Ramayana producer Namit Malhotra speaks about his inspiration and his guiding light which kept him going through the entire project, in an exclusive interview to DC.
How does it feel to see the film being received well?
The first word that comes to mind is ‘gratitude’. We have been carrying this responsibility for almost a decade. So, to see it finally being appreciated by the entire world is very special.
When and where did this passion come from?
Well, as I was busy building my business in the West – in the US, Canada, UK – it became increasingly apparent to me that until we used the power of our storytelling to present the greatest story of our culture, the perspective that people have of our industry would not change. Hollywood has no idea about the Indian film industry, the way it works, our deep history and legacy. And I also felt that the world saw us through the lens of say a Slumdog Millionaire or a Gandhi, where we were always the victim. I felt we had to present Indian culture and Indians as unique, show why we don’t have to create conflict and wars to take over the world. In fact, ‘Ram Rajya’ is the ideal world order and it is so deeply embedded in Indian culture that we should be able to showcase that with confidence. That was the origin of the idea of Ramayana.
Were you not afraid that you wouldn’t be able to pull off the project’s scale?
After spending 30 years in the industry, having won so many Oscars, there is a sense of responsibility. Maybe if I was 21, it would be a different than when I’m 50. If I don’t do it now, then when? Ultimately, we have to leverage our learnings to present something at this scale.
What kept you going with the project even when it seemed an impossible dream?
When you study the ‘Ramayana,’ you appreciate the fact that Lord Ram himself had a life full of obstacles. And his ability to overcome every obstacle was central to his becoming a Maryada Purushottam. While none of us can become that, it also shows you that challenges are nothing but the journey of life and our ability to surmount obstacles. And so, to me, the obstacles to the project became like Lord Ram’s journey, emerging victorious. Actually, we did not face even 2% of what he had to overcome. That was my guiding light.
What is your response to the purists ?
The fact is that none of the versions are complete on their own. The Swayamvar and the Lakshman Rekha incidents do not exist in the ‘Valmiki Ramayan.’ But if someone were to make a film without these elements, people would object. There are 300 versions of the Ramayana. We have made our film using the ‘Valmiki Ramayan’ as the base. We’ve also taken from the other Ramayana that are equally celebrated.
So, what next?
We have to still finish the Ramayana: Part 2 is next. What you have seen is the introduction. The main conflict and the main story are still to come. That is going to take up all our time and effort for the next two years.
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RAMAYANA MAKES BOX-OFFICE HISTORY
Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1 has entered the 1,000-crore worldwide club in eight days, becoming the third-fastest Indian film to achieve the feat. Pushpa 2 holds the record with six days, followed by Dhurandhar: The Revenge, which reached the milestone in seven days.
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