I n the 80s & the 90s, producer-director Rajiv Rai's name and his banner Trimurti Films Pvt Ltd was a force to reckon with... with a...
In the 80s & the 90s, producer-director Rajiv Rai's name and his banner Trimurti Films Pvt Ltd was a force to reckon with... with a spate of super hits & lavishly mounted films like Tridev, Vishwatma, Gupta, Mohra etc under his belt.
Due to some
unforeseen circumstances and some personal reasons, he migrated abroad. But
then his love for his homeland, unique creativity, and passion for Hindi
films compelled him to return to India.
And now after a
long sabbatical, he is back as a filmmaker again, but with a difference, with
his favourite genre - a fast-paced suspense, murder thriller - titled Zora,
which is slated for release towards the end of this year.
"Yes, I am
back", says Rajiv with a smile, "I have finished shooting my new film
Zora and it's now in its final post-production stage which is also almost over.
The basic difference in this film is that this time around my film's cast doesn't
boast of any big names or stars. It features almost 40 new faces from all over
the northern Hindi belt and has been made on a shoestring budget! I have
challenged myself as a filmmaker to try to execute a film on a modest budget yet
make it my most interesting feature to date! Though the budget is low, I have
not compromised on storytelling or technical aspects! Furthermore, it is
not a musical like my previous films, since the script has no scope for songs. However, there’s one song by the one and only Viju Shah, and a full-bodied background score, without a seconds gap (he smiles again). I will
confess I have made this film keeping the masses in mind, especially the single
screen cinema type audiences, whom I consider are the core viewers of India.”
But why a small-budget film from a producer-director of his stature, whose films have always been known for having big stars, lavish sets, and at least 5 to 6 super hit songs?
"If you
carefully look back I have never worked with top stars of that particular era
(though they all became stars later)," says Rajiv, "All the stars
with whom I have worked, they were never in the league of a superstar like Amitabh Bachchan. But, of course, they were fairly successful and
well-known at that time. For example, before Tridev a few films of Sunny Deol
and Jacky Shroff were not top grossers at the box office, though I was very
aware they were heading towards superstardom. Nasiruddin Shah had rarely
worked in an out-and-out commercial cinema, but I realized recognition of his
immense talent was far overdue. When I signed Akshay Kumar and Sunil Shetty for
Mohra, they were rising stars. I had signed Bobby Deol for Gupt when his first
film Barsaat was yet in the making, but I had an intuition he would continue
his family legacy. I introduced stars like Sangeeta Bijlani & Divya
Bharti and discovered and created stars Sonam and Arjun Rampal, and many
more actors who later entered the big league. New talent has always attracted
me and I have never hesitated to work with newcomers who I feel have potential.
So making my next film with an entire new star cast is not only interesting but
very challenging for me. I have always made films keeping masses in my mind,
and it will be difficult for me to ignore them. No doubt OTT is here to stay,
and cinema is in grave danger.
Let me clarify that
Zora too is a pure commercial mass entertainer, yet written and executed
intelligently. Though it is made on a modest budget, I have not compromised on
my skill and its overall look. It is a rugged yet stylish and engrossing
film, and I suspect people will comment it has a Rajiv Rai stamp. I am very
happy with the outcome and the end result, and like every film maker just
keeping my fingers crossed. I hope as all directors do, that audiences like
ZORA. All films are labour of love, " Rajiv concludes.
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