalating into action, an unexpectedly thrilling notion that eventually made its way into the film, characterizing moments of fear and triumph for the female lead.
Casting these rats was quite the endeavor, requiring a blend of wild rats and domesticated white mice with applied coloring to maintain realism while managing the challenges of working with live animals. Meanwhile, the final scene of the film raised debates about the degree of gore to be shown. Shot in a quarry and a studio, the filmmakers decided to allow the audience’s imagination to fill in the horrific fate of the male lead, only hinted at by the light fading and his desperate screams.
Renowned environmentalist and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi, who was present in the same theater as Raghavan’s sister during one of the screenings, apparently enjoyed the film, alleviating any concerns the director had about potential backlash for the portrayal of the rats.
Looking back on these unique and foundational experiences, Sriram Raghavan acknowledges the unconventional path ‘Ek Hasina Thi’ took in reaching the silver screen. The genesis of this cult classic ultimately charts the intriguing tale of how a struggling filmmaker seized an unlikely opportunity, using creative ingenuity to overcome challenges and launch what would become a highly respected career in the Indian film industry. As the film reaches its two-decade milestone, both Raghavan’s name and ‘Ek Hasina Thi’ remain etched in the corridors of Bollywood history.
