PROJEKT iVIEW : Cheeni Kum’s spicy dialogue writer
iVIEW AUTHOR:
Kapil D Varindani (Bombay, India)
email:
kapil.varindani[at]gmail.com
With a strong line up of some of the best actors available in the Indian film industry like Zohra Sehgal,Amitabh Bachchan,Paresh Rawal & Tabu, Director R.Balki along with his talented team of first timers worked passionately on the (Cheeni Kum) which turned out into a nice light hearted entertaining film and has also managed to win lot of critical,commercial & aam junta’s appreciation.
I managed to do a small tet a tet (Thank You Reshma) with Manoj Tapadia (MT) who has played a key role in the success of the film as a Dialogue writer cum lyricist. .
Manoj is part of the Advertising fraternity working as a copywriter (Lowe India ) & now with Cheeni Kum, Manoj has made a promosing start to his film career.
Here he has shared few things about himself,cheeni kum & his future projects…
KV : Congratulations to you for the fantastic opening & rave reviews received by Cheeni Kum…How are you feeling?
MT : Fantastic. What else?!
KV : Very interesting start to your film career? U started as a Dialogue writer & lyricist…(Please Comment)
MT : It’s all thanks to a man called Balki. He is to be blamed.
KV : What was the catalyst for this script of Cheeni Kum?
MT : Only one man can answer that- Balki.
KV : Did the comedy elements come out of Amitabh Bachchan & the remaining actors improvising or was it something you wrote?
MT : Everything was in the script. Not a single word was changed.
KV : How was the transition from writing for a 30 second ad film to a full length feature film?
MT : It’s the same. Just that you happen to write 400 odd ad films. Both need ideas and a sense of communication.
KV : Did you set out to challenge the stereotypes that have dominated Mainstream Indian Cinema? Its not regular run of the mill bollywood style writing? It appeared very crisp,modern,conversational,sarcastic at the right places,fairly convincing…basically very contemporary?
MT : That’s how you and I talk, don’t we? I don’t understand this whole modern Vs classic style. I don’t follow styles. I do what the script demands. In this case, it was Balki’s vision. He wanted it chatty style, hence the usual dialogue-baazi was out. But then every story, every script and every director/writer is different.
KV : Is this style different because of your Advertising background?
MT : May be. Advertising teaches you a lot. It teaches you how to be wise with words. It disciplines you as a writer and a thinker.
KV : Did the script of Cheeni Kum evolve much between first draft and shooting?
MT : Yes. But before we went for shoot it was 99% there. Every morning, before we started the shoot, we kept revisiting it. Not to change but to ensure if we can add something extra or remove something that was unwanted.
KV : Can you talk about your writing process? Are you a 9 to 5 guy and can sit down and just write or do you go for long stretches of time without writing a single word?
MT : There’s no process to writing. I write when I have something to write. You can’t force yourself to write. I switch off the computer and go to sleep the moment I am stuck. Though during cheeni kum, we worked around Balki’s availability as he is very hands on and it was his baby.
KV : What was it like to collaborate with Balki?
MT : He is my boss. So I don’t know if collaborating is the right word. I have been working under him for almost 4 years now. This was not the first time that we worked together. I can never match his energy levels, his dedication and craft.
As a writer I learnt a lot from him. As a human being perhaps even more. He is one of the finest creative brains in this country. I am really lucky to have worked so closely with him all these years.
KV : You and director Balki must have been very much on the same wavelength….(Please Comment)
MT : I guess so. Or else I would have been out of this project on the first day itself.
KV : Was the casting already done before the actual screenplay & dialogues were written? How did u felt/react when u were informed that Mr. Bachchan & Tabu were casted for the film.
MT : We were sure about the main lead and Zohraji, as Balki had thought of them beforehand. Rest came later. To say I was ecstatic would be an understatement.
KV : How was the experience of writing the lyrics? Especially with Sameer?
MT : Great. Finally after years of nurturing a dream it became a reality. Sameer was fine. But Balki was very, very supportive and clear what he wanted.
KV : Mr.Bachchan addressed you as Panditji…any particular reason?
MT : I don’t know. I don’t think there was any particular reason.
KV : Character from Cheeni Kum closest to your heart?
MT : All of them. Or else they wouldn’t have been there in the first place.
KV : Your style has been appreciated by the Industry & the audience,Can you please name the Directors or Writers who have influenced you.
MT : Gulzar saab has been a big inspiration since my childhood. As a poet, writer, thinker, story teller, he is the best we have right now. I consider him my guru a la drona-eklavya. I wish to meet him someday. Though am afraid he will ask for my right thumb. Other legends who have impacted are Shailendra, Majhrooh Sultanpuri, Jaan nisar akhtar, Abrar Alvi, Qaifi Azmi… the list is endless. Among the literary figures it’s Premchand, Amrita Pritam, Nirala, Pant, Bachchan and many others. Among the directors Gurudutt, Bimal Roy, Basu chatterjee and Yash Chopra. But the biggest influence have been Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Gulzar and Majid Majidi. I can watch their films any number of times and still learn something new.
KV : Can you please name your favorite Dialogue writers (todays times)
MT : Abbas Tyrewala and Jaideep Sahni.
KV : Top 5 Director’s on your wish list? Why?
MT : Yash Chopra & Gulzar- I don’t know if they are still making films. But if they do, then I will give an arm and a leg to work with them even as a spot boy. Raju Hirani- I know him personally. He is not just a great story teller but a fantastic human being with his values intact. Karan Johar- His heart and head are in the right place as a film maker. Though I haven’t met him but he looks like a great human being. All he needs is a writer who can translate his ideas better than him- if not screenplay then atleast dialogues. Vishal Bhardwaj- I simply love his work. Dibakar- Didn’t we all love Khosla ka ghosla?
KV : Can you please share some information on your forthcoming Projects?
MT : Next release will be my friend Navdeep Singh’s Manorama- Six feet under. Have written dialogues and currently writing lyrics. Working on two of my own ideas. Others are too early to even mention.
KV : Would u be interested in calling : Lights,Camera ACTION!!
MT : Hey! You never know.
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Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
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Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
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Partho Sen-Gupta
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Satish Kasetty
Thnx Kapil for adding some sugar to Cheeni kum. Manoj welcome aboard and wsh u a adventurous times in Bollywood.
Hay Manoj, Nice to read your experience ont he movie…. one question: Do we see you acting as well soon???
Cool man kapil good one
FYI: Manoj is a Creative Director at Lowe.
Excellent show!!! and a well deserved break after a long and toiling hard work …
sir you deserve credit every bit of it…
but as they say MILES TO GO BEFOR YOU SLEEP…
You have it in you and everybodys a born achiever !
CONGRATS once again and waiting for more success…GOD BLESS!
Manoj Tapadia’s dialogue in Cheeni Kum is racy yet rivetting. Look forward to listening to his dialogue in similar intelligent movies in future.