Everything You Wanted To Know About Drona!
Jaydeep Sarkar
The person whose extempore poetry-cum-inspirational lines in Samar Khan's SHAURYA, mouthed by King Khan, were noticed and appreciated by one and all is back but in a totally different capacity. Yes, we are talking about Jaydeep Sarkar, the screenplay and dialogue writer of Goldie Behl's upcoming DRONA. Since there is a lot of curiosity about what exactly the Abhishek-Priyanka starrer is all about, we bring it to you from one of the core members of the DRONA team, Jaydeep himself!
So Jaydeep, we sit down to talk again! Let us first know your thoughts about the music of DRONA, since the audio release is going to happen pretty soon.
The music of DRONA has been done by Dhruv Ghanekar with lyrics by Vaibhav Modi. Even when we were writing, Dhruv had created some very inspirational themes, which actually helped in developing the characters of DRONA and subsequently these themes were transformed into full fledged songs.
You are going to hear some very different sounds in DRONA. International sounds with an Indian soul. There is this wonderful 'Lori' picturised on Jaya Bachchan, I feel one of the best of recent times. And the way Goldie has used it and shot it in the film, to bring Jaya Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan on screen together for the first time as mother and son is simply tremendous. It goes something like - ''Nanhe nanhe taron jaise naina''. Then the lovely romantic number ''Bandagi''. The title track is already creating waves and Dhruv has sung it himself.
Since you have written the screenplay along with Goldie and Rohini Killough, please tell us how did the idea of DRONA come about in the first place?
Goldie was one of the first persons I came to know from the film industry. One fine day, I got a call from him. Initially, I was to do only the dialogues. But when I read the screenplay draft, I was so excited... that my mind went on an overdrive. I remember, I went to meet him after reading the script and I spoke non-stop about where each scene could go... what all could happen. Goldie heard me out very patiently. I finished and I thought he's going to say, ''Ya... but what about the dialogues?'' Instead, he thought for a moment and said... ''Hey... Let's reinvent.'' And that's how the fantasy joy ride came to be!
From our very first conversations I can sense that you are very confident of the way Goldie has handled DRONA. Any reasons for that?
Right from the first day Goldie said ''Just write what you feel is correct. Don't think about how it will be made''. Believe me it can be the biggest inspiration for a writer! He has pushed every one including himself to the highest level of creativity. You know throughout the shoot, be it in India or Prague or Namibia, he made sure that I was around on the sets, just to make sure that if any change was to be incorporated it should be done on the spot. If anything can make the film better, he has always gone full throttle to achieve that result, be it in scripting or production or post production. That kind of commitment! Somewhere you stop and say, ''Hey, now that's the way to make a movie!''
I am quite sure you must have watched portions of the edited version of DRONA. What is your spontaneous reaction?
I have. I have been on this fabulous DRONA joyride from the beginning to now, as the finalized VFX shots are coming in every day. You won�t believe it but when Goldie showed me a portion of his edited version, I was like ''What next, what next?'' And I have written the film. Just imagine! It is such an amazing feeling, when you see your words translate on screen in such a fabulous manner, that it even takes you by surprise. One of those feelings that I can't explain.
Since you are around, let us hear from you about what DRONA is all about. A section of the media says it's a superhero film, another goes on to talk about it being VFX laden.
What is VFX laden? VFX is used to communicate an image... but the image comes in the context of a story. VFX is just a part of a movie that helps tell a story. And in DRONA, the VFX has been used only and only to tell a story and not to show off computer graphics and effects. We definitely have cutting edge VFX from the best international team. But just because of that, it�s not a superhero film. It is a fantasy action adventure. There is no super act but gripping stunts. DRONA is the name of a warrior, a warrior who is entrusted with the task of protecting the planet and mankind.
In a nutshell what is DRONA all about?
The genesis of DRONA is in an Indian myth, but the film is set in contemporary times. It starts in a time and place somewhere around us, where you see glimpses of magic... and before you know it, you and the characters are on a fantasy joyride. And fantasies are not bound by calendars... So, yes... It's a contemporary fantasy adventure film.
To conclude the first part of our talks, tell us your inspiration for the film and also the USP of DRONA.
I have been highly inspired by the fantasy literature of the genius Bengali writer Sukumar Ray, who also happens to be Satyajit Ray's father. In fact Ray even made two films on his father's works. So ya... My biggest inspiration has been that.
The USP of DRONA is that it's a universal story, which is Indian in soul. I mean, now... in the 21st century the west is wakening to such fantasy and magic/sorcery themes (HARRY POTTER etc.), while we have in our culture for centuries. In fact, it is in our blood. Our epics to our comics... we have grown up on magical stories... And here we are... with a magical tale told with the grammar of contemporary storytelling. DRONA will take you back to when you believed nothing is impossible!
Ok Jaydeep, it was great talking to you and let's sit down again to know about the characters of DRONA .
Yeah definitely. That should be great fun!
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