'Bodyguard' has already been made in Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi languages and is now being made in Telugu, Kannada and even Bengali.
Bodyguard - one film, six languages. Writer Siddique who has directed the film in three languages - Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi says the reason is the story's universal appeal. Irrespective of the language, Indian emotion remain the same says the popular South filmmaker who makes his Hindi film debut with the Salman Khan starrer. While the film is already minting money, Siddique reveals its success mantra in an exclusive conversation with Gaurav Malani .
Many of your Malayalam films have already been remade in Hindi from ' Hera Pheri ' to ' Hulchul '. Didn't you ever think of making a Hindi film before?
I was getting several offers from Bollywood but I never accepted them because I was comfortable making Malayalam and Tamil films. But then I realized one day, why am I not doing Hindi films?
So how did your Hindi directorial debut happen?
I have a friend in Mumbai called Nirupa who always insisted that with the kind of films I make, I should be directing a Bollywood film. When I was making Bodyguard in Malayalam, I thought this is an ideal film for Bollywood and especially with Salman Khan in the title role. I promised myself that if I get Salman Khan for the role, I will direct it in Hindi.
Fortunately Nirupa is a good friend of Salman Khan's sister Alvira. She got Atul Agnihotri and Alvira to come from Mumbai and watch the original film and they loved it. Salman came the same day to watch the film and immediately after the screening he said, I am doing the film. That is Salman Khan - once he likes something, he doesn't need any more discussion. It was literally what you call a 'dream-come-true' moment.
How comfortable were you making a Hindi film?
I cannot read or write Hindi but I can manage to speak in Hindi. Directors in South take classes for the language but I never had to get into that. Also though the dialogues of Bodyguard are translated in Hindi, the content of the dialogue is mine.
Do you find any difference in the working styles of the Hindi and South film industry?
While the basic functioning is same, there is one major difference here. In South we start our shoot sharp at 7 am. That never happens in Bollywood. We always start late here.
So is Bollywood comparatively less professional?
Not really (laughs). Once the stars reach sets, they work very hard and ensure that they finish the scene before leaving, no matter what.
Bodyguard has already been made in Malayalam and Tamil....
Not just that... now the film is being remade by other directors in Telugu, Kannada and even Bengali language. The story has a universal appeal. That's the beauty of our country - irrespective of the language; the Indian emotion remains the same.
But doesn't it get monotonous to direct the same story repeatedly?
It is actually boring to direct the same story again and again. But my thrill comes from bringing some difference and freshness each time. Once you are able to achieve that, you forget the monotony.
So how different have you made the Hindi version from the original?
The content is the same but the way of telling the story is different. The major difference is the characterization of the hero. In Malayalam and Tamil versions, the hero was a college dropout who becomes a bodyguard. In Hindi version he is a professional bodyguard. Other than that, in Malayalam the treatment was more comical, in Tamil it was more romantic but in Hindi we have tried to tap the macho side of Salman Khan.
Is Salman Khan better than Vijay and Dileep in the earlier versions?
Salman can't do what Vijay has done in Kaavalan and vice versa. Also, what Vijay has done in Tamil will not suit Salman in Hindi or Dileep in Malayalam versions. Likewise, what Salman has done in Hindi will not suit Vijay in Tamil or Dileep in Malayalam versions.
Is Kareena better than Asin and Nayanthara in the earlier versions?
In terms of the female lead, they are three very different personalities with different style of acting. Since Kareena had already seen the Malayalam and Tamil versions, it was a challenge for her to portray the same character in a different way. She comes from an acting background where she doesn't need any rehearsals. If you see all the three films, you can definitely understand the difference between them.
Has the Hindi film turned out to be the best amongst the three?
Certainly the Hindi version has a bigger budget and larger canvas so it is a visual feast. But the Malayalam film has its own beauty and so does the Tamil. So there cannot be any comparisons as such.
What next? More Hindi films or South cinema?
I have commitments in Malayalam and Tamil cinema. But if I get a good offer in Hindi, I shall surely consider it.
Bodyguard - one film, six languages. Writer Siddique who has directed the film in three languages - Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi says the reason is the story's universal appeal. Irrespective of the language, Indian emotion remain the same says the popular South filmmaker who makes his Hindi film debut with the Salman Khan starrer. While the film is already minting money, Siddique reveals its success mantra in an exclusive conversation with Gaurav Malani .
Many of your Malayalam films have already been remade in Hindi from ' Hera Pheri ' to ' Hulchul '. Didn't you ever think of making a Hindi film before?
I was getting several offers from Bollywood but I never accepted them because I was comfortable making Malayalam and Tamil films. But then I realized one day, why am I not doing Hindi films?
So how did your Hindi directorial debut happen?
I have a friend in Mumbai called Nirupa who always insisted that with the kind of films I make, I should be directing a Bollywood film. When I was making Bodyguard in Malayalam, I thought this is an ideal film for Bollywood and especially with Salman Khan in the title role. I promised myself that if I get Salman Khan for the role, I will direct it in Hindi.
Fortunately Nirupa is a good friend of Salman Khan's sister Alvira. She got Atul Agnihotri and Alvira to come from Mumbai and watch the original film and they loved it. Salman came the same day to watch the film and immediately after the screening he said, I am doing the film. That is Salman Khan - once he likes something, he doesn't need any more discussion. It was literally what you call a 'dream-come-true' moment.
How comfortable were you making a Hindi film?
I cannot read or write Hindi but I can manage to speak in Hindi. Directors in South take classes for the language but I never had to get into that. Also though the dialogues of Bodyguard are translated in Hindi, the content of the dialogue is mine.
Do you find any difference in the working styles of the Hindi and South film industry?
While the basic functioning is same, there is one major difference here. In South we start our shoot sharp at 7 am. That never happens in Bollywood. We always start late here.
So is Bollywood comparatively less professional?
Not really (laughs). Once the stars reach sets, they work very hard and ensure that they finish the scene before leaving, no matter what.
Bodyguard has already been made in Malayalam and Tamil....
Not just that... now the film is being remade by other directors in Telugu, Kannada and even Bengali language. The story has a universal appeal. That's the beauty of our country - irrespective of the language; the Indian emotion remains the same.
But doesn't it get monotonous to direct the same story repeatedly?
It is actually boring to direct the same story again and again. But my thrill comes from bringing some difference and freshness each time. Once you are able to achieve that, you forget the monotony.
So how different have you made the Hindi version from the original?
The content is the same but the way of telling the story is different. The major difference is the characterization of the hero. In Malayalam and Tamil versions, the hero was a college dropout who becomes a bodyguard. In Hindi version he is a professional bodyguard. Other than that, in Malayalam the treatment was more comical, in Tamil it was more romantic but in Hindi we have tried to tap the macho side of Salman Khan.
Is Salman Khan better than Vijay and Dileep in the earlier versions?
Salman can't do what Vijay has done in Kaavalan and vice versa. Also, what Vijay has done in Tamil will not suit Salman in Hindi or Dileep in Malayalam versions. Likewise, what Salman has done in Hindi will not suit Vijay in Tamil or Dileep in Malayalam versions.
Is Kareena better than Asin and Nayanthara in the earlier versions?
In terms of the female lead, they are three very different personalities with different style of acting. Since Kareena had already seen the Malayalam and Tamil versions, it was a challenge for her to portray the same character in a different way. She comes from an acting background where she doesn't need any rehearsals. If you see all the three films, you can definitely understand the difference between them.
Has the Hindi film turned out to be the best amongst the three?
Certainly the Hindi version has a bigger budget and larger canvas so it is a visual feast. But the Malayalam film has its own beauty and so does the Tamil. So there cannot be any comparisons as such.
What next? More Hindi films or South cinema?
I have commitments in Malayalam and Tamil cinema. But if I get a good offer in Hindi, I shall surely consider it.
