Dharani Dharan interview – “I have not made Jackson Durai just to stack up awards”
Jackson Durai (JD), directed by Dharani Dharan of Burma fame, is this week’s big release. Belonging to the horror comedy space, JD is far removed from the director’s first film. When asked about this genre shift, this is what Dharani Dharan told Kaushik LM in this interview for Only Kollywood,
“It was not a conscious decision to shift genres. I always want to do different kind of films and at the same time, there was a demand from producers for horror films. I had an original pre-independence story about the British and an Indian freedom fighter, and had a spark to turn this into the horror comedy format. When I approached a producer with this idea, he immediately liked it. After Sathyaraj sir came in, the scale got bigger. Jackson Durai is a period horror comedy, which starts in the current era and goes back to the 1940s. The character ‘Bullet Sathya’ solves a mystery.”
Dharani adds more about this film’s promising lead cast, Sathyaraj and son Sibi,
“Some lead heroes felt that Sathyaraj’s role had more prominence. I then approached Sibi and after he read the bound script, he understood his role’s importance. He fitted into the role perfectly. Their combo also boosts the business prospects of the film. Both have delivered more than I ever expected.”
Was it difficult to convince Sathyaraj to play a ghost with garish makeup?
“I narrated the story to him for about 15 mins or so and also delivered a PowerPoint presentation, which had all the references and other details. He was much impressed and after 2 days, he gave his nod of approval for the film. He showed great dedication and even tonsured his head for this role, despite being a part of many Telugu films. He elevated my writing to lofty heights.”
More about the visuals, sound, VFX and makeup aspects of the film …
“The VFX work will be subtle and has blended well with the live action. Only about 20% will be showy, as we wanted the content to reach across to the audience in a clear cut, obvious manner. Makeup has been done by Vinod and it won’t be too gory, as audiences have to be invested in the film throughout. Sync Cinema have worked on the sound, and they previously worked on Maya too. We have paid close attention to the sound effects, mixing and at the same time, it will be commercially appealing too.”
Finally, how will JD differ from the numerous other safe bet films in the horror comedy genre? 
“The so-called safe bet films are as risky as the experimental films. I don’t want to hype it up too much. Jackson Durai is a normal film, and the audiences have to come open-minded to watch it. It’s not hardcore scary like ‘The Conjuring’ films. It is a whodunit mystery thriller with comedy elements throughout. There will be a solid story and I believe the audiences will like it.
JD is meant for the masses and I have made it a point to make it accessible to the lowest common denominator. There will also be genuine scenes where the film making will stand out. It will be worth the audience’s time and money, and I have not made this film just to boost my reputation and stack up awards.”
Best wishes to Dharani Dharan and team for a successful outing with Jackson Durai.
Interviewed by Kaushik LM
