J D Chakravarthy, the star of Satya, talks with Subhash K Jha about his directorial debut Durga which turned 23 on March 23.
What prompted you to direct Durga way back in 2002 ?
Durga, well, you know, sometimes some films don’t work, not because they’re bad, but because of your earlier films’ impact. But the whole idea of making this film is only because of Satya. When you ask me about Durga, that is the first thing that comes into my mind. You know, that’s what has exactly happened with Durga. As this was immediately after Satya.
Did you enjoy turning director so early in your career?
Well, the good thing was, it was a tremendous high. And the bad was also that it has tremendous high. At that point in time, for me, you know, the South version worked. So, I decided to make it in Hindi. The moment I shared Durga’s idea with Mahesh Bhatt Saab, he was so very excited, and he wanted to produce the film.
Mahesh Bhatt wanted to produce Durga?
He wanted to be partners along with me, you know, producing the film. Well, I seriously don’t remember why that association never worked out. I seriously don’t remember why it fizzled out.
I think it was ahead of its time.
I so wish Durga happened in these present times, as that is the flavour of films which is working in Hindi, especially coming from the South.
It got a lot of praise from some quarters…
Satya was talked about as a cult film. So, people have taken all the characters at face value and started believing them as almost as true real characters. And I remember Ramuji saying, after seeing Durga, he said, I love Durga with that typical South Indian high, you know, film’s high moments were really HIGH. But Ramu had his misgivings.
And they were?
Ramu told me the problem is people have seen you as an actor in Satya as a very intelligent, intellectual Satya. And Ramuji added saying, if Durga had come before Satya, I don’t think then Satya would have worked. And he said I feel the same about Durga as it is coming after Satya. Ramu predicted Durga will have the same impact. And he said if Satya was another commercial flick, like, you know, regular hit films, what, how we get to see, then Durga would have been added to your success list.
So Satya was an impediment to Durga’s success?
Durga not working is because of Satya. But Durga happening was also because of Satya. So, this is what I remember about Durga. Maybe I think, I think I should make Durga again since we can make Satya again.
