'Navigating the lessons of failure': A candid conversation with filmmaker Vikas

S Shyam Prasad | NT

Bengaluru: In the dynamic world of cinema, success and failure are often the two sides of the same coin.

Renowned Vikas shares insights into his journey, reflecting on challenges, triumphs, and the transformative impact of setbacks.

In this exclusive interview, he delves into his roles as a writer, actor, and director, offering a rare glimpse into the intricate process of storytelling and the evolution of his craft. Garadi, directed by Yograj Bhat, releasing this week, is written by Vikas.

Q. What do you consider yourself; actor, writer, or director?

A. Out of 100%, I would say the writer in me is about 50, actor and director is about 25 percent each.

Q. How difficult was it to come out of the commercial failure of Kaanadante Mayavadanu?

A. That was the hardest period of my life. Because till then life had treated me kindly. All the movies I had worked for in the story department had been huge hits. Be it Drama (screenplay) Jayammana Maga (screenplay, Direction) or Dodmane Huduga (story, screenplay).

I thought this run would continue with Kaanadante Maayavadanu. But life had decided to teach me a lesson. I was shown that I was surviving in the industry with halfbaked knowledge and luck.

Re-editing Kaanadante Maayavadanu more than 40 times gave me a new perspective on creating a screenplay and fleshing out characters. After the pain of Kanadante Mayavadanu, I gave up on the 'chalta hai' attitude.

For example, the character's goal has to be clearly understood by the audience. He has to be specific.

"I want to buy a car" is a vague goal. "I want to buy the premium model of a particular brand" is specific or "I want to buy a vintage car which my role model drove" is specific. The belief that makes a character act in a particular way has to be understood by the audience (except in suspense).

Every action of the character has to be in sync with the character, and the audience should not be perplexed by a certain behavior of the character. The story has to move in each and every scene, and things like that were learned in the university of Kaanadante Maayavadanu.

In Garadi, nobody goes out of character, nor does any behavior seem forced.

Q. How did the story of Garadi develop? Do you consider it your best?

A. Yograj Sir had a true crime story in mind, which was based on a real incident in the 70s. A guy in his early 20s murders his family, runs away, and joins a gangster.

The police feel he can become a ruthless maniac and decide to hunt him down. They take the help of his college teacher. The guy who is very attached to the teacher comes to meet him, and the police gun him down. The title for this story was Gurupoornima.

BC Patil sir was supposed to play the teacher. But I felt the hero's character was way too dark. So, I said I will come up with a story between a teacher and a student but with a likable hero.

Previously, when I had seen Pailwan (starring Kichcha Sudeep), I felt there could be one more rustic movie with a kusti background. Kusti needs to have a master and a student.

So, I started working out the details and I came up with the initial line, which was approved by Yograj Bhat and subsequently approved by the producers Vanaja Patil, BC Patil, and Srushti Patil.

Since Darshan sir was backing our hero Yashas Surya, he heard the story and gave us the green signal to go ahead.

I feel it's my best so far because in this script we have fleshed out the characters well and Yograj sir with his direction has brought them to life. I feel the characters are believable, and hence the emotions impact more.

Q. With the power of hindsight now, how would you reshape your earlier stories?

A. In Drama, I would rewrite the last 30 minutes of the story, in Dodmane Hudga, I would have changed Ambreesh sir's character. In Jayammana Maga, I would have worked more on Duniya Vijay's character.

In the new version of Kaanadante Maayavadanu, I have incorporated many things I learnt.

Q. Have you given up on acting?

A. I would love to act again if something nice comes along the way. It's the least stressful job compared to the other two.

Q. We have been waiting a long time for you to direct another movie after Jayammana Maga. Why not at least Jayammana Mommoga?

A. Actually, it was Duniya Vijay who came up with the story for Jayammana Maga. So, he has to think of Jayammana Mommaga