***** Badshah of Comedy & Lot more *****. Review on Priyadarshan

Bollywood unanimously awarded a crown to Priyadarsan which was earlier belongs to none other than David Dawan, The King of Comedy. He is often called as photocopy machine of Bollywood. He has been praised by many actors for his ability to direct them perfectly. He has been criticized for his lack of initiative to direct his own movies. Earlier he was ruling Malayalam box office with his hits and and superhits. Despite all his flaws in directions and repetitions I remain as a fan of Priyadarsan. This review is the answer to the question why I am still his fan.

Born in Trivandrum, he was the son of a Librarian. His craze to books and western comedy films didn't allow him to continue his usual hobby of cricketing. He was an assistant to Ashok Kumar, who has directed the film "Thenum Vayambum" which was known for its excellent music and brilliant picturisation. His first directed movie was "Poochakoru Mookuthi"(remade in hindi as Hungama). About 40 films in Malayalam, more than 10 films in Hindi and few films in Tamil he has made his presence felt more than many times.

I found strange when people criticize him stating he is only remaking films. What is wrong in remaking films? With a good remake we may not be able to see many good movies. I will consider it equal to translation of a book from other language. If one has not translated War & Peace or Dostoewisky novels, how the world would have knows that beauty? If Priyadarsan have not remade films, Malayalam would not have witnessed many funny movies. Bollywood not have witnessed a Hera Pheri, Virasat or Garam Masala along with many other comic films. What if people like Akshay Kumar doing a Garam Masala or Tabu doing a Virasat? What if Paresh Rawal has got a Hera Pheri boost? The film Boeing Boeing was shot some 20 years back and it is a merit to think that the film will click to the bollywood audience of 2005 which resulted in Garam Masala. Now, he is directing Bhool Bhulaiya which is a remaking one of evertime superhit of Malayalam, Manichithrathazhu. It is the confidence Priyadarsan makes that allow the happening of the film

By the way I am not happy with his latest outing Bhagam Bhaag which is the 2nd last movie released in Bollywood. (Friendship was his last bollywood release). In Bhagam Bhaag I can see a Priyadarsan going the way of Neeraj Vohra which I wish to discourage the talented director. When I say remakes are perfectly okay for me, kitchdis are not so.

When Priyan directed Kalapaani, he wished the film to hit big times. However the results were not that encouraging. No wonder he went back to his comfort shelter, comedy. It is we responsible if he is remaining in the area of comedy. The director has an intuition to make novel movies, however he is established in one genre and people often expect the same from him. The director's vision is to make a film in really big canvas. A film like Sholay is his dream. I am sure that he will reach his goal one day.

Priaydarsan is also known for keeping his cast crew with him the maximum possible time. Whether it is Amrish Puri, Paresh Rawal, Om Puri, Asrani, Akshay Kumar, Mohan Lal, Sabu Cyril, Geetha Vijayan…you will find a long list. The cast and crew give a lot of respect to him, which is well deserved. Each & every actor have something good to tell about him. He is not away from controversies as well. Sajid Nadiawala, Firoz Nadiawala, Javed Akhtar, UTV....he was in news all along. I found a leading cinema weekly written a editorial against him simply because he didn't promoted a particular film and given interview to them.

Blame it on remakes, but he is one of the fastest film-making director. His films will take an average 6 months to complete. Often he used to ask the cast & crew to reserve entire two months to be there for the film and finish your role and go. For producers it is great relief.

Hera Pheri, Virasat, Kala Paani, Garam Masala, Chup Chupke, Thalavattam, Kilukkam, Chithram, Snehithiye, Malamaal Weekly, Vellanakalude Naadu, Midhunam, Hulchul, Abhimanyu, Aryan…Look at 15 films from out of say 50! I am sure you will now tell me the names of few film names which is not included in the 15. The remaining are no meager films. The worst movies by the director? Kabhi Na Kabhi, Bhagam Bhaag & Kakkakuyil. The technically saavy director is famous for his song picturisation and song selections as well. In Malayalam he has produced many and many super hit songs. Thanks to his lack of perfection in Hindi, he could not produce the similar result in Hindi.

Many talented directors of Malayalam tried to reach to Bollywood and fall short as the feet require a lot of dedication, motivation and will power. Priyadarsan do have the will and he deserve my respect. He used to inspire actors as well to improve. One quality I can see in leaders. I often find it in none other than Saurav Ganguly (one of my other favorite)

I also find him as a responsible person. He was in love with a film actress earlier. (Lizy, who is his wife now). She was a Christian and his family objected to it. Even lizy tried to end her life, but unlike many other love stories the hero didn't ran away from the responsibilities. He made a decision and gets his love with him. Is this the only factor which attracts me to Priyadarsan? Not so. Success is my selection and I can go to any end to make success happen for people who work hard and Priyadarsan is a person who works hard. Often he is emotional and taken by success and failure, but the success or failure could not take away the spirit of Priyadarsan.

I encourage you to know this director more and share the information with me as I am even trying to split his personality and see his spirit which allowing him to work for every day of the year, literally. Besides direction, he write stories, he write dialogues & screen plays. He own an advanced studio in Madras, he intends to produce films. The director is surely a shot higher than our vision on him.