Abhishek and Aishwarya
Rai
06.01.2006
Director Mani Ratnam seldom
makes a comment on his films before their release. As for his much-awaited
bilingual movie 'Guru', which is releasing for Pongal, the director made
a departure and told English daily that the film was not based on the Ambani
family. "It is a plain rumor and the film is purely fictional and could
be based on anyone's life," he said.
Mani Ratnam was non-committal
when his attention was drawn to the opening track in 'Guru' which "clearly
says in Gujarati "Dhirubhai is coming". Asked if the film was shown to
the Ambanis, he smiled and said he was not aware whether they had seen
it.
About Abhishek, he said "though
Abhishek's role could not be termed one of a lifetime, he is playing an
out-of-the ordinary role spanning 30 years that showcases his immense talent
as a performer". "He (Abhishek) has grown tremendously as an actor and
he is carrying a film on his shoulders this time," Mani Ratnam said in
pride.
He was all praise for Aishwarya
Rai's "mature, substantial performance". He described as "excellent" the
"chemistry" between Abhishek and Aishwarya.
Lauding A.R. Rahman's music
in the film, he said, "Both of us are happy working with each other. Rahman
has always lived up to all my films." On cinematographer Rajiv Menon's
work in the film, the acclaimed film-maker said,"its not glossy story telling.
The cinematography is very real and captures the period in its true essence."
About the film itself, he
said he had attempted to make it within the commercial framework. "I would
like to connect to my audiences and I have made the film keeping that in
mind. It is logical, real and dramatic and made with the viewer in mind
and something really substantial."
The story is about a boy
who dreams of making it big and achieves his goal. Besides Abhishek and
Aishwarya Rai, the cast includes Madhavan, Mithun Chakraborthy and Vidya
Balan.
The first show of the film
(in Tamil) will be on January 11 at 6.30 p.m at Sathyam Cinemas in Chennai
to raise funds for the Shakthi Foundation, a Chennai-based non-governmental
organization working for the physically challenged rural poor.
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