Indian filmmaker Faisal Saif is not a man who likes to take the easy road. The movies he has made so far, Jigyaasa and Come December, were all controversial, with Come December being banned by Indian censors twice. But Saif does not let this stop him, and it looks like his new movie Sofia is going to be another movie that will make the cheeks of the censors turn red. But Faisal is passionate about his movies and his art, and is more than willing to fight for his films. Which makes for a very interesting chat with a very passionate man.
Q: Was making movies something that you have always wanted to do, even already when you were a little kid?
A: First of all! I would like to thank you for Interviewing me. Yes! from my childhood itself, I always wanted to make movies... Tell stories. Tell stories my way! I really liked to watch all kinds of films. Godd, Bad, Worst whatever. But i loved to watch a film!
Q: How did you break into the movie industry? What was your first movie related job?
A: I started my career as an Associate Director here in India. As an Independent Director, I got my first job as a Music Video Director. I directed music videos for several Music Companies here in India.
Q: How did you get the opportunity to direct your first movie? Can you tell a little bit about what it was like to make your first movie?
A: As an associate director I came across a Make Up Designer who lived his life as a Make Up Artist by day and a Gay Gigolo by night. I was so fascinated by his story that I decided to write a script on him. When his story was completed, I went door-to-door seeking a Producer. After lots and lots of struggle, finally I found one producer who was kind enough to make this movie. That is how I made my first feature film Come December (Which is Yet To Be Released Worldwide).
Q: Your first movie that was released in cinemas, Jigyaasa, has sparked some controversy. Can you explain to me what the controversy was about?
A: Jigyaasa is a Film that will always make me proud as a Film Maker. I had a great experience making this film, When people (especially women) come up to me and congratulate me for making Jigyaasa, it makes me feel like I am in the Seventh Heaven. When Jigyaasa was about to be released, some people thought that this film was based on the Life Of Indian Sex Goddess Mallika Sherawat (Actress From India). Later there was some objectionable scenes in the movie that had a character named Qamaal Hussain, which made people think that I was talking about South Indian Super Star Kamal Hassan. Kamal Hassan has a BIG fan following among South Indian Audiences, and I started recieving death threats from his fan club. Later on I went ahead and lodged a police complaint about it and the matter was solved.
Q: I understand that your movie Come December was banned by Indian censors twice. Can you explain why it was banned, and what your opinion about that is?
A: According to the Indian law IPC 377, homosexuality was a Crime! This was the main problem that occured with the Indian Censorship. The other issue was that Come December had a Tagline "Based On A True Story", which later I had to remove. There was a scene in the film where the actress tries to seduce this gay gigolo. The Indian Censors also took this as an objection. My film was the first feature film in India that spoke about homosexuality. And three years earlier, according to Indian censors, our Indian audience was not ready to face this film. We went ahead in courts and finally the high court permitted the film with an A certificate (NC 17) but they still gave 17 major cuts. I was very depressed by this though, that at the end of the day a film's fate is decided by 5 to 6 people.
Q: How difficult is it to make movies when you constantly have the possibility of your movie being banned by censors? Do you think this limits your creativity?
A: Banning a film according to me is like handicapping or killing a filmmaker. But we have to follow our Indian censor board and respect it's rules and boundaries. From Come December I have learnt my lessons I guess!
Q: You seem to seek out controversial subjects for your movies. Do you like to spark controversy, or do you think these are subjects that should be adressed in movies, but haven't been done so yet?
A: I don't purposely choose a Controversial Subject for my films. I only follow the lines "The best story is the story which they don't want you to tell". I only try to tell a story which I think that no one has tried to tell before. Controversial or not, it's the audiences that decides.
Q: Does the controversy make it more difficult for you to get movies made? Or do you feel it opens doors?
A: No not at all! No controversial film can be treated as Open Doors. But yes! If it's a film that tries to portray a reality, It is always welcomed by the people. So sometimes yes! A controversial film is not easy to make.
Q: Aren't you afraid that the fact that your movies are controversial makes people overlook the qualities of the movie, and those of you as a director?
A: I personally belive that when you try to make a hard hitting film or a rash film, then peple are so involved in your story that they may ignore any bad qualities of yours, and only love the way you treat cinema. But a filmmaker's approach must be good.
Q: You not only direct, but also write the screenplays for your movies. How do you come up with your ideas for new movies?
A: First I go for a 'Faisal-Google-Search'. My search includes the taste of present cinema. What is accepted and rejected by the people. I try to meet various people with their good OR bad stories. Then I try to write a few stories of my own sitting in my kitchen (Because that is the place where no one disturbs you at night, especially not your wife). After writing them, I read it like I'm the audience. If the story hits me, Only then do I go ahead with my final treatment on my computer.
Q: Can you tell me what your new movie Sofia is going to be about?
A: Sofia is the film that i am presently filming here in India - Mumbai. It is based on a true story again. It is about a rich Jew nymphomaniac woman who later on joins high class prostitution here in India. It stars international award winning actress Siboney Lo from Chile playing Sofia, along with Aushim Khetarpal and Gauri Karnik (One of my favourite actresses in india). After Sofia I will immidiately start with my very close to heart love story OSAMA.
Q: You've won a lot of awards with your movies, what does it feel like to win an award?
A: It is an honor to win an International award. It makes you feel like finally your work is seen and appreciated by the people. You sometimes or always try to give your blood and even your last breath to make your films!
Q: How would you describe your personal style?
A: I love to perform for my actors who do not follow the script. I love to act for my actors behind the camera. I respect and keep all my actors and crew like my kids.
Q: I read some interviews with people who worked with you, and they all say that you are a dedicated director, but still you are able to maintain a relaxed and warm atmosphere on the sets of your movies. How do you maintain this when you are making a movie, because I can understand that directing a big picture can be quite stressful?
A: It is my duty, I suppose, to keep my actors and crew relaxed on the set. Because when you make a film, it is not only a film, but also a Vision that is seen by millions of people after it is released. And for making this vision feel true and accurate, you have to have a relaxed and funny atmosphere on the set. If your actors and crew are happy with you, your battle is already half won.
Q: It says in the biography on your website that you are the most mischieveous and naughty person on earth. How did the writer of your biography come up with that?
A: Great Question! The writer of the biography is my wife. She is my critic. She thinks that I am a big and mischievious KID! Some of my actresses have complimented the same to me. I love to play pranks, create jokes, make people laugh etc. It is very easy to make a person CRY, But it is very hard to make a person LAUGH!
To read more about Faisal, you can check his website at www.faisalsaif.net.
There should be more filmmakers like Faisal Saif in India. Let's flush out cowardly filmmakers (do they desrve the title?), who offer out of their toilet holes, heroes(cowards?) who have nothing to look forward to in the world except Love (aka Super Selfishness), dance on the streets, on buses, trains and even temple roofs and are brain-dead (use violence to solve their problems) and villains who stink worse than sewer rats.
The Indian cinema scene needs heroes like Saif to educate the masses and not those cowards who call themselves directors out to insult the intelligence of the audience and make a quick buck.
95% of Indian Movies should carry WHO Mental Health warning.
Posted by: freevideoworkshop | May 22, 2007 at 07:09 AM
Why don't you also show the news about Faisal Saif's latest film Osama. It is said that Daniel Pearl's beheaded scene is shown in this film.
Posted by: Shweta T | April 02, 2008 at 06:54 PM
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Posted by: shailu | July 06, 2008 at 01:59 PM
I say let Faisal Saif make Gay Porn as well. Bloody wanker yaar.
Posted by: Tina Mumbai | January 27, 2009 at 05:47 PM
I saw his movie Jigyaasa. Awesome man! This dude got guts!
Posted by: Hritesh | November 28, 2009 at 01:21 AM
Is Faisal Saif a 'Gay' too? He looks soooooo hot!!!
Posted by: Archie | February 07, 2010 at 12:10 PM
Faisal Saif is straight i guess. He is not married but he is into a living relationship with someone. He was having an affair with actress Rituparna Sengupta!!!
Posted by: Kunal S | March 28, 2010 at 04:54 PM
Faisal is having an affair with Meera i suppose.
Posted by: Omir Bhaskar | July 20, 2010 at 10:30 PM