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Home arrow Sections arrow Features arrow "Slumdog is world cinema; it speaks a universal language" - Saurabh Shukla
"Slumdog is world cinema; it speaks a universal language" - Saurabh Shukla
Saurabh Shukla is a mixture of old school and new school screen legend with enviable screen credits, an impish sense of humour, and more charm than you'd get from a bus load of modern movie stars. Few actors working today can boast an acting and writing pedigree as prestigious as his with roles and scripts ranging from the infamous 'Kallu Mama' in Satya to 'Dotcom' in Salaam-E-Ishq to 'Shetty' in Mithya to his latest unreleased Rajat Kapoor film A Rectangular Love Story. But that's just a cherry from the cake we've given you. Besides acting and writing, the versatile Shukla also sits on the director's chair with films like Mudda in 2003, and the unreleased films Raat Gayi Baat Gayi and I am 24. Too many feathers in one cap for this rounded personality. Besides the three accolades we've mentioned, Saurabh also likes to talk. And we mean really talk. We just had to hand him our tape recorder to spark a Saurabh Shukla memory. He has never failed to surprise audiences, but the ultimate surprise is when you meet him. He is not a star, he is a galaxy by himself, he has traveled back and forth in the wild, wild film industry and has so many stories, so many experiences and understandings about life and about what it means to be alive and kicking. Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent and UK's Harrow Observer columnist Devansh Patel met the busy actor the day after his Golden Globe award winning film Slumdog Millionaire won more awards at the BAFTAs. And before we could say something, he informs us, "People have sleepless nights, and I am the one right now having sleepless mornings". He adds, "Journalists are calling me at five in the morning for interviews, can you believe it?" Thankfully, we met him at the right time, when he was all eyes and ears after having his favourite hot cuppa masala chai for a candid chit chat on a film that has sparked a debate on whether Slumdog is a Bollywood film or a Hollywood film, whether the word 'dog' is an insult to the slum dwellers of Mumbai, whether A.R. Rahman was long due for such international recognition, whether Vikas Swarup should be credited for his literary work and whether a film like Slumdog Millionaire comes with too many loop holes. We listen as Saurabh takes control of the answers and his conclusion on the above confusion. I would term Slumdog Millionaire as a world cinema because then it means that the film speaks a universal language It's rather strange but people are still confused in an argument whether to tag Slumdog Millionaire as a Bollywood film or a Hollywood film. A film is a film. We do not necessarily have to give names to it. I have not set any boundaries for any kind of cinema. A good film is a good film. If it doesn't work, it's a bad film. In terms of style and telling the story we are on a global platform. I don't feel like being in an alien land called Mumbai. Whatever we go through here is the same as compared to the films made in the West, except the physicalities and our dance moves. I would term Slumdog Millionaire as a world cinema because then it means that the film speaks a universal language which is globally accepted. Every time a film comes nearer to its release or post release, some elements from our society love to oppose the film, like remove the word 'dog' from Slumdog Millionaire. Weird isn't it? I'm sure you know that limelight is a great light. Now this goes to all those who think that the word 'dog' should be wiped out from Slumdog. They still see 'dog' as a derogatory term? Then they should be sued because a dog is an animal and it's a man's best friend. What people forget is that Slumdog is a term. So is a word like 'underdog' an abuse, and all the journalists being called 'watchdogs' should oppose too. Is a word like 'underdog' an abuse, and all the journalists being called 'watchdogs' should oppose too If Danny called you right away to attend the Oscars, would you go? Of course I would. Frankly speaking, a film unit comprises of two hundred people. Now I'm sure that they can't travel everywhere. So those who are attending all the red carpets worldwide are also not taking away the credit from others who were involved in the Slumdog Millionaire making process. I mean, imagine the spot boy who used to serve us tea not being there on the sets. We all would've collapsed without our 'cuppa'. Every individual who has contributed towards the film will be present because their heart and soul will be walking the red carpet at the Oscars. How special is Slumdog to you? Slumdog Millionaire is very much special to me. Not because of anything else but because it has been accepted the world over. Why do we all work? To get accepted in our individual professions so that our work has a wider reach. This kind of fame takes you in a wider spectrum of the audiences. Slumdog is also special because Resul Pookutty, a BAFTA winner and an Oscar nominee is also working for me under budget (laughs). Whatever you do, if you like it at that point in time, you should go for it. That's it, because after it's done you will never ever re-create the magic of that particular moment when you were working. I am sure we can only think how Danny had worked hard to give that perfect shot or while he was directing me how to make a facial expression during that shot. But as I said, we can only think. We will not get to create that moment, and every moment in all my films is special. Slumdog Millionaire will change the perception of the audiences and this will open up the gates for a lot of small budget films You think Slumdog Millionaire will favourably or adversely affect the filmmaking process in East and the West? It rarely affects the artists, the actors and the people who are creating it because the kind of cinema I wanted to make or I want to make will not change tracks. If I do that, I'll be lost. Every year there are five hits and if you try and capture that hit formula, it cannot be termed as an art. Whatever you do, it doesn't matter. A hit or a flop should not matter. Whatever you do, you have to believe in that. I'm sure that Slumdog's success will affect the market because the market and the marketing department always have a perception about the audience. I've also got reports coming in that a lot of older generation of people in their 70's have also liked the film. Slumdog Millionaire will change the perception of the audiences and this will open up the gates for a lot of small budget films. There have been stories saying that it has taken two British men, Sir Richard Attenborough and Danny Boyle to show the real India and its sentiments. It has also taken an Indian (Shekhar Kapoor) to go to England and make Elizabeth, not only one but two parts. So what is the media on about anyway? The artist community is the only community in the world which is free from colour and boundaries and I'd request one and all - Please let them be free. The artist community is the only community in the world which is free from colour and boundaries and I'd request one and all - Please let them be free. If you were to go to the BAFTA's or the Oscars, which Hollywood celebrity would you have met and chatted with? I am sure I wouldn't have discussed cinema with them during award nights like the BAFTAs or the Oscars. Imagine me going to Brad Pitt and telling him, "Hey Brad, let's discuss cinema" and him walking away from me (laughs). There are so many I would've loved to meet but Clint Eastwood tops my list. He is such a fabulous director. I just heard the plot of his latest film Gran Torino and it took me by surprise. What an amazing story he has got to direct. It's always great to meet people who have done great work. What's most important is that you get inspired by their work when you meet such greats from the film industry. Do you think that A.R. Rahman was long due for this kind of international recognition with a Golden Globe and a BAFTA? Yes, I believe. When you mention the word 'long due', you are talking about a person and his work by saying, "It should get there". We have been talking about Rahman and his work since a couple of years now because we failed to understand why his work wasn't rewarded yet. But better late than never, I believe. You were one of the lucky few who got to share screen space with Dev Patel. How was this young budding talent from Harrow in London? Dev is a very sweet child. He is absolutely innocent. You see, in any art, when are you at your best - when you don't know it all. If you know it all, then it's not true. The great thing about Dev is that he was completely lost in the film. He was trying to reach and grab his creativity which is a great quality. He is very vulnerable and good looking too. Not to forget, he got a great director like Danny Boyle to direct him. I remember, whenever he used to meet me, he used to greet me with his overjoyed voice - "Hey Saurabh", and in spite of being a feet taller than me, he would then try and hug me. Do you think Vikas Swarup is the forgotten hero of this worldwide success? Not at all. Vikas is the mother of this film. That's how this film started because he wrote the book called 'Q & A' from which the film was adapted. Before I met Vikas in Mumbai, I thought that I'd be meeting some swanky young man who has lived abroad, but he was absolutely an Indian. He came across as a very down to earth and a soft person. I don't think that even for a second anyone would've forgotten Vikas. The great thing about Dev is that he was completely lost in the film What would you do to acquaint the general public of why should one go and watch Slumdog Millionaire? There are loop holes in all the films released. And what's a loop hole - Why is the film this way and why is the film that way. One thing can be done in a thousand different ways. So there will always be nine hundred and ninety nine loop holes because you have only done it in one way and have not done it in the other nine hundred and ninety nine ways. Slumdog Millionaire is a very well made film. It does talk about certain issues but it is not a social lesson. It's an entertaining film which engages you. What is the best comment you've received till date for your role in Slumdog Millionaire? There is one I'd like to share which is very interestingly put by someone. I will not take names though. He said, "You were so good in the film that we felt very bad about your character" (laughs).
 
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