MUMBAI: He is the whizkid behind one of the most unusual Hindi films we saw in the last decade — the episodic “Darna Manaa Hai” (2003). His next was also a fantasy —“Gayab” (2004). He directed an episode in his first film’s sequel in spirit, “Darna Zaroori Hai” (2006), his first with his current hero Randeep Hooda. His third solo film, “404-Error Not Found” (2011), mixed the supernatural and thriller genres wonderfully, raking in plaudits even as the people did not take it to it in a big way.
After this, Prawaal Raman (a South Indian brought up in Bihar) worked through some 40 drafts of a dramatized and partly fictionalized story inspired by noted serial killer Charles Sobhraj, as it fascinated him, and he wanted to narrate it from the police perspective. The result: “Main Aur Charles,” releasing Oct. 30.
Why as many as 40 drafts, we ask, and Raman has a simple answer: “The script is the main hero of any film, and that must take time. Either that, or we depend on superstars to make the film work.”
Raman accepts that he has taken a lot of creative liberties with the script and characters, including that of protagonist Charles. “This was done with the permission of Amod Kanth, the cop who handled his case and told me his story — he’s the “Main” in my film and is the only 100 percent real character in this film. His role is played by Adil Hussein. As for Charles Sobhraj, he was a brilliant PR person and image-builder for himself. But he is what he wants us to know!”
The film has been lavishly made and shot in Thailand and in India in Udaipur, Goa, Delhi and Mumbai. “My story ends in 1986 and does not cover his Nepal chapter, but we are showing all the characters whose lives he affected for good,” says the director.
Raman raves over his choice of Charles — Randeep Hooda. “I consider him to be of the level of Robert De Niro and Al Pacino! He worked so hard on the character.”
He has also introduced a new music director, Aditya Trivedi, in the film. “He has done some flamboyant ‘80s kind of music for my film,” says Raman. “He complained that while young composers buy the latest stuff, I made him buy the synthesizer and the guitar and provide music that was relevant 20 years back! But that was, of course, needed for a film like this. In 'Main Aur Charles,' I had to pay special attention to costumes, hair and the sets too.”
Up next from the director is the official remake of “Oculus,” and so Raman is back to horror again. The film stars Huma Qureshi, her brother Saquib Salim, Adil Hussein again and Lisa Ray. Relativity Media CEO Ryan Kavanaugh approached Raman for this film, titled “Zahhak.”
So what fascinates Raman about horror? “The supernatural thriller is a challenge for a filmmaker,” he replies. “The camera plays an important role, and it’s not as easy as doing a ‘saas-bahu-sasurji’ story! Then there is the use of sound. I love to play with sound and the camera!”
Though Raman’s influences include Guru Dutt and Tarentino and films from “Megha Dhaka Tara” to “Dr. Zhivago,” he tells you that “I am the biggest influence on myself!” The man who assisted Ram Gopal Varma on “Jungle” and “Company” and impressed him enough to land his productions (“RGV never came on my set!”) is also planning a biopic on Dr. Ajoy, a well-known medico and super-cop who annihilated crime and corruption, and is now an MP from Bihar.
