There seems to be a growing fixation among filmmakers on making films based on real incidents or personalities. And this is not just here in Bollywood, but out in the West too.
In B-Town there’s Sanjay Gupta’s Shootout At Wadala with actor John Abraham playing gangster Manya Surve, Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Paan Singh Tomar that’s based on the real life of the runner-turned-dacoit, and the sequel of Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai that has Akshay Kumar play a character inspired by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, while Farhan Akhtar is all set to get into the shoes of athlete Milkha Singh for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Sanjay Dutt-Vivek Oberoi starrer Zilla Ghaziabad is said to be based on a real gang war incident in UP. There’s also buzz that Madhur Bhandarkar’s film Heroine has been inspired by a Bollywood actress.
As for Hollywood, this year’s Oscar had two films — My Week with Marilyn and The Iron Lady in the running for several awards, both of which are based on real people. The former sees Michelle Williams play the iconic Marilyn Monroe, while the Meryl Streep starrer is a biopic on Margaret Thatcher. There’s also buzz of Lindsay Lohan being considered for playing Elizabeth Taylor.
Trade agrees that there’s a sudden surge in films based on real people. “Yes, filmmakers across are showing an increased interest in tapping the lives of real people or incidents,” they say. Trade analyst Komal Nahta feels that somewhere it has to do with catering to the need of balancing out the fantasies that’s doled out by some filmmakers, by presenting a slice of the real world.
“There’s a wave of filmmakers who are into realism without crossing over to the parallel cinema. That opens avenues to look into real life incidents. The acceptance of films like No One Killed Jessica and The Dirty Picture has proven that there’s a market for such films,” he adds.
And while some insist that it is opting an easy way out, filmmaker Sanjay Gupta reasons that it has nothing to do with the lack of ideas.
“Films are about telling interesting stories interestingly, it’s the treatment that makes all the difference. If anything, there’s even more groundwork to be done. You can take cinematic liberties, but there are a lot of sentiments involved so you can’t take such topics lightly,” says Gupta.
Actress Vidya Balan, who has played characters based on real life, believes that there needs to be a sincere approach when playing real characters.
“There’s a clearer character graph chalked out that simplifies the role for you as an actor, but there’s more pressure of doing justice to a real character,” she’d said. Farhan agrees.
“The groundwork can’t be compromised on ever for any film, but more so in case the film is based on a real person,” explains Farhan.
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