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The J P Dutta Chat

Sreenivas (Wed Jun 18 1997 21:49 IST)

Border's music has been greeted with unanimous approval from all sides.I have one niggling objection however.The music pleasant and melodious as it is,is also too generic in a pan-North-Indian way rather than being ethnically rooted unlike say Batwara's music.Was this deliberate?

I cna understand that you have "Border" on your mind. Do you intend on answering any other questions other than Border ?

Mr Dutta, Do you think someone will be bold enough to make a Hindi movie without songs ? Will you consider something like this ? Or is that not commercially viable ? A moview without songs and a strong story will be a welcome change from the routine fare . I mention this because of late I have seen contrived situations purely to inject a song.

Ravi: Nothing definite in the pipeline Ravi, Border is a film I'm still watching closely as to its effect on audiences. It has taken up my entire energy mentally and physically. Let me burn out my experience of this film and then I will get on to the next .

What was the production cost of 'Border'?

Sreenivas: Music of Border deals with soldiers belonging to a particular regiment and that regiment was the 23 Punjab, thus the north Indian flavour in its music.

What has been the reaction from Pakistani audiences regarding this movie. When I went to see this movie in Washington there were no Pakistanis. Have the Indian newspapers reported on this? How about the Muslims in India. How did they react? I hope in a positive way as this was not a movie about religion.

Rakesh Rai: Dangerous to ask such questions on the Internet.

Why have you stopped using Laxmikant Pyarelal?

O.K not the production cost, the approximate budget?

Mr. Dutta, I have seen almost all your films and what i feel is that you have tried to pictureize Rajput lifestyle and their proudness in everyone of them. No other clan had more braveness and honesty, other that Rajputs, which is the main content of your films.

Anurag: Indian films do not release in Pakistan. We have no trade with them regarding films so no reaction will be known. My distributor in the Central province in India reports that his two theatres in a 90% Muslim populated area are going to full houses and he says that when the film ends he has witnessed Muslim women not getting up from their chairs even though the lights have come on for the simple reason he says " They are embarrassed because they are weeping uncontrollably." That is the human emotion one witnesses which breaks all religious barriers.

Rakesh Rai: Laxmikant Pyarelal are very successful music directors who gave me excellent music in all my films. But somehow the music was not happening with the public -- in the sense that it was not popular. So I felt the successful music directors were being dragged down by me, so let us give them a break.

LAST FIVE QUESTIONS

What is the film industry doing about illegal (pirated) videos polluting the world market today. In the U.S. we get horrible prints from Pakistan (with advertisements at the top and bottom of the screen) throughout the movie. I have written to the FBI here regarding this but they don't seem to care. What is our industry doing about this. I've written in Indian publications here appealing to the people and to the video stores NOT to rent/buy such copies. But the industry MUST take serious action. Any comments?

Is Border up to international standards e.g wining the Oscar.

Border's success might just encourage Amitabh to revive Bandhuaa(remember that doomed project?).Would you be willing to take it on if he did and what sort of character did you have in mind for Amitabh?

Anuraj: The fault lies with our very judiciary and the executive. Copyright is something which we Indians have never taken seriously. That is the reason why the West has kept away from us, in terms of investment till late. But now the country and the film industry is waking up to it. Steps are being taken towards strengthening the copyright act. Piracy will stop eventually, but give it time for these matters work at their own pace.

Sreenivas: Amitabh Bachchan was just an actor in Bandhua not the producer, so if at all it has to revive it will be the job of the producer. Chances of that are bleak for I am not inclined to direct films for other banners but my own JP films. The first film being Border, many hopefully and godwilling to follow.

Sir, thanks for taking the time to speak to us. It's much appreciated. We wish you much success and a Good Night to you.

I do hope Jhelum materialises.Would you be willing to divulge the actors you are considering for it?

Have a ball but don't forget your roots. Love JP Dutta.