Despite all the negativity and controversy surrounding the making of his Shahid Kapoor and Genelia D’Souza starrer, director Ken Ghosh has wrapped up principal shooting of his yet untitled film (no, it is not called Yahoo). Slated for early 2010, lets hope he recreates the magic of Ishq Vishq (2003).
However, there’s more to Ken. When he failed in his 12th standard, he became a dancer. Soon he made others boogie to his tunes by becoming a choreographer. By some quirk of fate, he managed to direct rap singer Baba Sehgal’s Dil Dhadke. And this effort established himself as a music video director with an attitude. “It was by accident and all because I said I would do a music video for Rs 80,000 when others were charging Rs three lakh,” Ghosh told me.
Over seventeen years and 100 music videos later, he is a 41-year-old TV serial producer, music video director and film director rolled into one. Ghosh spoke to me about the whys and wherefores of music video way back in 2002. Here are some excerpts from it.
Is acting easy?
I am a great actor, but put me in front of the camera and I will freeze. Then there are retakes after retakes. Even on the 15th retake, you have to act and remember your lines.
So who are the true actors?
Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Anthony Hopkins, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino… it’s the way they get into the character of the role they are playing… it’s the entire package and not one single thing that makes them true actors.
Any similarities and dissimilarities between music videos and feature films?
Today, music videos look like films. As far as looks are concerned, both are the same… you have to make them look glossy, you need to entertain, hold the attention of the audience and you need to tell a story. The only difference is a music video is three minutes and a film is three hours. The emphasis in videos is more on technique and less on content. But in films, it’s more on content.
Does casting couch exist in music video-making as well?
I am sure it exists but I haven’t tried it. (pauses) It exists wherever a woman needs a job and money. It all boils down to the woman. Men like to hit on every woman but it’s really the way a woman responds to his overtures. Eighty per cent of the time, it’s because of the way the woman responds to men talking. The remaining 20 per cent is rape. My advice to girls is to gauge the man they are talking to before they do anything with him.
Dancer, cameraman, editor and now director. Which role do you like most?
Director, of course, because there’s a little bit of everything in it. You can do whatever you want. Look and shoot at pretty girls and even say, ‘Very good, one more take’.
Any song picturisation that took a long time to film?
The making of Teri Yaad song in the Hindi film Kartoos, It took eight months from start to finish. The graphics were processed at three special effects studios in Mumbai, including my studio.
What has been the response to the MTV star hunt so far?
We have got over 5,000 entries from 117 cities of India like Agra, Bareilly, Chattisgarh, Muradabad, Ranchi, Shahjahanpur and Ujjain. (The winners of the star hunt get to star in his film Ishq Vishq)
Do you believe in God?
I am very aware of him. I respect the guy. But no, I don’t go to places of worship.
Do you believe in destiny?
You make your own destiny.
Are there many women behind your success?
Yes. If there is peace on the home front, you don’t carry the baggage at home to work. And that way, my wife Ritu has been supportive. Now there’s one more woman in my life, Shanaya. She is eight months old and my daughter.
What’s your greatest fear?
It was heights. But I got over it by sky diving in Orlando and flying an aircraft for 10 hours.
Don’t you think a teenage movie like Ishq Vishq should be directed by a teenager?
I am a teenager… at heart and 18 till I die.
What’s the future of music videos?
Two years ago, I waxed eloquent about how there’s going to be a shakeout but all that was rubbish, music videos are here to stay. It’s become a sub art form, if I can use the phrase.
You say you have grown up on international music videos. Any particular brand of music that inspired you most?
It’s just music. I listen to ghazals, rock, Hindi film music…
What are the different formulas on music videos that are floating around and which formula do you use?
You have the babe videos where you just have girls. There are location videos where you go to an exotic place and start shooting. Then there are story videos like love and wedding songs. Depending on the song and the budget, I use say, Formula 44. I can make a fully clothed woman look sensuous while others make videos where the woman is wearing very little and is still looking vulgar.
Which model do you like most and why?
Lisa Ray (takes a long pause). Look at her, man. She’s great to work with… she’s a professional. The other day, I was doing a shoot with her where she was hung by a cable and had to jump off a 12-storey building, and she did it. It was a pen ad for Add 2K.