Moving picture

Director Siddharth Anand on why Prem Rog is still a relevant film
Raj Kapoor’s Prem Rog (1982) has been one of the most powerful movies that I’ve come across. I was about 10 or 12 when I first saw it. Thirty years later,it is still relevant. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched it since. The movie was way ahead of its time in terms of its theme. And every time I see it,I learn some new aspect of film-making or storytelling. It can be re-made today; the concept of widow re-marriage is still relevant in a modern environment.

Technically too,Prem Rog is an encyclopedia for a film-maker. In terms of screenplay,direction,music and background score — there is so much to learn. Raj Kapoor was a pioneer in using background music to heighten a scene’s impact. After all,movies are about both visuals and sound.
Subconsciously,I too have tried to make movies that have a message: whether it was unwed pregnancy in Salaam Namaste (2005),or about saving for today and thinking of the future in Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007),or about being sensitive after a relationship ends in Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008).