I`ll deal with anyone who says I`ve tinkered with National Anthem: RGV

Tanu Talwar Just days after he refuted claims of tampering the National Anthem to his advantage for the theme song of his upcoming flick ‘Rann’ at a media meet in the capital, Ram Gopal Varma has landed in a bitter struggle with the Censor Board. In a staunch step against the director the board has ordered Varma to remove the song from his film or face dire actions. After securing a top spot in the worst movies archives, with his disastrous remake of yesteryears blockbuster film ‘Sholay’, Ram Gopal Varma is up to tacky filmmaking antics again. The taskmaster doesn’t disappoint, when it comes to experimenting, nevertheless, his latest offering ‘Rann’, a promo of which was recently showcased at a media event in the capital, had stirred many unsavory sentiments landing the controversial filmmaker in yet another hot scoop. As a result, the Board is now breathing fire over the undue liberties Varma has taken with the nation’s anthem.Infamous for his outlandish ways and filmmaking techniques, the director is out to raise eyebrows and vex emotions with his upcoming venture. Wondering what is Ramu up to this time? Well just sneak a peak at the lyrics of the theme song and the mystery will unfold: Jann gann mana rann hai Is rann mein zakhmi hua hai Bharat ka bhaagya vidhaata Punjab Sindh Gujarat Maratha Ek doosere se ladd ke marr rahein hain Is desh ne humko ek kiya Hum desh ke tukedey kar rahein hain Dravid utkal banga Khoon bahaa ker, Ek rang ka kar diya humne tiranga Here in the capital, with veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan in tow, the director left tongues wagging post the preview of his much-awaited film ‘Rann’. So what began as a simple greet and meet event soon turned into a fiery drama, courtesy the fast-paced, highly volatile ‘reality depicting’ theme song that ‘tinkers’ with the National Anthem. But for a filmmaker, who has by far had a bad marriage with the media, Ramu was all prepared for the tongue lashing. Q. The lyrics of your song tinkers with the National Anthem? Ram Gopal Varma: I object to the word tinkering. The song depicts the reality that the country is undergoing. It’s something I feel strongly about. It’s what I feel in my heart and have tried to show that. Now, if any person has a problem with that then I shall deal with it. Q. Don’t you feel that you have taken undue liberties by tampering with the anthem as it’s bound to spur hostile sentiments? Ram Gopal Varma: I don’t think that any right-minded person would feel that I have tampered with the National Anthem. It’s my take on it. I wanted to show the condition of our country today and I have used this medium. Q. After being criticised for accompanying Vilas Rao Deshmukh to the ravaged Taj Hotel scene, is ‘Rann’ your way of getting back at news channels? Ram Gopal Varma: No, I wanted to make a film on news channels even before the Taj tragedy occurred. And once I found the script that I wanted to make I started to shoot ‘Rann’. It’s a very very special film as it’s got more to do with media being the communication powerhouse between people and organisations. ‘Rann’ is not a serious film, but it’s a film that I have made seriously. Q. There have been quite a few films that have been made to show the dirt in media. What’s new in ‘Rann’? Ram Gopal Varma: I can assure that ‘Rann’ is a one of its kind flick. It’s not about politics in the media world. It’s purely commerce driven. Today there is a tremendous competition between news channels. In an age when everything depends on TRP ratings, remote controls have become the worst enemies of news channels. What I have tried to show in my film is how an editor-in-chief and owner of a news channel played by Amitabh Bachchan is constantly torn between his morals and business acumen. In simple words I want to ask whether media as a truth-telling machine, in an age of competition, can it fulfill its true purpose? Q. It has been widely reported that Amitabh Bachchan’s character is inspired by Prannoy Roy in the film. Is it true? Ram Gopal Varma: No it’s not. See that’s the power of the media, if one channel states that Roy inspires Amitabh’s character and another channel seconds it, then people start to believe it. Q. What’s the kind of response are you expecting? Ram Gopal Varma: I wish that the film changes the audience perspective to news channels. Q. You are known to thoroughly research the subject of your films. What kind of research did you do for the film? Ram Gopal Varma: See, when I made ‘Satya’, I did not become a gangster. The preparation and research wasn’t in terms of technicality, but on the psychological aspects.