Oscar-winning filmmaker Danis Tanovic is in town for the postproduction of his upcoming film, the Emraan Hashmi-starrer 'Tigers', which will have it world premiere on September 8 at the Toronto Film Festival. Along with him is the co-producer and the film's co-writer, Andy Paterson. Together they talk about the film that intends to blow the lid on a baby food scam. Excerpts:
Have you seen Emraan Hashmi's latest release, Raja Natwarlal?
Danis Tonovic: Yes, it's an entertaining film. But Emraan is very different in Tigers. That proves what a good actor he is.
What made you think he'd be able to carry off Ayan, a salesman recruited by a multinational company to sell infant formula food, who switches sides after learning a few ugly truths?
Danis: Anurag (Kashyap) recommended Emraan to me. I saw a couple of his films and was especially impressed by his performance in which he has a paunch (Shanghai). I flew all the way to met him. He's a nice, good looking guy who could be himself in my film. In Bollywood he carries the baggage of an image. I don't see people dancing on the road here or even kissing... so I wonder why they are expected to do it in the movies.
Emraan's son is also called Ayan...
Andy Paterson: It wasn't a conscious decision to name Emraan's character after his son, Ayan.
Danis: You could call it a happy coincidence, even destiny. Ayan is my David who takes on a big buck Goliath--a rich corpo rate that doesn't really need this blood money to fill its coffers. According to WHO statistics, 1.5 million infants die each year from unsafe food. If there's anything more frightening than confronting your own death it's confronting the death of your child.
Andy: We learnt these harsh truths from a report of an action group. We'd thought these horror stories from our student days had ended in the '70s but discovered otherwise when in Pakistan seven years ago.
How did Danis enter the picture?
Andy: I knew him socially and I'd see him become a phenomenon after winning the Oscar, the Golden Globe and the other awards for No Man's Land. He's a serious director and a father of five. The story made him angry. Danis: I'm still angry. I hope through our film we can whip up public opinion and bring about change.
Andy: We started shooting Tigers during the Berlin Film Festival. Danis filmed the whole day, at 8 pm changed into a black tie, collected two awards for An Episode In The Life Of An Iron Picker and then went back to work as if nothing out-of-the-ordinary had happened.
You think Tigers has a chance at the Oscars if the corporates give it a clear run given its controversial subject?
Danis: The idea is to take the story to as many people as possible.
You are one of the co-producers of The Lunchbox which was a strong contender for the Oscar last year till our jury nominated The Good Road as India's official entry.
Danis: Even if it hadn't won, it would've been nominated. It's still playing and has touched a chord with people across the world, even those who doesn't know the language.
Andy: Yes, I saw it with Hindi subtitles.
Danis: In France, Japan, the US, everywhere people were talking about it. That's doesn't happen with Indian movies often. I have been shortlisted for nine films. I would have happily given up my place to The Lunchbox.
Will you co-produce another Indian film?
Danis: It would depend on the story. Tigers is a very commercial title...
Andy: When Ayan joins the company he's told to work like a tiger. He ends up fighting like one. It was the working title. For a while we toyed with White Lies but decided to stay with Tigers.
Since the story came out of Pakistan, didn't you think of filming it there?
Danis: India is more shooting-friendly. India and Pakistan were once one country but today they are two different worlds. I've only visited Lahore and that too seven years ago. A lot changes in seven years. India has changed astonishingly in the last decade. Economy is booming. And new generation of young directors are making an impact.
Andy: He's named one of his daughters India!
Has Bosnia changed too?
Danis: It's no longer no man's land. But the population of the country is still less than the number of people you see on Juhu beach.
Besides Emraan, any other Bollywood actors you'd like to work with?
Danis: I saw Shah Rukh Khan dancing at an event, he was entertaining. I've known Aishwarya (Bachchan) for years. She's gor geous and witty but I couldn't approach her to play Emraan's wife in a little village, could I? For that matter I'd kill to work with Al Pacino, but I need a script to go to him with.
Have you seen Emraan Hashmi's latest release, Raja Natwarlal?
Danis Tonovic: Yes, it's an entertaining film. But Emraan is very different in Tigers. That proves what a good actor he is.
What made you think he'd be able to carry off Ayan, a salesman recruited by a multinational company to sell infant formula food, who switches sides after learning a few ugly truths?
Danis: Anurag (Kashyap) recommended Emraan to me. I saw a couple of his films and was especially impressed by his performance in which he has a paunch (Shanghai). I flew all the way to met him. He's a nice, good looking guy who could be himself in my film. In Bollywood he carries the baggage of an image. I don't see people dancing on the road here or even kissing... so I wonder why they are expected to do it in the movies.
Emraan's son is also called Ayan...
Andy Paterson: It wasn't a conscious decision to name Emraan's character after his son, Ayan.
Danis: You could call it a happy coincidence, even destiny. Ayan is my David who takes on a big buck Goliath--a rich corpo rate that doesn't really need this blood money to fill its coffers. According to WHO statistics, 1.5 million infants die each year from unsafe food. If there's anything more frightening than confronting your own death it's confronting the death of your child.
Andy: We learnt these harsh truths from a report of an action group. We'd thought these horror stories from our student days had ended in the '70s but discovered otherwise when in Pakistan seven years ago.
How did Danis enter the picture?
Andy: I knew him socially and I'd see him become a phenomenon after winning the Oscar, the Golden Globe and the other awards for No Man's Land. He's a serious director and a father of five. The story made him angry. Danis: I'm still angry. I hope through our film we can whip up public opinion and bring about change.
Andy: We started shooting Tigers during the Berlin Film Festival. Danis filmed the whole day, at 8 pm changed into a black tie, collected two awards for An Episode In The Life Of An Iron Picker and then went back to work as if nothing out-of-the-ordinary had happened.
You think Tigers has a chance at the Oscars if the corporates give it a clear run given its controversial subject?
Danis: The idea is to take the story to as many people as possible.
You are one of the co-producers of The Lunchbox which was a strong contender for the Oscar last year till our jury nominated The Good Road as India's official entry.
Danis: Even if it hadn't won, it would've been nominated. It's still playing and has touched a chord with people across the world, even those who doesn't know the language.
Andy: Yes, I saw it with Hindi subtitles.
Danis: In France, Japan, the US, everywhere people were talking about it. That's doesn't happen with Indian movies often. I have been shortlisted for nine films. I would have happily given up my place to The Lunchbox.
Will you co-produce another Indian film?
Danis: It would depend on the story. Tigers is a very commercial title...
Andy: When Ayan joins the company he's told to work like a tiger. He ends up fighting like one. It was the working title. For a while we toyed with White Lies but decided to stay with Tigers.
Since the story came out of Pakistan, didn't you think of filming it there?
Danis: India is more shooting-friendly. India and Pakistan were once one country but today they are two different worlds. I've only visited Lahore and that too seven years ago. A lot changes in seven years. India has changed astonishingly in the last decade. Economy is booming. And new generation of young directors are making an impact.
Andy: He's named one of his daughters India!
Has Bosnia changed too?
Danis: It's no longer no man's land. But the population of the country is still less than the number of people you see on Juhu beach.
Besides Emraan, any other Bollywood actors you'd like to work with?
Danis: I saw Shah Rukh Khan dancing at an event, he was entertaining. I've known Aishwarya (Bachchan) for years. She's gor geous and witty but I couldn't approach her to play Emraan's wife in a little village, could I? For that matter I'd kill to work with Al Pacino, but I need a script to go to him with.
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