‘Majnu is like Jordan from Rockstar’: Imtiaz Ali on giving the classic 'Laila Majnu' a contemporary twist

The characters in Imtiaz Ali’s films are driven by two things — romance and passion. And going by the trailer of Laila Majnu, which the maverick filmmaker is presenting, there seems to be enough of these two elements. Directed by his brother, Sajid Ali, it features relatively new faces Avinash Tiwary and Tripti Dimri, and is a modern retelling of the classic tale. The curly-haired storyteller affirms how this story has something to say to audiences of every generation and why he is fascinated with the concept of love. Over to him…

At Laila Majnu’s trailer launch, you had said you wanted to make this film, but didn’t want to direct it. What’s the reason?

I knew the story of Laila Majnu, but after reading it, I wanted to discover it. I started writing with the sole purpose of discovering what went through Majnu’s mind. After all the trials and tribulations, when Laila finally comes to him, he says that he doesn’t need her anymore. What the hell happened to him? When I had finished writing a lot of it, I thought, ‘This is looking good and has a nice vision to it.’ But I didn’t want to direct it because I already knew how I would helm it. There would be no novelty in it for me. I thought I would be interested in watching it if a new director directed it.

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For instance, Sajid’s Laila is a flirt and an attention seeker. She’s constantly looking at her phone’s camera and pouting. She manipulates boys. I would never have thought of it. For me, this is interesting. There are so many things that Sajid has brought in as a director that I didn’t expect. I thought this is an ingredient that is required for Laila Majnu.

Were you like a mentor to your brother?

There was no mentorship, but we wrote the script together. So, all the concepts that had to come from me were getting into the kitty, anyway. And if at all there was any advice or tips given, they were involuntary.

Now that you’ve seen the film, do you see any similarities in the way you direct movies and the way Sajid has helmed this?

There is nothing fake in this love story. This is also a compliment that I’m giving to myself (smiles). I feel that’s the quality I strive for and other people say this about my films. Apart from that, it’s difficult to say. A person usually doesn’t have a clear vision of his own work. Having said that, there are certain commonalities. After all, we share a similar background and come from the same family. But some things are different, too. I think his portrayal of families is more dramatic than I would have done it.

What about the characters? Did they resonate with you in some way?

Majnu is like Jordan from Rockstar. There is a certain sense of abandon and desperate passion in both of them.

Do you think today's generation that meets on Tinder and breaks up on WhatsApp will understand Laila Majnu and their kind of intense love?

There are so many songs and films with some reference to Laila or Majnu. It’s not as if Laila Majnu were 10 years before us, so only my generation would know about them. Something is eternal because it has something to say to every generation. There are various fads and storytelling ways now, which look ridiculous, but Laila Majnu and Romeo Juliet have stood the test of time. Being eternal means staying relevant for all times, which is the basis of doing the story today and placing it in the contemporary world.

When you write a story or direct a film, does the process come to you organically?

There is no calculation and there is not much planning either. I write what comes to me and there must be some reasons for what I pen. My process of writing is more subconscious than conscious.