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Oops, it's men's turn now!
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This is something we had not reckoned for. But this is also something that exists in our society, discreetly, silently, stealthily. Deepak Tijori's "Oops" is a foray into a world that's the best open secret of our times, says ZIYA US SALAM... .
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MORE THAN 2,500 years after Gautam Buddha attained nirvana, desire continues to reign supreme. Just recently, a 40-year-old widow listened to her heart, stole a few moments of kiss and bliss before that old anguish came calling once more. This was in V. Prakash's "Freaky Chakra", a freaky hit of sorts in some quarters. Then came the turn of men. Once again they did what came easily to them. Male bonding took on an all-new meaning. Scriptures preaching otherwise were set aside. Sodom was forgotten. And Mahesh Dattani was ready for critical acclaim, even if it meant box office failure for "Mango Souffle", the most direct film about men who like one of their own.
A little before these two films hit the silver screen, a little boy spilled the beans and much more in the pry-and-cry drama "Ek Chhotisi Love Story" before Dimple Kapadia added dignity to the act of an almost middle-aged woman sleeping with a man half her age. Her take on an open-ended marriage found takers in the metropolises, and "Leela" is still a much loved, much talked about film.
Now, in this new-age, new-wave cinema, it is Deepak Tijori's turn to add a whole new chapter. Something not probably seen in Hindi cinema in the past, something many would squirm over even now. But also something not many can deny that, yes, it does take place. At least in urban India where some women are ready to leave knitting needles at home and lay their hands on someone who thrills. You would be forgiven if you were to ask "Deepak Tijori, who?" Don't blame it on your memory working without an adhesive now. Deepak has not done anything worthy of note ever since your little one stopped being a toddler and started going to school on his first cycle. But he is the affable guy God made to play the second fiddle. He is the guy who looked good just so Aamir Khan could look better in "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander", he is the man who shared the silver screen with Akshay Kumar when the latter was trying desperately to give Mamta Kulkarni competition in the allergy-towards-clothes department. He is also the guy who tried his hand at carrying a film on his shoulders in "Santaan" and "Pehla Nasha". Well, ambition was soon tempered with pragmatism and Deepak's addiction to sole and sustaining stardom died a quick and timely death. He resumed his place where he belonged: as a fine, endearing sidekick of the hero, a guy who said his lines well, a guy who emoted well, a guy you did not mind seeing on the screen without being too much in love with him.
Now, he is doing something that he has not done in his career - trying his hand at direction in the forthcoming "Oops". But "Oops" is in the news not just for an unusual name but for its unusual subject. It is probably Bollywood's first crush with men who make a living being just men, a foray into the world where beefcake is more delicious than anything the kitchen can throw at you. Yes, "Oops" is the story of women who need no bodyguards but a gardener away from the sacrosanct precincts of home.
How did it come about? Deepak is ready to reveal it all. "My film is named `Oops' because it is the most natural thing one says after committing a mistake. The film is about three friends who make certain mistakes in their life and realise their folly. I wanted to make a film that I would like to go to a cinema hall to see myself. We have had enough of these gangster films and heroines dancing in Switzerland." Incidentally, "Oops" was shot on a shoestring budget of less than three crore rupees and has been canned in 44 days. It stars Kiran Janjani, Vikas Sethi and Adyahsa, friends of Deepak in real life.
Why not Deepak himself? "I would not have been suitable for a male stripper. I have an image," he says, adding, "any established actor would have been rejected in this role. So I cast newcomers. It also imparts a certain freshness to the film."
But Bollywood being Bollywood, Tijori insists there is much more to his film than just shedding inhibitions. "It is about values, it is about relationships," he pleads. We give him the benefit of doubt until he elaborates: "My film is about the real India. You think that audiences here are conservative. Well, with my experience I can say that Indians in America are more conservative than Indians back home. `Oops' is not conceived out of the blue. For so long we have heard of battered women, women denied equality and all that. But the fact is, there are women who have their own thing going, women who know what they want and how to get it. It is silly to think that women only talk of knitting and kitty parties. They are into stripping parties these days."
Got it? Well, if "Oops" is indeed based on a section of women that do exist in our society, where did Tijori get his inspiration from? "Well, we have stripping parties in Mumbai, we all know about them. They have boys who perform there. It is not demoralising in any way, anywhere. The story takes it from there. The actors - all newcomers - were initially apprehensive. They went to one such club, a male stripper performed there. They got confidence from it." Incidentally, Tijori did not tell his cast that they would be asked to shoot the scenes in the buff on a given day. He just decided to do it all one day, without prior notice, without prior announcement.
Yet, he insists again: "This film is a relationship-based story. It is not only about male strippers. When I showed the film to Americans in Los Angeles, there was awesome feedback. They were surprised at the bold theme. They could not believe it that such films were coming from India. I am sure it will be equally liked in India." The film is slated for release this April.
Talking of the film being accepted back home, Tijori believes it is time for change. "As long as the content of the film is new, it will be accepted, it will be welcomed everywhere. The audience needs a change. It is not going in for clichéd films anymore. Even blockbusters have not been to take an opening at the box office. On the other hand, a film like `Freaky Chakra' has not done badly." But isn't this so-called new wave, off-beat cinema confined to the metropolises? "This film is packaged for metro audiences in the sense it is built around the story of friends in a metropolis. However, at the end of the day, this film is about relationships. And relationships are universal. They do not exist in cities alone. A person watching this film in Bihar will be as satisfied as the one watching it in Delhi."
And don't we all know that desire remains the same, whether one is in Bihar or Delhi! So if temptation knocks, answer it the way you want! But take care not to have to say "Oops" at the end of it all!
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