Review of Rakht Charitra

A Minute With: Ram Gopal Varma "Rakta Charitra", based on the life of slain Andhra Pradesh politician Paritala Ravi opens on Oct 22, with the second part slated for release on Nov 19.
Varma, 48, spoke to Reuters about his reasons for dividing the film, dysfunctional families and why his flops don't affect him.
Q: You said on your Twitter account that those who liked films like "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham" should not watch "Rakta Charitra". Do you think dysfunctional families make for better movies than happy families?
A: "I would not say better movies but they definitely make for more interesting movies. For certain people, including me, characters in the film should have a bit of an edge. It should be at an extreme, in terms of power or a conflict.
"It's also less boring, at least for me. Eventually, a film is an emotional experience. You want to laugh, cry, escape but whatever it is it should be pitched high. There will always be people with the most basic of problems. I am not interested in those kind of people.
There are those who want it pitched a little higher, and I would like to make those kinds of films. "Kabhi Khushi" was a huge hit and I don't have anything against that -- the only reason I named that film was to show that my film is the exact opposite. So if you liked that one, don't see my film. At least I am being honest."
Q: Not too many directors would do that -- tell people not to watch their film, even before the release.
A: "I think it's being honest. Let them (the audience) make up their minds. 'Rakta Charitra' doesn't have entertainment, doesn't have comedy, it does not have songs, it does not have beautiful locales or designer clothes. There is a lot in terms of commercial aspects that it doesn't have. What it does have is a lot of intensity -- it is a very very intense, violent film. The narratives, the technical aspects, like the background score, etc are all very good and are some of the positives. So I just want to be clear what people can go in expecting, that’s all."
Q: When you are making a film on a real person, are there any precautions you take, creatively?
A: "To start with, anyone can make a totally truthful film. The events in 'Rakta Charitra' take place over a 20-year period. Many of the people in the story are dead, some are in jail and so I am not sure about the authenticity of the source material at times. So I start filling in gaps, the way I think it must have happened, because it suits me.
"I met his (Ravi's) family members, police officers and journalists who have covered the case and did research on him."
  Q: What about Paritala Ravi's life made you want to make a film on him?
A: "I am always interested in people who live on the edge. That is one of the main reasons I made films like 'Satya' and 'Company'.
Paritala Ravi's life is like that, although not a lot may be known outside of Andhra Pradesh. There is politics, violence and he was a man who lived on the edge, died a very violent death."
Q: He was also not someone known all over India, except for his home state. Do you think that would affect the kind of reach this film has on audiences outside Andhra?
"No, because I am not projecting it as Paritala Ravi's autobiography. For those who have a connect with the actual events that happened, it has a different significance, but everyone else can watch it as a regular story."
Q: Your film has the unique distinction of being divided into two parts -- which will be released three weeks from each other. What was the thinking behind this experiment?
A: "Mainly, because I knew I couldn't do justice to the full scale of the story in 2 or 3 hours. Also, I wanted to show this story from two points of view -- from the point of view of the protagonist and the man who kills him. The second part, which will release on November 19, will be the same events from the opposite point of view.
"In fact, we even considered releasing both films on the same day, but there were logistical problems, like not enough theatres. Also, the audience might be confused as to which film to watch, so we decided to release it 3 weeks later, when the events are fresh in the audience's mind and they can relate to it."
Q: Your last few films haven't done well. Does that affect your creativity as a film-maker?
A: "I have been asked this question since 1993 when I made my first flop. After that I have made many more flops, but the answer hasn't changed. No, it doesn't affect me because my job is to make a film. Once it is over, I don't hold on to it. If people like it it's fine, if not that is fine too. Perhaps I might be interested in why they didn't like, because it might help."
Q: Have you ever received any constructive criticism you have used later in your films?
A: "No, never. At that moment, you think it is great advice and you nod your head, but ten minutes later it is all forgotten and you make the same mistake in your next film. If you knew it was a mistake, you wouldn't be making it right? We are all made that way. We make the same mistakes over and over again."
Q: You are quite self-deprecating when it comes to your own films, after they have released at least. Why is that?
A: "Because a film is nothing but an idea at that point of time.
If I tell you a joke and you don't laugh, I cannot accuse you of not having a sense of humour. If I have not made you laugh, then I have failed. So then I look at it from the point of view of the people who didn't like my film. I try and get objective about my own film."
Q: What's next?
A: "I am working on a film tentatively titled 'Department' with Mr Bachchan. This is the other side of 'Company'. 'Company' dealt with the politics in the underworld, this one has to do with the politics in the police department."