It’s challenging to write comedy, says Janardhan Chikkanna

Writer-director Janardhan Chikkanna, who made a mark with cyber thriller, Gultoo, is now diving into the world of comedy with Powder. “It is really challenging to write and execute comedy,” he shares. Janardhan is also credited with adding the finishing touches to the film by tweaking the climactic portions of it. “The last 20 minutes incorporate a lot of VFX, and we have really pushed visual boundaries for a comedy film. Usually, comedy films are done with a limited budget, because most makers feel that dialogues and situations are sufficient to make people laugh. Along with situational comedy and dialogue-based comedy, we have also tried visual comedy in the last 20 minutes of Powder,” he adds. Excerpts from a chat:

‘Clean comedies help bring in a higher footfall’
Unlike other genres, comedy does not require one to be hyperfocused. You can keep your brains aside and relax for the 2–3 hours of the duration of the film. That is what we have tried to achieve through Powder. Comedy relaxes people. It is the sort of film that one can watch many times, even if you know the story.
‘It’s not every day you get to work with an ensemble cast’
The ensemble cast is a big highlight of Powder. It’s not every day you get to work with such a vast and talented lineup. Because the cast members are legendary in their own way, I wanted to ensure that all the characters get a start, a story, and closure for the characters they play in the film. They have all brought in their years of experience to elevate every scene. More screen time doesn’t always mean that justice is being done to the characters. Utilising their potential to the fullest is what matters. We have played to the strengths of our cast and have milked a lot of comic tonic from each and every one of them.
‘Crime thrillers are my forte, Comedy is an experiment’
I am more of a thriller writer. Ideas flows easily when I try to write a crime thriller. The transition from a serious genre to comedy was difficult. Comedy, as a genre, gives you a lot of scope for experimentation, and I have given it my best.