A family man

Nonika Singh

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His last film created ripples and a buzz wowing critics and audiences alike. Now, Umesh Shukla, the director of hugely acclaimed Oh My God, is ready with yet another entertainer, All Is Well, a comedy and once again packed with meaning and purpose.

Today most makers may think sex sells and family dramas may have faded away, but Shukla is positive that nothing interests an audience better than a clean family film. By the way his film is so saaf suthri that he didn’t even have to even once use an anti-smoking ticker in it.

In egocentric times when family values have been replaced by ‘I, me, myself’ syndrome, his film reinforces the strength of the family, significance of role models within it and the need for family members to stick out for each other. Sure he lives in a joint family… his faith in all things nice and proper comes from his upbringing. And he believes in saying it honestly seedhi baat karta hoon.

He once again dispels the rumours that makers of PK (it came after OMG) tried to bribe him and prevent him from making the film since both films had similar themes. He is aghast, “Can you imagine men of such great calibre as Raj Kumar Hirani, who is my ideal, would stoop to this level?”

Beyond controversies, no doubt OMG is a special film. More so since for years he directed the Gujarati play Kanji Virudh Kanji (from which OMG is adapted) in which Paresh Rawal played the same part in which audiences saw him on big screen.

Incidentally, Umesh too is a fine actor but direction is where his heart is. “As an actor one has to wait for one’s shot while director calls the shots. Not only is he the captain of the ship, he is almost like a mother who undergoes labor pains to give birth to a film.”

Interestingly, he likes films of all genres from makers of varying mettle (dark and brooding as well) and adult too, provided they say something. Call it the fallout of his association with theatre or intrinsic disposition, his kind of films will always come laced with a social message.

Yes, theatre to which he is devoted to even today is where he learnt it all and is the blueprint on which he makes his actors in the film industry work. He still follows the workshop method to ensure that all actors are on the same page. Believe it or not even superstars like Akshay Kumar report for his reading sessions. Only he smiles, “With Akshay the workshop time has to be 5.30 am.” Right now he is all praise for the lead of All Is Well. Abhishek Bachchan, he reminds you, is a very subtle actor who can emote and has a great sense of comic timing too. Soon he will be working with Big B in 102 Not Out which too is based on a play. On working with the iconic star, he says, “I am lucky.”

Will Umesh be lucky at the Box Office once again? He is aware of the expectations post OMG’s success but says, “Har baar to Sholay nahi ban sakti.” Nevertheless he promises a good film and one that family audiences needn’t think twice before watching it together. A family that watches films together certainly stands to learn a lesson or two on how to keep it together.