Friday, June 11, 2004
 
 Karan Razdan, the scriptwriter turned filmmaker is basking in the notoriety and growing reputation as a maker of sleaze films. After HAWAS and his soon to release GIRLFRIEND have given him the repute of being a shocker.

His first directorial venture was not HAWAS but ROSHNI, which got held up due to hitches in the production arena. The producers of the film are eager to release it but with a new title, RAKHAIL: THE MISTRESS. Today distributors are aware that a Karan Razdan film is capable of quick recovery so they don't think twice before picking up his film.

 
But Karan was very annoyed with the perverse sensationalism by changing the title of the film. He believes that the title is not justified for the storyline of the film. He was very frustrated by the producers' decision to re-christen to release the film. That's why he has moved on from HAWAS to GIRLFRIEND and now he is planning another film titled, EIGHT. He explains that it is his frantic effort to find himself.

EIGHT is about the powers of shani (Saturn). The audience may well be aware that there is no titillation in this film. But how can Razdan stay far from some controversy. There's a scene of complete nudity with the hero and heroine chanting in the forest to evoke a spirit. Razdan says that the nudity, of course would only be suggested. EIGHT is a spiritual film concerning the link between the living and the dead.

The film stars Meghna Naidu, who was also the heroine of Razdan's previous film, HAWAS, along with Raj Tara who is a debutant model. The film also introduces thespian Raaj Kumar's daughter Vastavikta. And Padmini Kolhapure makes a comeback with EIGHT. Karan is dedicating EIGHT to his late wife, Priya Tendulkar.

 He is proud of his second release GIRLFRIEND since he thinks it carries a polished look unlike his previous release, HAWAS. Karan is of the opinion that HAWAS didn't have the polishe look because the producers couldn't back his vision any more than they did. But he admits that everyone made money on HAWAS. It did a business of Rs. 6-7 million in Delhi alone. The budget of GIRLFRIEND was much higher than it was the case with HAWAS.

HAWAS was released a week before the hit MURDER and both were sourced to Adrian Lyne's UNFAITHFUL. He admits that his film was inspired from the Hollywood hit. But he confesses that he was totally down and out and he did not have much choice when he was offered the film to direct. But today it is because of HAWAS that he has many producers at his doorstep asking him to direct their films for them.

But GIRLFRIEND is completely original. It bears no resemblance to any film from any language. In fact the film is said to be inspired from the lives of two girls within the film industry. As a scriptwriter he has never indulged in plagiarised stories. Whether it was DUSHMANI, DILWALE or DILJALE, they were all his. GIRLFRIEND, too like them is also completely his baby.

Razdan is all geared up for the release of GIRLFRIEND on June 11. He states that GIRLFRIEND has tremendous titillation value. The film revolves around a closet lesbian played by Isha Koppikar. So to that extent it would raise eyebrows. But the film, he discloses, is not so much about lesbianism as a drama in the truest cinematic sense. There is not so much as a star in the film, but he believes that a film doesn't depend solely on star power.

Razdan is resolute to change his image of a sleaze filmmaker. He discloses that GIRLFRIEND hardly has any bare skin or kissing scenes but it will shock the audiences. Only time will tell. Let's wait and watch.

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