Shankar the great commercial director of visual grandeur and special effects overuse , vigilante vengeance and star power driven magnum opus was coaching his assistant directors to make I.
" Shankar padam na yenna theriyumaaa" ( Do you know what makes a Shankar movie?)
" Not exactly sir, please enlighten us"
See Shankar movies follow a template made of 3 parts.
1. Take a simple core story like poor boy meets rich girl or somebody seeking to change societal or criminal evils but becoming a victim . These are timeless stories,
2. Stretch it to a different realm of possibility or what I call the stretch scenario. Example in Kadalan its poor boy meets rich girl but rich girl is daughter of a CM who is plotting attacks. That allows the movie to have a track that can be grandiose so that I can show off special effects, so I can make a thriller cum love story. This additional track also gives me to comment on recent politics etc. In the stretch use a clever line or twist - example ' Taking bribes is not the only crime , but giving bribes is also a crime (Indian) . ' What if a CM asks a reporter if you think it is so easy , become a CM and show' and he shows (Mudhalvan). When I made Mudhalvan there was no Arnab Goswami you see, it might now happen really in his show.
"Sir can you explain pt 2 more. Are you saying you are making multi-layer movies with multiple story tracks... "
The movie will have the core story. I will strengthen the core by having sufficient emotions and also enough comedy to keep audiences happy. This is like any other Tamil movie to engage the audience and create connect. The core story is the driver. But how you drive it makes all the difference.Let me give you examples.
Gentleman - Basic story - young hard working family fails to get admission in college due to reservation rules for their sons. One son commits suicide. At the core you have to feel for this family. Movie wont work without that. Yes he has to take revenge , But the revenge aspect has to be spectacular. So this guy's idea of revenge is to loot the govt treasury( with spectacular motorcycle stunts of course) and build a free college and he doesnt get caught.
As my movies progressed, in Indian the same core had to be given historical context and justification, and the revenge started having a social hero effect and the Indian Tatha becomes a vigilante hero. Anniyan used even call center and web services for that additional hero effect.
3. You have to justify the stretch scenario in multiple ways, so that the stretch even if it has only 1% probability in real life looks to have 50%+ probability. This is why I use ancient texts that nobody knows ( Garudapuran in Anniyan or Varmam martial arts in Indian ) to improve the power of the hero. Or I use modern technology innovations or medical history that not many have heard. If I get nothing, I will use stunning special effects so instead of showing normal fights I will show karate matrix fight style. I will blow up as much as money as possible so that the audience doesnt think of the probability of it happening.
Thank you sir this is very enlightening, can we now work on your movie I.
Shankar - Yes. So make it this way.
Basic story - Poor bodybuilder ( Vikram as Lingesan) dreams of becoming Mr. India toils hard in local gyms. Very realistic portrayal of local gyms and sweaty bodybuilders. Shankar doesnt portray the GNC whey protein eating Gold gym goers, he chooses to use local fellow who speaks Chennai Koovum Tamil so that he can show the rich-poor divide (basics pls). People should feel for this character very harmless Chennai youth only focused on body building. Have a comedy track with Santhanam( overbearing and almost irritating at the end) and Power Star ( Hilarious as Chitti 2)
He achieves stardom since he comes in association with a model he is infatuated about ( Amy Jackson in a believable appearance). Model uses him as a prop to dislodge her co-star ( although it doesnt make any sense in the ad world). In Shankars ad world - people sign on brand ambassadors at a company level portfolio and stick to them. So we have Upen Patel as the another lead actor of ad films who tries to sleep with Amy and fails. Amy and Vikram fall in love in a visually stunning China trip. Amy and Vikram are about to get married , she is building a dream house in Munnar to emulate the scenery they saw in Guilin China. However happy state is crushed.
Happy state crushed because the very essence of his success is crushed by people not happy with his success ( Rival ad stars, body builders are ok ). Surprisingly the villains also includes a businessman ( who resembles Vijay Mallya ) whose products our rising ad star refuses to endorse since there is pesticide in the cola and surprise , surprise a transgender make up artiste who lusts for his body thus making it the country's first heterosexual love triangle (actually this part comes off quite authentic in treatment) , . . They will all take revenge.
Sir what is the stretch scenario here?
Stretch here is the extent of destruction in the revenge. There will be normal fights like throwing acid on his face and the hero saving himself . Btw when you are doing this , film it like a parkour action scene in China, (one of the movies brilliant action sequences). However the revenge has to go beyond that - ' ( Adhakam melai - over and above this). Thats the stretch, the hero will lose his entire identity ( thats why I called the movie I you duffers) .
Let the stretch be justified using some medical terms and strong motives.
Ok Sir.
So the movie will move when he take revenge, we will film the action well, use special effects , good make up , background music etc.
Thats all Sir?
Yes my dear team , we have money in the bank to spend enough on special effects in crores. Since 30% of movie is shot in China lets have the special effects of Crouching tiger movie in a song sequence. Since our hero will look like the hunchback and werewolf at times, make some sequences based on medieval and other characters including some of the lord of the rings type orcs and ogres. Look how big I am , what Hollywood does in their entire movie, I am doing in song sequences .
Ok Sir tusi great ho. We will make the movie and call you for any doubts. So they made I and we saw.
Shankar Sir here is my template analysis of your I
1. Core story - strong due to Vikram acting but love story still weak. And when Vikram takes revenge he forgets his original characters, seems to have an Anniyan hangover at times. Again cant blame you maybe the assistants just told him to do it that way.
2. Stretch scenario - Striking at someone's essence of success his face is a good one. However the motives of the villains to do something so strong is weak. Maybe we are used to more ambition at your end.
3. Execution of stretch scenario - predictable .
" Shankar padam na yenna theriyumaaa" ( Do you know what makes a Shankar movie?)
" Not exactly sir, please enlighten us"
See Shankar movies follow a template made of 3 parts.
1. Take a simple core story like poor boy meets rich girl or somebody seeking to change societal or criminal evils but becoming a victim . These are timeless stories,
2. Stretch it to a different realm of possibility or what I call the stretch scenario. Example in Kadalan its poor boy meets rich girl but rich girl is daughter of a CM who is plotting attacks. That allows the movie to have a track that can be grandiose so that I can show off special effects, so I can make a thriller cum love story. This additional track also gives me to comment on recent politics etc. In the stretch use a clever line or twist - example ' Taking bribes is not the only crime , but giving bribes is also a crime (Indian) . ' What if a CM asks a reporter if you think it is so easy , become a CM and show' and he shows (Mudhalvan). When I made Mudhalvan there was no Arnab Goswami you see, it might now happen really in his show.
"Sir can you explain pt 2 more. Are you saying you are making multi-layer movies with multiple story tracks... "
The movie will have the core story. I will strengthen the core by having sufficient emotions and also enough comedy to keep audiences happy. This is like any other Tamil movie to engage the audience and create connect. The core story is the driver. But how you drive it makes all the difference.Let me give you examples.
Gentleman - Basic story - young hard working family fails to get admission in college due to reservation rules for their sons. One son commits suicide. At the core you have to feel for this family. Movie wont work without that. Yes he has to take revenge , But the revenge aspect has to be spectacular. So this guy's idea of revenge is to loot the govt treasury( with spectacular motorcycle stunts of course) and build a free college and he doesnt get caught.
As my movies progressed, in Indian the same core had to be given historical context and justification, and the revenge started having a social hero effect and the Indian Tatha becomes a vigilante hero. Anniyan used even call center and web services for that additional hero effect.
3. You have to justify the stretch scenario in multiple ways, so that the stretch even if it has only 1% probability in real life looks to have 50%+ probability. This is why I use ancient texts that nobody knows ( Garudapuran in Anniyan or Varmam martial arts in Indian ) to improve the power of the hero. Or I use modern technology innovations or medical history that not many have heard. If I get nothing, I will use stunning special effects so instead of showing normal fights I will show karate matrix fight style. I will blow up as much as money as possible so that the audience doesnt think of the probability of it happening.
Thank you sir this is very enlightening, can we now work on your movie I.
Shankar - Yes. So make it this way.
Basic story - Poor bodybuilder ( Vikram as Lingesan) dreams of becoming Mr. India toils hard in local gyms. Very realistic portrayal of local gyms and sweaty bodybuilders. Shankar doesnt portray the GNC whey protein eating Gold gym goers, he chooses to use local fellow who speaks Chennai Koovum Tamil so that he can show the rich-poor divide (basics pls). People should feel for this character very harmless Chennai youth only focused on body building. Have a comedy track with Santhanam( overbearing and almost irritating at the end) and Power Star ( Hilarious as Chitti 2)
He achieves stardom since he comes in association with a model he is infatuated about ( Amy Jackson in a believable appearance). Model uses him as a prop to dislodge her co-star ( although it doesnt make any sense in the ad world). In Shankars ad world - people sign on brand ambassadors at a company level portfolio and stick to them. So we have Upen Patel as the another lead actor of ad films who tries to sleep with Amy and fails. Amy and Vikram fall in love in a visually stunning China trip. Amy and Vikram are about to get married , she is building a dream house in Munnar to emulate the scenery they saw in Guilin China. However happy state is crushed.
Happy state crushed because the very essence of his success is crushed by people not happy with his success ( Rival ad stars, body builders are ok ). Surprisingly the villains also includes a businessman ( who resembles Vijay Mallya ) whose products our rising ad star refuses to endorse since there is pesticide in the cola and surprise , surprise a transgender make up artiste who lusts for his body thus making it the country's first heterosexual love triangle (actually this part comes off quite authentic in treatment) , . . They will all take revenge.
Sir what is the stretch scenario here?
Stretch here is the extent of destruction in the revenge. There will be normal fights like throwing acid on his face and the hero saving himself . Btw when you are doing this , film it like a parkour action scene in China, (one of the movies brilliant action sequences). However the revenge has to go beyond that - ' ( Adhakam melai - over and above this). Thats the stretch, the hero will lose his entire identity ( thats why I called the movie I you duffers) .
Let the stretch be justified using some medical terms and strong motives.
Ok Sir.
So the movie will move when he take revenge, we will film the action well, use special effects , good make up , background music etc.
Thats all Sir?
Yes my dear team , we have money in the bank to spend enough on special effects in crores. Since 30% of movie is shot in China lets have the special effects of Crouching tiger movie in a song sequence. Since our hero will look like the hunchback and werewolf at times, make some sequences based on medieval and other characters including some of the lord of the rings type orcs and ogres. Look how big I am , what Hollywood does in their entire movie, I am doing in song sequences .
Ok Sir tusi great ho. We will make the movie and call you for any doubts. So they made I and we saw.
Shankar Sir here is my template analysis of your I
1. Core story - strong due to Vikram acting but love story still weak. And when Vikram takes revenge he forgets his original characters, seems to have an Anniyan hangover at times. Again cant blame you maybe the assistants just told him to do it that way.
2. Stretch scenario - Striking at someone's essence of success his face is a good one. However the motives of the villains to do something so strong is weak. Maybe we are used to more ambition at your end.
3. Execution of stretch scenario - predictable .
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