By Joginder Tuteja, IndiaFM
A day before Iqbal released all over the country, a special screening was held at PVR Plaza, New Delhi. Joginder Tuteja takes you through the extracts from the press conference that followed soon after the movie's screening was over.
On his movie Iqbal
Iqbal is the story of a guy who doesn't have anything going in his favour. He is physically handicapped, comes from a poor family, isn't supported by his father and is also troubled by the politics involved in cricket. How he overcomes all these barriers and still come up trumps forms the story of Iqbal.
On the journey of Mukta Arts from producing offbeat movies like Rahul , Joggers Park and now Iqbal
It's indeed a satisfying journey. Nagesh has done a wonderful job and we have been getting appreciation from all who have watched the movie.
On the response he expects from Delhi
When you have a premiere before the launch of the movie in front of audience, its one of the most exciting moment for every filmmaker. But he is also very interested to see how people respond to the movie. We have been getting a lot of compliments from very meaningful people like MF Hussain and Kapilji. Now we are waiting for the final outcome when the movie hits the screen countrywide.
On Iqbal being an honest movie
We wanted to have a movie sans anything out of the ordinary. The requirement was to make a realistic movie which talks about the spirit of a young man.
On getting into production full stream and having outside directors direct some films
'Pehle aadmi student hota hai, fir woh teacher banta hai [First a man is a student and then becomes a teacher]'. The education gained in the life needs to be imparted to others as well. After 25-28 years in the industry, it's my duty to give whatever knowledge I have earned to my children in the film industry. I will continue to make films but I also have given a platform for directors to make different kind of films.
On the wait for a decade to see next Dr. Dang coming in
Dr. Dang is always there. Even in Iqbal Dr. Dang is there. You can see the rival coach [Girish Karnad] as Dr. Dang. There is no movie without a villain. Dr. Dang can be destiny, Dr. Dang can be mafia, Dr. Dang can be a bad guy or a zamindaar.
On the kind of films that audience wants to see today
Films are changing. People want good cinema, better cinema. You can't have sketchy-sketchy films with anything fictitious. People want good entertainment and that's the reason why we decided to make Iqbal.
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