Prroshant Narayannan speaks

Runumi G | Movies, People | December 19, 2007 at 1:25 pm

Prroshant Narayannan – hey you, this new spelling of your name really confuses me about where to put the extra ‘r’ and ‘n’ everytime I start punching it in – the ‘Badmash Banna’ on PFC, is up to a lot of things. He wrote about it sometime back, but since then has been silent. Wake up man. Here’s a provocation -the full text of an interview I did with him for an article in my paper (you can read it at : http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Dec162007/enter2007121541396.asp). So, here it goes, the unabridged version:

What are your roles in Bombil and Beatrice and Mr Singh / Mrs Mehta?

Bombil is a hit man in the year 2005. In his last birth he used to be a horse dealer, Vilas Godbole,in Matheran, where he meets a young girl, Beatrice, and falls in love and they promise to wait for each other even for a 100 years, if there is any problem. This is happening in 1905. But circumstances don’t allow that and Vilas gets married off somewhere else. Beatrice comes to Bombil in 2005 to give him a very interesting proposal where he has to kill her , to make her “life” better. It is a strange, and a beautiful love story. Along with me there are Katie McGuiness and Piyush Mishra. The camera has been done by Trevor Forrest and Jamie Fowlds, sound by Simon Okin , the music is by AR Rahman, and it has been written and directed by Kaizad Gustad, and by the way my spelling is Prroshant Narayannan. And of course, I am playing a double role in this film, which is surely going to shock a lot of people. It has been shot in Mumbai, Matheran and England.

Mr. Singh/Mrs.Mehta is a film , written and directed by Pravesh Bharadwaj, and has been produced by Manu Kumaran. I have Naved Aslam, Aroosah Hasssan and Aruna Shields as company in the film. The story is about an extra marital affair which happens between two people whose spouses are already into it. It is almost like clinging on to somebody who also is going through the same trauma. The music is very good in this film and has been made by Ustad Shujaat Ali Khan. The camera has been done by Mahendra Pradhan, and it has been exclusively shot in Wales, Cardiff and London. I am playing a painter in this film, who still has not made it in life and as a result has a low opinion about himself, and he believes that his wife is really a big support to him till he discovers this affair. Very interesting story line.

What attracted you to them – since you just don’t take up any project that comes your way?

I was playing the main lead in Kaizad’s Mumbai Central also, but after that accident and all, things were all looking down, as we all lost a very dear friend during the shoot. And after a long time I met this another film maker friend called Raoul Randolph who was assisting Kaizad at that time, so in the middle of conversation, I enquired about Kaizad and took down his number and called him, and he was in the middle of casting for Bombil. I went to see him at the Hyatt where they had their office. In the meantime my hairs length was down to my shoulders and he was rather shocked to see me in this manner, he enquired about what I was doing and I said nothing. He took a copy of the script and asked me to finish reading it then and there. So I sat in a corner of that place and read the script in one go. I simply loved it. So I asked him who he was considering and he mentioned some names. I laughed and said that if he does not take me, it won’t be a good film. Thankfully he agreed, and immediately announced to everybody that I am doing Bombil. When you see the film, you will agree to the above mentioned conversation. I knew that I would have to cut my hair to achieve a completely different look in both the parts. In fact Kaizad says that at most of the screenings abroad, people were pretty shocked when they realized that the same person has portrayed both the roles. It was just a love story before, but with Rahman coming on board, he has made it into a thriller love story. All the more good.

Mr. Singh/ Mrs.Mehta happened like a huge surprise. I had read the script in England and I had told Pravesh that it was a really good one, and I wish I could have portrayed the painters part. In fact, I even wrote him a best of luck ode to the film. But then I was shooting for Bombil and he had already finalized his cast and crew. And suddenly I get a call from the production, once I was back in India whether I could fly back to England asap. I later realized that they had some kind of problem with the lead actor and they needed to replace him with somebody without upsetting the schedule. So there I was in Wales shooting for the same painters part which I wanted.

You have been seen in Via Darjeeling also, which was shown at Osian’s Cinefan this year…

Via Darjeeling, is an ensemble film written and directed by Arindam Nandy. We shot the film in Kolkata and Darjeeling. It is an interesting venture as there are many people who have been credited with good work associated with it. I have not seen the film, so I can’t comment too much on it. The camera has been done by Abhik who is Rituporno’s favourite cameraman. It has some good music too. Strange, all the films that I have been associated with have some great music, right from Chhal, WBHH-2, Mudda, Shadows of Time, to all these three films mentioned. Great going man. Arindam was telling me after the screening that Siri Fort was packed and everybody really appreciated the film. I would rather comment once I see the film.

What other projects you are handling right now?

See, apart from acting, I also write feature films for my own self. This is along with my director friend Indranil Goswami whom I consider is one of the best directors that we have in this country. It is just a matter of time before people actually start taking seriously the ventures that we are aiming at. Hope we find the correct people to associate with.

I write and compose songs, and sing I have written a couple of songs for this new band called Agnee, and I am working on their next album also. Some people are keen that I should come out with an album also, though I am not too sure about it. So when one is mentally so busy, I really don’t see the point of meeting people and asking for work or doing any networking. I would rather try to convince people of the things that I am working on personally than be convinced by somebody else. Though I agree that the latter is more easy.

I am in talks with BharatBala for a film with Kamalhassan, and that is a really beautiful film. It is called The Nineteenth Step .Then, there is a film called Rechaad that I am doing with a German co-actress in Goa. I am doing another movie with Pravesh sometime the end of this year. There is Sohail Tatari’s Summer of 2007, produced by Atul Pandey. Then there are lots of other very enthusiastic people who want to make things with me, which is very heartening. Wish they had good money too.

It has been a long time since you were seen on the big screen –why? Is it because you are too selective or any other reason?

It is rather unfortunate that I am being seen less on screen, and most of the others are. There is no particular reason to it, but I feel that if I have done around 7 films in 5 years, I am happy. Actually I want to have a really cool dvd collection of my films that I would be proud to show it to anybody at any given time in life. Don’t know how many actors can do that.

And personally speaking I hate this rigmarole of acting off camera. 95% of people are doing that off it and the rest whatever is in front of it. I would rather be 100% in front of it.

Then there are those kind of people who think that I have a serious attitude. If my being just proud of myself is attitude, then I would rather stick to it than succumb. Think I am doing a rather good job of it, because ultimately I am being seen less on screen.

Then there are these types of people who talk ill about you and that too to people who have a Kacha Kaan in the first place. All that I ask is to just ask anybody whom I have worked with to comment on their working experience with me, than to believe in a certain section of the idiots who are doing it.

I feel that I already am, so trying to be something just cramps my style.

What is your criteria for selecting a role?

I have no particular criteria for doing anything in life. Selecting a role is a small issue. If I have an affinity towards something, I just move instinctively.

You have changed the spelling of your name too – superstitions? Who advised the change?

I think the spelling change has helped, as it is a new thing for me. It just excites me that I can do something without asking for approval from anybody. If you want to call that superstitious, call it by any name. I got it done by this gentleman called Niraj Manchanda. One of my friends Minaxxi just casually mentioned about it and I just went ahead and did it instinctively. A day after that I flew to Wales to do Pravesh’s film. You could call it a coincidence also, by the way. See, I am still being seen less on screen.

From Chhal, Waisa Bhi Hota Hai part II and Florian’s film (Somoyer Chhaya / Shadows of Time) till now, how do you think you have developed as an actor?

I truly enjoyed doing these films, but I guess you cant talk about development because of just these three films, I have done more than 10 years of prime work on TV, and after that I have graduated into films, so I guess that also says a lot. Don’t know too many actors apart from Irrfan who have managed it. All are different directors to work with and they all bring in a lot of their own selves which they portray through me and their films. I guess it would be a question for them to answer than me. I am still as enthusiastic about the next days shoot as I was when I was doing my first serial called Parivartan, directed by an amazing Bharat Rangachary. I have worked with so many interesting directors on television and I hope all of them get to make their movies soon, then I will be full of work and employment.

With the Hindi film industry nowadays having more and more meaty roles for actors – and not stars – like you, what has kept you slightly away from the limelight?

I am just an actor, who needs to be paid good for his good work, which is fair enough. But have’nt met any friend who has said that, no please take two more as you are my friend, which is also fair enough.

After Shadows of Time, did you get any other international offer? How was the experience of working with a foreign crew, and how did you benefit from it?

See, Shadows of Time is a film which is really something that can touch anybody’s heart, I have traveled to five different countries with the film and the response has been heart warming. I have done Bombil and Beatrice which is a Brit film, the BharatBala film is an Indo Japanese film. Florian’s agent who also incidentally is Sean Penn’s agent has shown a keen interest in me, but till matters are finalized there is no point talking about it..Foreign crews are great to work with as suddenly you see different kinds of people who bring in their own vibe, their sense of humour, their lives into that period of time which leaves a nice taste in the mouth which is memorable

Don’t you feel disheartened that Shadows… only did the festival round in India but did not have a wide public release in your own country?

Disappointed is an extremely modest way of expressing my disgust. This is a place where the worst films get the biggest publicity, and to me the way this movie has been treated mounts to sacrilege.

Are you also looking at doing regional cinema? Are you in the process of considering any such offers?
Absolutely, I am a 100 % Keralite who can speak Tamil too. There have been a couple of offers which unfortunately did not work out. But I am hoping that something exciting comes up soon.

You have worked with a variety of interesting directors. Who are the directors who you think can actually exploit your talent and potential and with whom you would like to work?

I guess all of them have still good memories of me as they feel that they have exploited me as much as they could when they were working with me. Aur kya, bachhe ki jaan loge kya, abhi?
I would love to work with Indranil Goswami on celluloid with whom I have worked extensively on television. Then there a whole lot of genuinely talented people that I would like to work with, and they are Umesh Pedalkar, Kamal Monga, Pankaj Advani. Sriram Raghavan, Thigmanshu Dhulia, Apurva Asrani, Mahavir Shekhawat, and lots more.

Does TV attract you as a medium now?

I have spent 10 years of my life there, obviously it is attractive. But these film folks have pampered me so much that now I feel that if it is not like really exciting, I would rather avoid it, but I am absolutely open to good scripts and I don’t give a damn to the format.

Do you believe the buzz that Indian cinema is changing for the better, with newer themes, the multiplex environment spreading to more and more cities and directors who don’t shy away from avoiding the ‘formula’?

Development in any form is welcome. I only wish that the more powerful people from our industry actually do something about it. I wish the ticket rates could get slashed and more people can get inside to watch. Why should a 20 crore film tickets be as same as a 2 crore budget film? I think all directors are trying to avoid the formula, in one way or the other.