In the Indian film industry earning the sobriquet “maverick” takes years of hard work, consistency and inspiring performances and is usually limited to actors. But director Ram Gopal Varma always does the unusual. He earns what others can only dream of. While making films that have an eternal life in the halls of cinematic excellence and earning a reputation of bringing to life awe-inspiring stories with new filmmaking techniques, sound effects, action sequences and cinematography, Ramu as he is fondly called, is indeed a true maverick. Especially, with a series of dark films and candid tweets. One of the most powerful voices and personalities that the industry has ever seen, despite his flops, he still remains a person who cannot be ignored.
The director was in Bengaluru last Friday to attend the launch of his upcoming project. City Express caught up with him and in a free wheeling chat, he revealed details about his ambitious project — Killing Veerappan, which will be made in four languages.
From Siva to Killing Veerappan: When I started my filmmaking career, a couple of decades ago, I was still influenced by college politics. The result was Shiva. Then, when I went to Mumbai, the influence widened and incorporated another bracket—the underworld. Similarly, as I was exposed to new landscapes and scenarios, the bracket kept widening and so I delved into love, horror and real-life incidents.
Veerappan has always been an intriguing character. And when you include the Special Task Force (STF) operations, it becomes a completely new world. I strongly feel that a similar situation like that of Veerappan does not exist in mankind’s history. I say so because, if you look at any group with criminal intentions, they are packed with a large group of people. But in the case of Veerappan, it was a one-man show and even with his bleak resources and ragtag bunch of men, nobody could trace him for decades together. He defied three governments (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala) and even embarrassed elite forces of the country. Another aspect of his story was the death of so many officers as they tried to nab him.
Then came Operation Cocoon, which resulted in his fall and subsequent death. It required such strong networking, secrecy and strategy and in a cinematic sense, it is just filled up with dramatic sequences. What went behind the operation is something that I have been researching for quite some time. As for the casting, I just thought that Shivarajkumar would be ideal in terms of suitability.
Not an ‘A for Apple’ story: There are other films made on Veerappan and I have watched them too. But I don’t want to tell the story of the brigand as an ‘A for Apple’ story. While I am not trying to make a comment on the existing films, I have to emphasise that my take on it is much deeper. There is an emotional aspect that will focus on relationships, egos, etc. Probably something like Satya.
More than Zero Dark Thirty: The Hollywood movie Zero Dark Thirty, which dramatises the decade-long manhunt for Osama bin Laden would be quite simple compared to the operation that went behind capturing Veerappan. I have been comparing notes of both and have almost concluded that Veerappan’s fall was far more dynamic, interesting and thrilling.
The scale of the operation is too huge if you look at the physical manifestation with 1200 people searching for one person.
Let’s catch Veerappan: I had been following Veerappan for long. Ten years ago, I wanted to make a small segment, when Veerappan was still not caught and titled it as ‘Let’s catch Veerappan’. The subject explored the reward announced on Veerappan and revolved around three people who wanted get that money. I wanted to make a bounty hunting film. But the day we started shooting, Veerappan died and we had to shelve the film.
The dark side of life: An unusual filmmaker is half a journalist who wants to delve into the dark side of an event and expose it. As a filmmaker, we want to do the same thing using the visual medium and in the most dramatic way. And Veerappan’s character was the darkest that I found.
The very subject is interesting and I really have to work hard to show it at its grittiest. In fact, I am trying my best to capture a lot at the exact locations. We are yet to discuss and seek permissions.
Puneeth to do a Varma film?
Ram Gopal Varma happened to meet Puneeth Rajkumar when he visited Bengaluru on April 24. The director was invited to the actor’s house where they apparently
discussed potential ventures in the future. Apparently, Puneeth was impressed with the way Ram Gopal Varma conceived his latest project Killing Veerappan. And it looks like if all goes well, the duo might come together for a project at some point.