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Rinku Gupta

Revathy Menon's Phir Milenge is releasing today. As a Bollywood film dealing with AIDS, the film has won accolades from UNAIDS.

Perhaps for the first time in Bollywood, a mainstream film has at the heart of its storyline a sensitive issue like AIDS. But according to actor-director Revathy Menon, there is nothing unusual about the theme of her film, Phir Milenge. "It's a simple love story that also talks about human relationships." But that has not stopped the accolades from pouring in. Says Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director — UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS), "When Bollywood, one of the world's largest film industries with massive audiences, produces a film about AIDS, everyone has to sit up and take notice." According to him, it is extremely significant that Bollywood is joining the struggle against the epidemic and helping to break the silence that surrounds HIV/AIDS. "We applaud the making of this film," he adds.

The film will hit theatres around the country today. What made Revathy choose such a serious issue for her film? "The producers, Percept Picture Company, wanted to do something in connection with AIDS, so we decided to make it a part of the film. According to statistics, by 2010 India will have the maximum number of HIV positive people, if AIDS continues to spread at the present rate," says Revathy. "It's very scary because more than 35 million people will be affected. Film is a very powerful medium, so we decided to address the issue," she adds.

However, she did not want to make a documentary. Nor did she want to restrict her movie to film festival screenings. "I wanted people to see it in theatres. So we decided to keep AIDS as a backdrop and created a love story with the same relationships, attitudes and other aspects that make a movie touch hearts," she explains.

Seated in the quiet environs of her office, `Telephoto Entertainment', she exudes happiness and a sense of achievement. Her first directorial venture, Mitr - My Friend, in English, was appreciated both at home and abroad. While Mitr created ripples for a bold subject and an all-women crew, Phir Milenge has grabbed attention for other reasons. First, Revathy managed to stage a casting coup of sorts with Salman Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and Shilpa Shetty playing the lead roles. The fact that Salman Khan plays an AIDS patient has also generated considerable interest. And the film happens to be Abhishek Bachchan's third film with a Chennai-based director this year. Shilpa Shetty plays an ad executive — a non-glamorous, serious and `different' role for her.

Ask Revathy about the star cast and she says, "I feel that the script is very good and the screenplay by Atul Sabharwal is excellent, which is exciting for the actors. It was Shilpa who was instrumental in getting Salman for us. She had apparently talked excitedly about her role in Phir Milenge to Salman. So when I called her on the sets of Garv, Salman came on the line and asked why I hadn't asked him to act in my film. So I did." Abhishek, according to her, is "perfect for the role. He too readily accepted when I asked him because he believed in the subject. Shilpa has the potential to perform very well and is more than a glamour figure."

Interestingly, Revathy's first directorial venture was in English while her second is in Hindi, even though she has mostly acted in South Indian films. "While the film has been produced by Percept, Sahara Manoranjan will present it; and Telephoto Entertainment has taken care of the executive production. This has given me a lot of creative independence. The producers came in at the beginning for discussions and have now seen the final product — they raised no issues during the making of the film," says the filmmaker, satisfied with the way things worked out during the 40-day schedule in Bangalore and Chennai.

Being a successful actor for so many years, how did she decide to venture into direction? Revathy has directed TV serials under the Telephoto Entertainment banner. "My husband Suresh Menon guided me a lot in the pre and post-production techniques, which an actress is usually not really involved with. I have also learnt a lot, over the years, from my directors and cameramen. But left to me, I would have taken a few more years and even worked as an assistant director before directing Mitr. But it was Suresh who pushed me into it, saying that I was ready for it. It might have been the hard way to learn, but it was good," she says.

Recollecting her experiences, she adds, "It was such a pleasure to work with my cast and technicians, and a joy to watch Mita Vasisht and Naseer, for instance. Music directors Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy had such trust in me. Prasoon Joshi took time off to write songs and Deepan Chaterjee, the sound recordist and national award winner, was a pleasure to work with."

Is there a woman's perspective in her work? "I think it's just an individual perspective. Some male directors are amazingly sensitive to women's emotions, while some women directors are able to bring out the different aspects of men. I think as opposite genders we absorb a lot of each other and see aspects each may not see in themselves," she says.

GenNext filmmakers are working with a range of themes. Has there been a shift in audience expectations? "Most audiences are looking for a good story. You have all kinds of films now because you have all kinds of audiences, and their needs for entertainment are different. Some want pure entertainment minus the reality of life. A labourer wants to see his heroine dancing in Switzerland — something he will never actually see in his lifetime. I love that part of films where you can bring a smile on a person's face. That's the most beautiful thing about cinema. But, at the same time, one must make people feel strongly as well," Revathy says.

So does she believe in imparting a social message through films? "I believe in films being a medium of entertainment. I wouldn't want to see a film saturated with messages! A subtle message should be there, available for anyone who wants to pick it up," she explains.

Revathy last acted in Vaanam Vasappadum, released earlier this year. Does she have any other projects in the pipeline? "Indian films do not have interesting roles for a 35-plus woman. There are no roles that interest me or challenge me as an actress. But I will wait. I am in no hurry." Have the awards for Mitr raised expectations from her next film too? "I want people to like my work. That's the best award I can get," she signs off.

Picture by Bijoy Ghosh

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