Exclusive: PFC TV interviews RGV
Recently Sarkar Raj got released. Historically, the Hindi film-goers community were divided into the one’s who think Gunda is an epic and other’s who think Gunda is a larger than life classic. But now a new division has crept into the ranks. People are now divided on whether Sarkar Raj will be the last torture to inflicted by RGV and others who think that RGV’s worst is yet to come. To clear the air, PFC TV (People Featured in Colour TeleVision) cornered Ramu for an interview. If you’ve never heard of PFC TV don’t fret. The number of people who have heard of the said channel is less than or equal to the number of people who loved Jimmy. Here is the transcript of the interview:
PFC TV: To start off with, how did you get the idea of Sarkar Raj. What was the genesis of it.
Rgv: See, I have a Door Dhristi vision. I ignore the nazdheek ka galti and look at the door ka fayada. I knew that Aag was going to be either a big hit or a massive flop. So to play safe I had to follow it up with a movie that
would be a guaranteed success. The easiest way to do that was to revive my Sarkar franchise and mint lot of money.
PFC TV: Interesting. So did you dip into the pages of Godfather Part 2 for Sarkar Raj.
RGV: No, no.. There was a lot of material in Godfather itself that was remaining to be told. For instance, I borrowed the scene of a car bomb explosion of Apollonia that affects Michael Corleone in a personal manner.
I always believe in going back to one’s roots. I don’t know if you’re aware but there was a film made by me in another dimension. It was called Shiva and it 
had a song that debated on the virtues of a Botany class. I remembered that song and wrote a few dialogues about plant and its requirement of money etc.
Essentially I ran through the Sarkar sequence of events as well. By recycling the same stuff made my producers confident and they loosened their purse-strings much easily.
PFC TV: Speaking of producers, there are a lot of them around. Was it because it was a big budget film?
RGV: No, no, it’s not big-budget in the traditional sense. Its big-budget in the sense no producer in his right mind was willing to risk more than 4-5 cr with me. So, I had to go with multiple producers you see.
PFC TV: I see (not really seeing anything but getting more and more bewildered). Tell me about the actors. Abhishek Bachchan has the main role in the movie this time and he seems to have delivered a commendable performance. But he always maintains a lost, far seeing look in every frame of the movie. How did you manage to extract the same look every time he comes into the picture?
RGV (smiling one of his inscrutable smiles): Glad you noticed that. You see, a director’s role is not limited to just see the actors reach the sets and that the entire unit works in a cohesive manner. It’s the attention details and the attention that he pays finer things in a movie that sets him apart. I knew the moment I conceived his character in Sarkar Raj, that he had to have a distinct look that he himself wouldn’t be able to replicate in his future films even if he wants to. I achieved it by making him watch portions of Aag just before each and every shoot. And viola, he had the look of one who just fell down a mountain after being hit by a 100 Ton truck while being pissed drunk.
PFC TV: Ohh-kaay. How about the others, how was it in working with Aishwaya Rai for the first time.
RGV: It was a revelation to me. I had heard of the term ‘conveying emotions and thoughts through the eyes’. She taught me the value of silence. She taught me that if I give her fewer dialogues to speak, the less are the chances of her botching up the scene.
PFC TV: On another note, you have been neglecting your favorite genre of horror stories for quite sometime
haven’t you?
RGV: What are you saying. The extremely close close-up of Chander in the movie didn’t just happen because the cameraman tripped on his shoelaces. It was placed to scare the bejesus out of every living soul.
PFC TV: (in shivers at the recollection) Touché. The story of Sarkar Raj was quite complex, with a lot of characters and a lot of politics involved. How did you manage to cram it all up in just 2 hours of running time.
RGV: Yes, I was difficulty in showing everything together. The cost was spiraling and the unit and the cast and the producers were losing faith in me as time was passing. I couldn’t shoot everything and I had to make an instant decision. Luckily I got inspiration from Harry Potter.
PFC TV: What? I am sorry to interrupt but somethings wrong with my ears. It sounded like you said that you got inspiration from Harry Potter.
RGV: Yes you heard it right. You see, in one of the books, towards the end, one of the chaps called Dumbledoremakes a long winded speech to Harry wherein he explains to Harry what actually happened to all the characters and what all events took place. Reading that I got the idea that instead of showing everything and blowing up more and more money it would be simpler to make 
Bachchan Sir give all explanation in one go. I think it worked like a charm. In fact, I’ll make one movie in the future where only Bachchan Sir will be there and he’ll narrate the entire story from start to finish
PFC TV: (muttering to himself, ‘No wonder he was sounding like DumbleBORE‘) In Sarkar, it was perhaps the first time that you had a lot of awkward camera angles and movements not to mention some of those extreme close-ups. But there was nothing revolutionary or nothing new in Sarkar Raj?
RGV: Who told you that? You reporter people don’t pick up the finer nuances of film-making. In the scenes that Bachchan Sir was giving his speech, both my cinematographer and my editor had gone off to sleep. Tell me has anyone else attempted that before? In fact I told Bachchan Sir that even if you’ll forget your lines, don’t worry sir, the camera will go on till you remember them and no one will yell ‘cut’. That’s why he sometimes seemed like competing with Atalji as far as pauses were concerned.
PFC TV (Jokingly): Thank god you didn’t decide to make a scene with the entire crew asleep.
RGV: I’ve already made a movie using that technique. It’s called RGV Ki Aag.
PFC TV (now making a Ants-in-pant-squirm): Ahem, let’s talk about your future projects shall we. Like Sarkar, you have left an open door for a sequel in this movie also right.
RGV: Yes, I did that. But this time I have become wiser. I’ve made scope for two different types of movies. I am not sure what kind of funding will I get in the future. If I have funds only for a low budget movie then I’ll make a movie with new actors and call it ‘Chikku Raj‘. If I have ample funding then I’ll go ahead and make a big budget movie called ‘Ek Sarkar Thi‘. Off course I’ll make that movie only after I finish my biggest and most ambitious project ever. It’s called RGV Ki Chain.
PFC TV: Chain as in ‘rest’? You mean a movie on RnR?
RGV: No, no chain as in angrezi Chain. It’s a remake. The movie’s about an honest and an upright police officer who has recurring nightmare about his father’s death. He is aided on his historical journey by a pathan who’ll be played by Bachchan Sir himself. It will also have a killer item song picturised on one of the characters who is a knife sharpener and it will also have a villain who will be more ferocious that Babban oops Gabbar himself.
(The reporter faints on imagining the repercussion of this and had to be immediately admitted to an ICU ward.)
Tip: if you really really want to watch Sarkar Raj and enjoy it as well, then pl get a DVD and watch it on mute with subtitles on and forward button handy. You may then enjoy the movie.
Tip2: Any resemblance to any real life place, animal, thing or person in the above interview is a sheer co-incidence.
Tags: Amitabh Bachchan, fiction, Godfather, Humor, Remake, rgv, Sarkar Raj, shiva, Worst movie, Zanjeer
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I know RGV prettty well for past 15 yrs…. Even after gettin drunk too he will not give a Interview like this…. Crap shit…..
Sarkaar Raaj is not that bad…..ofcource its nowhere near being a masterpiece…but it has its moments…….its an average film…..
@ sudhir
well since u think ” People are now divided on whether Sarkar Raj will be the last torture to inflicted by RGV and others who think that RGV’s worst is yet to come”..
i would like to say that are people who loved the movie and believe that rgv has regained some of his old touch..and that includes me……infact it was very enjoyable without giving any consideration to ur tip.
Hahah…superb take Sudhir…just as we were reading RGV’s blog, comes this…very funny
Nice read Sudhir.
It’s so obvious that RGV has not given this interview himself. But it would be nice if you could mention that bit at the end of this interview.
Please do not use real people’s name/credentials in a work of fiction. You should be aware that there is a cyber law against defamation in web. If possible then add a disclaimer in your article or pray Ramu and clan do not read this.
Vintage ROTFL. For Chrissake! this is a work of fiction. Have a sense of humor will ya?
rgv is getting back his grip…it is clear in many scenes in sarkar raj… but perhaps he has started losing hearing ability… film had so loud background music…
btw wht is pfc tv?
HILARIOUS… at least someone has some humour in this country.
Bravo Sudhir.
Areh joke hai Krishn bhai… mazak, aur isko mazak ki tarah hi treat karna chahiye… guys don’t take this so seriously, its a spoof and its damn entertaining read.
Haven’t seen the film yet… had some hopes for it, but I guess I’ll wait for the DVD… maybe I’ll watch the original Sarkar tonight… still love that film…
Brilliant stuff! Next time the PFC TV correspondent meets RGV can he please be asked about the Govindaa Govindaa chants? Was Govinda shooting nearby?
lol i know its a work of fiction and a joke..but it should have been mentioned as a disclaimer or something!! RGV might sue PFC :P
@ Abhishek
I don’t know Ramu as you do, but i agree with you completely, this is just a work of fiction buddy..
@ashwin
Nice to know that you enjoyed the flick. I always like hearing about rare things like that :-)
@ JK,lucifer_sam, Faraaz,
Thanks for ur inputs, have put in a disclaimer. I thought the awful full form of PFC TV would been enough to give it away though..
Hi Sudhir. I think Sarkar Raj had its interesting, funny, thrilling and even obvious and slow moments. But i enjoyed it and my 75 bucks were vasool (saw it at Plaza, Dadar).
Maybe i enjoyed it because i watch movies to enjoy them and their storytelling. And Sarkar Raj did have that, however inspired it may be. Perhaps, if i had gone with the intention to find flaws so i could have a masaledaar post on my blog then even i would be making fun of a genius.
Alas, you can’t ask for a refund. Too bad! :D
(p.s. i haven’t seen Aag so i don’t know where most of that comes from. But i have seen RGV’s earlier movies and i think he is brilliant. And that’s where his arrogance comes from.)
there can be difference of opinion about sarkar raaj, but “GUNDA” for me is both…an epic and a larger than life classic…
ROFL, Sudhir!!! Good fun read! Can’t believe people actually think this one is for real…where did sense of humor go?
hahahaha.. hillarious piece of stuff…
@ sudhir…
rare for u…common for me……:)
Hey Vishal,
Thanks for ur comments. I used to consider RGV as a genius. Have been following his films since Kshana Kshanam days when i used to be at hyd.
But now i miss that RGV badly. IMHO he had a very good storyline in Sarkar Raj but, the fact is that it’s been botched up for whatever reasons.
And I was mentally prepared to see a good RGV movie..this post came bcos i felt let-down by the movie.
@niren
Welcome to the club buddy !!
Mr sudhir,
I appreciate you for creating such a hillarious post, but deep down please ask yourself.
How much suceesful you are as a human.
When was the last time you did something orgamsimic.
Do you look yourself in to miroor to check how pathetic is your soul.
Does sracasm mean hillarous in real terms.
I think you need to revise your posting and please dont ever tarnish anybody image..becaose misery can never be hillarious.
Sarkar 2 is not that great n ur posting too is in bad taste.
This Redddd….y guy is hilarious. “Orgasmic”…how did that come in.It is a spoof man, which means you are not supposed to take it seriously. I think RGV should steer clear of the Bachchan khandan, stop taking himself so seriously and go back to his roots. Maybe then he can recreate the old magic. Or maybe he is too corrupted by his own sense of power and self importance, to ever be able to go back.
Classic!! I always love reading spoofs since the days when I got to read Jam mag!! And I think Junior Bachchan and Bachchan bahu are overrated anyway!! ;)
too good a read… didnt hate the movie that much but loved this piece by sudhir…
n its better we dont talk about gunda… a classic beyond common superlatives…
and what does rgv need to do now to be back??
great work yaar..great sense of humour..But one has to admit that RGV single handedly tried to create the so called multiplex cinema during 90s without help of stars and by sheer technical brilliance..He is a pioneer as far as film trailers go..He is a very honest director who tried different genres where the so called big directors dare to venture..But he is also some one who is so misunderstood,so much ridiculed and shunned by so called literate audience who have no shame in appreciating mediocre films of Karan Johar,David Dhawan,Subhash Ghai..
@ Sharath..i dont think David Dhawan falls under the category of Karan Johar or Subhash Ghai..infact i think David Dhawan is the most succesful director in bollywood..the number of hits he has given..dare some other director give…David is verry verry honest with his work..he doesnt lie to himself or to the audience about the movies he is making…
Lets do RGV hindi film track record check
HITS(5)
Sarkar
Bhoot
Satya
Rangeela
Shiva
Recovered Money(Maybe)(2)
Jungle
Mast
Outright Disasters(8)
Darling
Nishabd
RGV Ki Aag(outright masterpiece)
Darna Zaroori Hai
Shiva (new one)
Kaun
Daud
Raat
Mahesh bhatt has a better record than him, its other matter that mahesh uncle never gave an original film till date(saransh maybe, not sure).
Cant stand more than 15 minutes of Sarkar Raj. Maybe its becoz of Aby Baby bachchan
@ goni dhoni..
did u actually go to the theatre to see the beginning credits or the movie for 15 minutes and then came out ..
man u cud have wasted ur money someplace else…..:)
There are so many wonderful disastrous appalling movies in the recent times (Tashan, jhoom bara bar, OSO n DON). Then why pick on RGV..Is it becos hes speaks from his heart and admits that hes arraogant.
I think critics are cheap bastards dealing with arrogant mavericks…becos guys like RGV will always hit back,,,
why da heck u guys wanna bite ur own tongue..becos u will go ga ga over RGV’s work soon.
>>>>>>>>
In fact, I’ll make one movie in the future where only Bachchan Sir will be there and he’ll narrate the entire story from start to finish.
<<<<<<<<
brilliant just brilliant, I am laughing my guts out.. This interview is real competition to “the” Kanti Shah interview..
@Srikanth Reddy Sanagala
If and when RGV will hit back, trust me ill be one of the happiest persons to finally see a damn good movie..
@ Sudhir
Brilliant piece! I just wish all of us could have such a whacky sense of humour buddy..of course assuming u made that up all by u’rself.. :P
btw.. u seem to have followed the movie quite closely.. i mean bringing such splendid spoofs using stuff from the film itself.. now now.. did u have plans to write this piece while u were watching it?? or maybe u actually enjoyed it! :D
@ srikanth
get some sense of humour sir.. sarcasm doesn’t always picking up on somebody in a bad taste..
@sudhir
it was really funny dear,i enjoyed the movie and ur “interview” with the director too,
i was in my office ,so i had to skip upper portion due to photographs,the first line i read was RGV is going to make “chikku raj” ,i think he is capable of making such statements
cool man,write some more funny stuff
@ rahul
Some strict office you work in yaar!.. the pictures in this column are pretty innocuous :-)
@Ankur
Hey..thanks for ur comments..well most of the stuff’s from my idle brain only..except for the cameraman sleeping stuff..this was my friend’s comment while watching the movie..
most of the stuff i made up later except for the Dumbledore thing..that occurred to me as i was watching it..
Sudhir this is wicked!! Good lord. laughed and laughed and laughed!!!!!! And all those who are taking this seriously, DO! This is seriously funny!!
Personally I was absorbed by the film and kept going because some moments were continuously interspersed within the film that kept me guessing and wanting more. I liked the film because I also want RGV to regroup and in bits and pieces he did!!
Sudhir you made my day!!!@
@OM I don’t know what type of honesty of David Dhawan u are talking about.In fact he ripped of many scenes of his silly comedy movies from many malayalam and tamil movies and even that also he couldn’t picturise in a proper way.In fact 90s were the worse as far as hindi comedy movies are concerned with likes of David Dhawan with his troupe of Govinda,Kader Khan,Shakti Kapoor with their vulgar comedy.Fortunately with advent of Priyadarshan there is atleast a minimum quality of comedy in Hindi commercial cinema now.In fact the trio of south indian directors RGV,Manirathnam and Priyadarshan have shown hindi film audience that quality films can be made within commercial format
@goni dhoni KAUN outright disaster?…Come on man it is a very low budget film with only 4 actors and completeley filmed inside an apartment..In fact i still remember the buzz it generated when it was released few years ago and it got a huge initial which by today’s standards make it a super hit film..Only RGV could think about a film like that and make it a success..which director has guts to attempt that type of cinema?..
@ sharath….
there have always been directors who have made quality films within the commercial format…..
hrishikesh mujherjee
yash chopra…
mansoor khan…to name a few…
u can add the names of mani rathnam , rgv to that list but u cant say they started it….
and secondly….i dont think priyadarshan has made any decent comedy after hera pheri and hungama…..his last few films like bhool bhulaiyya..garam masala…have been outright duds…….
is this a vendetta post..? coz uve really torn apart the film when its not bad at all ..
Brilliant piece – I was thinking Dumbledore too as I watched Nagre senior explain the silly TWIST. To think that Charlie Kaufman was scoffing voice-overs!!
@ 29 Goni Dhoni:
HITS 5+1 = 6
Sarkar
Bhoot
Satya
Rangeela
Shiva
Company (how could you forget that)
And what a terrific 6 movies !!!!
How many directors could you name who made 6 such terrific movies ?? Anyone ??
Get over it guys – RGV deserves better.
like it or not sarkar raj is a hit too….
@filmibhai
Yes filmibhai, it’s a vendetta post. I sent many scripts to RGV but he rejected them all..hence this post ;-)
Dude, chill..it’s just my views on a below par movie..that’s all..
@raj
Agree with u whole-heartedly that he’s made lot of excellent movies. I would add Kaun, Kshna Kshanam and Andukodu Oka Roju to that list.
But just because he made good films in the past doesn’t give him the license to make mediocre movies now..
RGV is gr8…… he is a synonym of “filmmaking”… all that he does has a rational approach… he’s not jus’ rgv but “THE RGV”.
RGV gives worse answers in his blogs