'Amrita is just what I wanted'

Shyam Benegal, the doyen of Indian cinema is now making a rib-tickling comedy, deviating from his life-like depictions. He talks to NTabout young actors and experimentation

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Elated (TOI Photo)No wonder, his plan to make a comedy with commercial actors like Amrita Rao comes as a surprise to many of his fansThe man who's known to be a genius , has always addressed his viewers in a strict cinematic language , bereft of commercial skills. Whether it was Ankur, Manthan, Bhumika , Mandi or Kalyug, Shyam Benegal has carved his own creative route, dwelling on the quintessential essence and depth of narration, rather than superfluous razzmatazz.No wonder, his plan to make a comedy with commercial actors like Amrita Rao comes as a surprise to many of his fans. NT catches up with the distinguished filmmaker .
You are making Mahadev , an out and out comedy -- now that's a genre you are experimenting with for the first time. Any specific reason behind it?
That's not true. My second film Charandas Chor was a comedy. It was a children's film, which was basically a comic farce. Mandi again was a dark comedy. But yes, Mahadev will be pure comedy, with certain dark shades to it. It is set in a rural backdrop, where the literacy level of the people is low. But my characters are not buffoons.
From actors like Smita Patil and Shabana Azmi to Amrita Rao, has Shyam Benegal mellowed at 72?

Mellowed? In what sense? Amrita is a very talented actress. She is just the kind of vill a g e girl that I wanted for my film. If Smita and Shabana were perceived as great actors , I am sure so will Amrita be, after acting in this film.
Does it depress you sometimes that there are not many young actors today of the caliber of the ones that you are used to working with?
That's not true at all! There are so many young actors out there, who have great potential. Unfortunately they are heading towards television. The trouble with cinema is that it is too star-centric . New people hardly get an opportunity to showcase their talent in meaty roles.

Would we ever see you working with a Shah Rukh, Hrithik or Abhishek?
That's possible. But it all depends on-- whether their perceptions and mine meet. It's a myth that big stars would do anything to be in a Shyam Benegal film. It's a very complex world out there. There are so many things involved.
Tell us about the epic musical that you are making. After all, that's another surprise for your fansâ€¦
That will take some time. I received a setback, with the producer withdrawing from the project at the last minute. So right now it's on the back burner, but I haven't dropped the project.
It's a little-known fact that you had made over 900 ads before foraying into films. Will we get to see you experimenting with some new-age ads?
I am basically from the Jurassic period . I made those ads at least 40 years back. We had less technical abilities, everything was done manually and most importantly there was very little money involved. Today all that has changed. It's a hi-tech world out there but that is not to say that we don't have great, young ad makers over there. But it's not my scene anymore.

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