INTERVIEW
Phir Milenge: Director Revathy’s second coming

An actress who acted 95 films in five languages, Revathy’s social consciousness finds a voice in her directorial venture Phir Milenge, which tackles the sensitive issue of HIV infection. Revathy who hit the headlines with her very first film as a director, Mitre — My friend, comes across as a disarmingly simple person with a no-nonsense attitude in an interview with Ranjita Biswas.

The story demanded that it be told in Hindi. Phir Milenge is rooted in the land.

I am from an Army background. I have travelled all over the country and have been exposed to many problems and social realities. Over the years, even when I was busy with acting, I have been involved with many social organisations in Chennai. Some years ago I participated in an AIDS awareness campaign. I am aware of the problem in India which has the second highest number of HIV-infected people in the world.

Actually, it came from my own sad experience. My maid got her daughter married some time ago. We all chipped in with financial and other help. Then within a short time the girl returned home and told her mother, ‘Amma, he has tested HIV positive’. The mother of the groom confessed that she knew her son was ill but wanted a wife to be by his side when he was dying. The fact that even innocent people can get drawn into the vortex of a disease which as yet doesn’t have a cure effected me deeply. I decided to make a film to highlight this crisis which is often not dealt with with the seriousness it deserves.

I was lucky that Sailendran agreed to produce this film. It is not a slogan–oriented kind of film. It is a romantic story but the message is there in the story itself.

I wanted to use actors whom people would readily recognise. I want as many people as possible to see the film and hence popular appeal is important.

Abhishek readily agreed when I approached him. He said his parents were also involved in this kind of work. Salman was bit of a fluke. One day he dropped in on the set to see me, and he needled me, ‘Why aren’t you giving me any work?’ and I said ‘Why not in this film right now?’ He agreed instantly. I was amazed. Shilpa Shetty, too, responded favourably.

I admire Mani Ratnam very much. He makes commercial films on sensitive themes without compromising the story. (TWF)

Arup Chanda writes

Asha Menon, popularly known as Revathy is a film director with courage of conviction.

Not only is she one of the most popular actresses in South India — she has starred in 95 films in the South — she is also turning out to be a successful director whose films have a message for the masses.

Revathy’s first Tamil film, Mann Vaasanai as a heroine was a box office hit. This was followed by a Malaylam film, Kattathe Killikoodu, which was a super hit. Not being known in other parts of the country has its advantages, as she found out when a taxi driver in Mumbai praised her films without realising that he was talking to the superstar herself.

Her directorial debut was with Mitr-My Friend, which was shot entirely in the USA and won three national awards at the 49^th National Film Awards in 2001. The film was about an Indian family in the USA and its social values.

Revathy’s second film as a director, Phir Milenge deals with a complex and sensitive subject. It is about the problems that HIV positive people face in our society. "It is a love story played out against the backdrop of the stigma to being HIV positive," says Revathy. "It explores human emotions and how such people are treated in our society," she adds.

The film stars Abhishek Bachhan, Salman Khan and Shilpa Shetty and was shot in various locations in Chennai and Bangalore. The film will be released all over India on August 27.

So, is it an art film? "It is very much a commercial film with four songs but it does not conform to the straitjacket of Hindi cinema which usually has a heroine, a hero and a villain," she says. "In this movie the villain is the HIV virus."

Other than being a popular film star Revathy is also known for her contribution to social causes and is associated with many NGOs which work for the uplift of women.

But what made her deicide to make a film on a theme like HIV and AIDS? "I have campaigned for the usage of condoms for safe sex. I have been working with some organisations in this regard," she replies. Moreover, the producers — Percept Picture Company of Mumbai — wanted to make a film on a social issue, she says.

"I worked on the concept while the screenplay and dialogues were by Atul Sabharwal," she says. Being the daughter of an army officer she has resided in many parts of India and though a Malaylee, she is fluent in Hindi, too. Phir Milenge is in Hindi.

"I have also acted in two Hindi films — Dhoop and Ab Tak Chhappan — opposite Om Puri and Nana Patekar respectively," she said. Asked whether she faced any problems handling the superstars of Hindi cinema, particularly the eccentric Salman Khan, she says, "It was fun. It was lovely to work with Salman. I absolutely had no problems at all with the cast."

"In fact, they charged far less than their usual astronomical fees because the proceeds from the film will be donated to AIDS-related care centres," she says.

With so many awards as an actress and as a director Revathy certainly has a bright future. But she also has one foot in politics, too, much like all film personalities in Tamil Nadu. She contested the 1996 Lok Sabha polls as an independent candidate from Chennai South but lost to present union Shipping Minister T.R. Balu.

"My orientation is neither Left nor Right. I believe a politician has certain duties towards the people and I want to do fulfill those. Film personalities all over the world have been in politics and I am no exception," she maintains.

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