Bollywood directors ask 'one question each' to Majid Majidi. Here are his replies

We were anyway going to ask Mr Majid Majidi, Iranian auteur extraordinaire a bunch of questions about his upcoming film Beyond The Clouds, produced by Eyecandy Films and Zee Studios. There were also several directors who had their own set of questions for him. Here’s what they had to ask him about his process and his craft. Some are deceptively simple, some intellectual, some seek to pick his brain...

Nitesh Tiwari
I would like to know what are the three most important things Mr Majidi keeps in mind before finalising a project?

The ground should start from a good script. It’s the main ingredient. It should inculcate a feel of faith and confidence in you. That it has potential. Your casting is very important. The people you select for the roles make a proper body for the movie. You should feel that this character is going to play this role apt, suited, made for the role. Finally, the location. We now have three main pillars. The ambiance, the atmosphere required to establish the scene.

One of the most difficult tasks I had to confront was finding the right location. I wasn’t going to spend my time on studio lots. Hence, I was on the lookout for the right locations. It was a tough and challenging job.

Sajid Khan
Did you like Argo? Were you entertained or enraged?

Argo was based on complete fabrication and lies. It was made forAmerica. Nothing was real or realistic. Even artistically, it did not carry the weight or standard. And when he was awarded the Oscar, I think one needs to question the Academy about their choice.

Imtiaz Ali
When the shot is on, where are you, what are you doing?

Ground preparation. Every angle has to be discussed and everything is sorted. I go inside by cabin/tent and sit in front of the monitor. That’s all.

Aanand L Rai
What are the similarities between Iranian middle class and an Indian middle class family and along with what is the basic difference in their thought process if any?

As cultures go, we are quite similar, but if I had to differentiate among the rest of the things, it becomes an exhaustive issue and cannot be contained in a few sentences. One of the things that is common is that we are family-bound.

Hansal Mehta
I would love to know your process with actors... all your films have people who don’t even look like they are performing. How do you do this? It’s realism that I aspire for and want to learn from you... can I assist you?

After the selection of a good script, the crucial point of selecting the right artiste solves 50 per cent of your problem. Therefore it is vital to select the most appropriate actor rather than following the track of his popularity. The director has to register complete track of an actor right from the beginning till the end of his role and put a cap on his performance so that in none of the scenes he seems to have gone overboard and over-reacted. Keeping the artiste within the framework of the imagination limits and guides his performance sustaining the momentum and the style of his performance. Never get fascinated or deceived by an actor’s star power, it can dissuade you from achieving your right goal. Also, you’re most welcome to visit my set anytime.

Anubhav Sinha
One simple way to stay simple with your stories?

Having a close, minute observation of the surroundings.

Nitya Mehra
The ending of The Willow Tree? Did you always have the same ending in mind during the writing process?

Actually, the ending of The Willow Tree stuck me mid-way during the shoot.

Apurva Lakhia
What motivates you to tell such human stories? What is your source of inspiration? What do you look for in your stories and characters as you mostly work with newcomers? What is that one thing you would like to share with young upcoming filmmakers.

Truly speaking there is nothing more important than the human beings which are considered to be the top most creation of the almighty God. I, as a human being hate to remain dormant for a single moment. To remain awake and cautious, to be on the track of self-study I pick up the relevant subject and accommodate it in the storyline. While its an inspiration for me, it simultaneously evokes a feeling of self- awareness and the hidden facts in the audience. If you go to see the importance of a prophet you will see the only purpose in the appointment by God to teach path of humanity to the human beings. In short, life evolves around humanity and we all have to be totally aware of the reasons of our existence and duty towards each other.

The answer to the second part of your question is: Newcomers are like the barren land but most fertile.The result of cultivation in such fields can reach its optimum. Professionals remain within the image they have created for themselves. While they successfully try to enact the role, the newcomers have no fixed identity for themselves, remain like the barren land described above and so can very well imbibe the character role and mould and can adapt it thoroughly while taking my instruction. They can fit the role in a very realistic manner.

Now, I am answering the most important part of your question. Cinema is a field of art not restricted to educational institutions. There are few who are deeply interested to enter this field but they lack the art.

But sometimes they are the combination of both, I don’t mean to devalue education or the qualification one possesses but that’s not enough to make you a complete creative entity. A film related person has to go beyond every common trend and norm and system. Every action of his has to turn his experience into experiment. He has to reach the unreachable. He has to dig out the minutest details in every thing living being or its surrounding. He has to be a treasure of different sites and insights and learn the art of changing its form and using it in his films. He has to be able to expose everything through delightful and surprising dimensions which makes a common’s daily occurrence into a new sight.

Vikas Bahl
Since you pushed me to make Chillar Party, I wanna know when you are watching it and when are you meeting me?

While I would arrange to see your film, the one I already saw was quite disappointing and not up to the mark. I really want to be very optimistic this time about the film I am going to watch.