Words matter. These are the best Sriram Raghavan Quotes, and they’re great for sharing with your friends.
As a filmmaker, I tilt towards stories which are crime-led.
I have never had the problem of finding a producer for my films. I think I am just lucky because my first film didn’t do great box office business.
Badlapur’ is a drama, a character-driven story. It is not so much about plot.
Ever since my first film, I had more producers than scripts. And I’ve realised that a certain project requires a certain kind of producer for it to be made well.
I’ve met Shah Rukh a couple of times. He had even dropped by on the sets of ‘Agent Vinod’.
Raman Raghav’ was shot on location, but there are many stylistic things in it. I like this mixture of documentary and extreme stylization.
When I started watching movies, I saw a lot of Hitchcock films. When I was 10, I saw ‘North by Northwest’ and movies like that.
With ‘Badlapur’, I wasn’t even thinking about casting. I was wondering whether any producer will want to make a film with a story like this. It is not your expected, feel-good, or even your regular thriller.
My women characters should not exist only to play the ‘love interest’ of a male character.
What you see in my script may not be what’s in the film. Sometimes it’s a very scary thing, when I have to shoot in the morning and the scene’s not good enough, and it’s only me there, and there’s no signal to even call the others and say, think of a better line.
Often I would get offers to remake films and that didn’t interest me. I have no interest in remaking a film in Hindi which has been made in the south already. I prefer adapting from a book than a movie.
Some of our best writers are self taught. Screenwriting is a combo of craft and art. The craft part can be taught, about how to be visual and economical with scenes. However, finally it’s the individuality of the writer that will come into play.
People don’t know what filmmaking is even after they have made ten films.
People often get caught in situations or do something that they regret for the rest of their lives. What happens and how you try to cover up is the story. These are not career criminals.
When I finish my first draft I usually narrate it to some trusted friends who can give me feedback. All criticism is welcome.
My idea is to write a story where every character is well etched out, irrespective of their gender. Because they all are human beings and stories are on the situation and human mind.
Shoot The Piano Player’ is one of my favourite films, though apparently it failed very badly when it released.
I am partial to thrillers but if somebody gives me a script like ‘King’s Speech’ to do, I would love to do it too.
Badlapur’ has got an excellent soundtrack even though it wasn’t planned at all in the beginning.
Only three or four thrillers are made in Hindi cinema in a year. There is a fascination for crime genre but producers think thrillers don’t have that much of a market or will not get picked up for satellite rights.
My working style is democratic and I want people to be honest with me. Reputation makes everyone agree with your point, which is dangerous for any filmmaker.
If I work with Shah Rukh, it will be as an actor, not a star. Whenever I have thought of making a film with some star in mind, I’ve abandoned the film in a few weeks.
The experience of an actual film from idea to screen will teach me more than most books and lectures.
As a filmmaker, I want to bring some value, some thought in the mind of my audience. When I embark on the journey of storytelling, I am an explorer.
For me, ‘Badlapur’ is a terrifically emotional film.
