Director Prem Kumar Reveals '96' Was Initially a Bollywood Script
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The acclaimed Tamil film '96', featuring Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha, was originally intended for Hindi cinema, as disclosed by director Prem Kumar. He shared insights at the Indian Screenwriters Conference about his journey and future projects in the Bollywood industry.
Key Takeaways
- ‘96’ was initially intended for Bollywood.
- Director Prem Kumar aimed to pitch it to Abhishek Bachchan.
- Inspiration drawn from diverse Hindi audiences.
- Discussion on writers' recognition in the South Indian film industry.
- Challenges faced by female leads in Kerala's cinema.
Chennai, Feb 17 (NationPress) The Tamil blockbuster film, ‘96’, recognized as a cult classic featuring Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha in the lead roles, was initially crafted for Bollywood, as revealed by its director Prem Kumar.
Prem Kumar shared this revelation during the seventh edition of the Indian Screenwriters Conference (ISC) organized by the Screenwriters Association of India (SWA).
The 2018 sensation depicted the reunion of former students from the graduating class of 1996, occurring two decades after their commencement.
He mentioned, “‘96’ was originally conceived for Hindi cinema, and I aimed to pitch it to Abhishek Bachchan, but I lacked the connections!”
Kumar, during a discussion with film critic Suchin Mehrotra, elaborated on why ‘96’ naturally lent itself to the Bollywood genre and added that he has completed a new script intended for Hindi cinema.
“I am fluent in Hindi, and my father was raised in North India. This exposure allowed me to engage with Hindi films throughout my childhood. My favorite actor was Naseeruddin Shah. I have now authored a Hindi script. The primary reason for my fascination with Hindi cinema is the audience's diversity rather than the scale,” he stated.
Kumar, who directed last year’s critically acclaimed drama ‘Meiyazhagan’, spoke in a session titled ‘The South Saga - Rooted, Relevant, and Revolutionary’. He was accompanied by filmmakers Christo Tomy (‘Ullozhukku’), Hemanth M Rao (‘Sapta Sagaradaache Ello - Side A & Side B’), and Vivek Athreya (‘Saripodha Sanivaaram’).
Tomy, known for his gripping thriller-drama ‘Ullozhukku’, produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Honey Trehan, and Abhishek Chaubey, discussed his eight-year struggle to create a film with a female protagonist.
“I doubt I would have secured this budget had I worked with producers from Kerala. In Kerala, pursuing a project with a female lead poses significant challenges, as the industry predominantly favors male stars. Nonetheless, in other areas like directing or writing, numerous female talents are emerging, and the atmosphere is becoming increasingly favorable,” Tomy noted.
Hemanth M Rao pointed out a “major issue” in the Kannada film industry, highlighting that writers are often undervalued.
“They are perceived as an afterthought or merely as tools. The South is striving to improve the treatment of writers compared to that in Mumbai. In the Kannada film sector, we lack a platform to register our scripts, making SWA a pan-Indian necessity for us,” he added.
Athreya echoed Rao’s sentiment, stating that many writers have transitioned into directing because “they do not receive proper recognition or compensation.”
“This situation is unjust, yet it persists, compelling them to pursue direction even if they lack genuine interest in it,” the filmmaker concluded.
