Sriram Raghavan on Agastya Nanda-starrer Ikkis; reveals his learning from Merry Christmas: ‘Some people didn’t like climax, pacing but…’

In an interview with Indianexpress.com, Raghavan spoke about trends, his learning from Merry Christmas, which starred Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi, his upcoming war drama Ikkis starring Agastya Nanda and the new thriller that is brewing in his head.

Edited excerpts:

 

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When you were being a kid in a candy store with regards to film selections, did you keep the audience in mind, since they have exposure to global cinema a lot more today?

It is a combination of selecting films that resonated with you and keeping the audience in mind. You want the audience to come and watch it but also not include only super successful films of the times, so that they come. So the idea was to go for a mix. Because it is a festival, I am prepared as a viewer to watch a certain kind of film followed by something that is tonally completely different.

What is your reading of today’s audiences?

When I make films, I trust that the audience is intelligent and doesn’t like to be spoon-fed. You try your best to make the film for your ideal audience. There is a quote of Billy Wilder which says, “Each member of the audience can be an imbecile but collectively in a hall they are pure genius.” They know what works, what doesn’t. I wish filmmakers would judge that beforehand, but we try.

You have been working since the 90s, have clearly seen a shift in the audience over the phases. You think today the audience is impatient and distracted?

Yes, a little bit of that is there, because of cell phones. When I used to watch films as a child, even if I was getting bored, I would sit and watch it because there was no other option. Which is why in those days people would take loo breaks during songs. Now, people can check phones, but the job of a filmmaker is to try and keep them glued to screen.

My film (Merry Christmas) just released and there are enough people who liked it but enough people who also feel the pace was dragging. But it was a choice I made, an experiment I wanted to try. Because if enough people like this pace and this kind of a movie to watch in a cinema hall, it adds a lot of value to all of us.

What does it feel to be a filmmaker in today’s times then?

It is tougher to get your footfalls especially if you are doing a certain kind of films. But the advantage is if the movie really works, people will spread the word and do your marketing for free. That has also happened to me, so I am fine.

I asked because the current trend, box office wise, indicates mostly big action films or wholesome entertainers making money. How difficult is it for you then to make your kind of films?

As long as my budgets are in check, I am realistic about the kind of film I am making, in my head I will know that this film is (safe). It depends also on actors, if it is a big star I am taking then the advantage of people coming to see the star is also the disadvantage of the star and the fans expecting the same kind of movie. I just have to know that ‘I am making this kind of a film and these many numbers of people would be interested’ and then you work backwards and try to make it viable.

In that context then, what was your expectation from Merry Christmas and what is your learning today?

Not that I would change the film, but I was aware that some people would definitely find it slow. There are various things, some people, for example, didn’t like the climax but for me the climax was what I loved the most. But now I can’t help it and be like, ‘Some people didn’t like it so let me change it.’ Pleasing all is pleasing none. You have to go ahead with what you like and hope that enough people like it too, which they have. At least since it has come on Netflix, more people have watched it.

There they have the advantage of setting their own pace for the movie. I have watched a great film with five breaks! The filmmaker didn’t intend that but while watching maybe there was a doorbell or something. Even if you take these breaks, mentally you are consumed with the film. It is easy to do that but sometimes I am horrified to think that people can stop a film anytime, do something else and then get back.

 

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After a thriller like Merry Christmas you are doing Ikkis, an emotional war biopic. Is your headspace of hunger to experiment now?

It is a story I really connected with and liked it. Parts of it are definitely very emotional, it also has battle sequences, action in the typical sense of the word. Hopefully we have tried and done it differently. It is a war film, and it is a drama. It was a break from the kind of movies I was doing, and I wanted that, so that the next time I am doing a thriller, I feel fresh. That there is no baggage.

Have you already figured your next thriller?

There are two-three subjects I am toying with. I am working on those!