We’ve had a decent season of ‘out of the box’ movies like Kai Po Che, Go Goa Gone and Bombay Talkies. This week, we get talking to débutante director Faraz Haider, who was previously an associate director with Dibakar Banerjee for the movie Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! Hailing from Amroha in Uttar Pradesh, Haider has made an ad film for the World Health Organisation and has three other short films under his belt. Inspired by his father, actor Shane
Haider, he wants to do something different in Bollywood and thus introduces what he calls India’s first war comedy. War Chod Na Yaar, starring Sharman Joshi, Soha Ali Khan and Javed Jaffrey is based on the strained relationship between India and Pakistan, but finds space for reels of laughter. More from the director:
Why is War Chod Na Yaar different?
The movie is a satire about the India-Pakistan relationship between two battalions at the border. The story happens in just one day. This is the first time India will see a war comedy.
Isn’t it too sensitive an issue to play with?
I made this movie keeping that in mind. I consulted four to five retired army officers and they seemed to like it. They told me that my script did not exaggerate anything and was close to reality. For a person like me who has no army background, it was difficult to find out what happens at the border. As a director, I can say that it is a fun movie and will not hurt anyone’s sentiments.
Why the army?
When entering the film industry, a debutante needs to have a unique idea or a big producer and a huge cast. I like satires and wanted to make one. At the same time, war comedy is a genre that has never been done here before and is very attractive. There are several directors who have made the army their base and created really emotional or tragic films. I didn’t want to do that.
Where have you shot the film?
Ninety per cent of the movie has been shot in Bikaner, near sand dunes. I did go to the border one day just to see what the situation was like.
What have you learnt from Dibakar Banerjee?
He is one of the finest directors in the industry. He gives a lot of importance to detailing. While shooting, he would take a few extra scenes and shots and we would not understand why. And at the edit table he would make use of these shots. He knows exactly what he wants.
Favourite war comedy?
I do not watch English movies and I make movies keeping the Indian audience in mind. I love satires and suspense films. Movies like Lage Raho Munna Bhai and Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. My movie will focus on the US, Pakistan, India and China.