‘I Rate Myself A Very Mediocre Director’

Madhur Bhandarkar speaks to SUNAINA KUMAR on his films and his coming of age as a filmmaker

With Corporate ready for release and Traffic Signal on the floor, your trilogy is nearly complete. Thematically, what does this trilogy stand for?

With Page 3, Corporate and Traffic Signal, I have tried to show three different worlds, which have not been explored in Bollywood before. Page 3 was about the cocktail party circuit, Corporate is about the power hungry world and Traffic Signal explores the lives of the underprivileged people at a signal. In all three films, I have mixed fact with fiction, done extensive research and presented them as docu-dramas.

Do you feel vindicated that your films, like Chandni Bar and Page 3 have been recognised with National Awards, though they were ignored at the popular awards? And how important are awards for you?

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I won’t say awards are not important. They matter a lot. I have won two National Awards and I think it’s a great achievement. Popular awards may have their own juries and their own reasons for choosing certain films. I’m just happy that my films are widely appreciated by the audience.

Tell us something about Corporate and Traffic Signal.

Corporate is about boardroom politics. It has two corporate giants fighting a bitter rivalry. I conceived Traffic Signal on my weekly walk to the Siddhi Vinayak Temple. I just thought of the flourishing industry at a traffic signal. For people in their cars, the red light is a hurdle, while for the people at the signal, it represents their mode of living. The film is narrated from their perspective and stars Kunal Khemu and Konkona Sen Sharma.

How is it that you always have strong women protagonists, from Chandni Bar to Satta, Page 3 and now Corporate?

There’s no particular reason, except that the stories I tell are better told from the perspective of a strong woman. A woman can portray a story of struggle better.

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You once stated that making a sequel to Chandni Bar will be like trying to cash in on its success. Now you have announced ‘Chandni Bar-II’ and ‘Page 3-II’…

I have just registered their titles, just like I have registered titles like ‘Godhra’ and ‘Jail’ and I may or may not make these films. I thought of Chandni Bar-II when the court ordered the re-opening of the bars. I felt something interesting might come out of it. But, nothing is decided as yet. I’m just planning to take a break after Signal.

How would you rate yourself as a filmmaker?

I’m very happy with my school of filmmaking. If I succeed, it’s against all odds, with no big stars and no big budgets to support the film. Though, I have to admit that I’m still learning. People tell me that I have arrived after Page 3. I do not agree. I would rate myself as a very mediocre director. Give me 10 years or so and a body of work to look back at, before I can feel proud of myself.

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