This story is from March 7, 2008

‘All the tribulations were welcome’

REETU JOSHI AND KARTHIK P Times News Network / TNN / Mar 7, 2008, 00:00 IST

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Ashutosh Gowarikar is an indefatigable film maker who is in love with the job. Scale, it seems is only coincidental to his films. Hyderabad Times in conversation with Ashutosh Gowariker.

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Ashutosh Gowarikar. (TOIPhoto)He has patience. Patience to pursue his dreams, do exhaustive research on historical figures to present a spectacle. Surviving an initial string of flops, he shot back into contention with films like Lagaan and Swades.
The man, unperturbed by the controversies surrounding his epic drama Jodhaa-Akbar, spoke to Hyderabad Times prior to the release of the Telugu version of the movie in the city.
"The Telugu version was a bit late but we wanted to reach out to all audiences. It's not just for a particular section of the audience." And like Lagaan, this film he admits, was a logistical ordeal for him. "I had to hire many people, jewellery, armour, huge sets. But I was convinced of what I was daring to do, so it didn't become a burden. All the tribulations were welcome. I had even auditioned elephants for my film! The research work, getting permission from the animal welfare board, period weapons and fight scenes - we have not compromised anywhere." And probably that's why the controversies didn't bother him much. "I had gone through nearly 70 books on history including Aaina-e-Akbari. Even the seventh standard textbooks have references to Jodhaa as Akbar's wife."
So what does he think is the real reason for the Rajputs protesting about the movie? Could it be religious intolerance �� that a Mughal ruler had a Hindu wife? "Probably yes. I'm not sure, but it could be one of the reasons."

History has never really been the favourite subject of Indian cinema has it? Looking back some of the most crucial aspects of modern Indian history, be it the partition, the many communal riots, the naxal movement, or the Razzakar movement in Hyderabad, all have received only a passing mention at best, and filmmakers have to take their share of the blame too. "Such films take a lot of research, money, time and effort, perhaps that is why we do not see many such films but you cannot just say filmmakers are an unreflective lot."
Historical, quasi-historical, period, socially relevant films all said and done, will we see Ashutosh directing a regular Hindi masala film? "Jodhaa-Akbar is my kind of masala film. The song Azeem o shaan shenshah is an item song."
Having shared a long and endearing relationship with Aamir Khan, he chose Shahrukh for Swades and then Hrithik for Jodhaa-Akbar. He hasn't repeated any of the stars in his successful films. "While sketching a character one should be unemotional to do justice to the script. I would love to repeat them but only if they fit the characters well." So while Hindi cinema puts a premium on star power, here is a man who doesn't want to compromise with the script, which he considers the real asset of the film.

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