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'Traffic was not an easy film to visualise'
Scenarist duo Bobby and Sanjay (inset) have already proved their credentials with two well appreciated films -- Ente Veedu Appoontem and Note Book.
Now, their latest Malayalam script, Traffic has become quite a sensation. The film has a complex structure where the lives of several characters are interconnected after a fatal accident.
In an exclusive chat with rediff.com, the scenarist duo talks about Traffic and more. Excerpts:
Did you expect such a fascinating response to Traffic?
Well, we were confident about the film but this response has been just overwhelming. Virtually everyone, including the industry bigwigs is all in praise for the film. It is amazing to see the viewers applauding in the theatres not just at the end, but also at the break for interval.
Traffic was a completely different experiment and the acceptance received from the viewers has proved all earlier theories about filmmaking wrong.
Director Rajesh Pillai hadn't made another film after his debut movie Hridayathil Sookshikkaan, which was a flop. Still how confident were you while handing over this complex script to him to make Traffic?
It's true that his maiden film didn't do well at the box office. But we have been friends and we knew that he was looking forward to making a different film. He has been involved in the discussions of Traffic ever since we started thinking about this storyline. He understood the theme extremely well and we were too happy in handing over the script to him.
'Filmmakers here have been underestimating the Malayali audience in a big way'
Traffic is not an easy film to visualise. Are you happy with the journey from the script to screen?
Absolutely. Rajesh Pillai's contribution was there all along. It is definitely his film and we are happy about it. The pre-production of the film was really important here. We have planned things very well before the shooting started and it has been beautifully executed.
Were you doubtful about the market viability of the film, as this one was thoroughly unconventional?
We always feel that the filmmakers here have been underestimating the Malayali audience in a big way. Traffic was the kind of movie that we wanted to watch as a viewer so there were no doubts regarding the plot. The tremendous response to the film is a great encouragement to go ahead with more experiments.
There are not many commercial ingredients in the film. That happens rarely in Malayalam, right?
We think the so-called commercial ingredients that the industry experts keep talking about all the time is actually a myth. We don't believe in this two dance-three fights-four songs theory at all. Or else how can Oru CBI Diary Kurippu with no songs or 4 the People with no comedy become blockbusters? What we have in mind is to think about a really fresh theme and then, to narrate it in an engaging way.
'Casanova is going to be a visual spectacle'
Can you tell us more about Casanova, your next film which is being directed by Rosshan Andrrews and stars Mohanlal?
It's a 100% director's film. People here always have this attitude while making mediocre stuff that Malayalis need only this much. We wanted to break this myth. Casanova is going to be a visual spectacle. It will have visuals which can match the International standards.
You have also announced Mumbai Police with Prithviraj and Arya in the lead...
All we can say about the film now is that Mumbai Police will have a really different narrative structure.
Of the three scripts of yours which have come on screen until now, do you feel Traffic was the toughest?
We won't say so as each script was difficult in its own way. For example, Ente Veedu Appoontem had an eight-year-old as the protagonist. Note Book was about teenage girls so we had to understand their psyche and style. So each script poses a different kind of challenge and we love it.