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Jungle tunes

Vivek Fernandes

I strode forward with all the confidence of a seasoned reporter.

“Arre kya kar rahe ho, yaar, get out of the way... Camera roll ho raha hai, boss." The television crews, obviously, didn’t appreciate my enthusiasm.

I felt foolish as I turned around to see a colleague gesticulating weirdly… and violently. Oh! Got it! I was to crawl… under the cameras this time!

I edged my way to the dais and placed my mike on the already crowded table.

Just as Fardeen Khan, Jungle's love-stuck blazer-clad hero, was telling the assembled media people about how the movie was a wild incredible adventure and, particularly, about how much he enjoyed working with Ramgopal Varma! "I'd give an arm and a leg to work with him again," said the Khan, who desperately needs a hit after his disastrous debut, Prem Aggan.

Urmila, on the other hand, did not seem as comfortable. But she gamely played her part as she lauded the film and looked gorgeous in a dull gold ensemble. "Jungle has been treated in a very realistic manner. All the aspects of the film, from the performances and the attitude to the looks and camera shots, have a realistic feel about them," she emphasised and remphasised with a smile.

She urged everyone to see Jungle. "You must all watch the film and see the part I play. My role in the film is very hard to describe in a few words. And let me tell you, although the soundtrack is for Jungle, the songs are not jungli."

Which tedious pun seemed to be the theme of evening as far as the Jungle team was concerned. You don't believe us? Read on...

Director Ramgopal Varma: "I hope the movie will be a success otherwise Bharat Shah (the producer) and the public will drive me into the jungle."

Composer Sandeep Chowta: "I agree with Ramgopal Varma completely because I've worked with a lot of conviction to create this soundtrack. If things don't work out, there's only one place for me to go -- the jungle."

Villain Makrand Deshpande (of Satya fame): "Ayyo ayyo Rama, Satya se leke Jungle tak ho gaya hungama."

Varma was quite happy about the way the film has shaped up. He praised his cast, especially Fardeen and Urmila who, he said, had done a wonderful job. "It’s a brutal film and a love story," he said, "but the dominant factor is the tension. The jungle is in control and will keep you on the edge of your seat."

He was rather pleased with the soundtrack as well; he felt it has captured the ambience of the jungle. The Madras-based Chowta had earlier teamed with Varma for Satya and Mast.

Chowta too seemed rather pleased with the music; he felt it had a more Indian feel as compared to his earlier work. "But it's up to the audience to decide."

Sunil Shetty had brought along wife Mana. He seemed the most relaxed of the Jungle crew. "I play a forest officer, so I didn't have to really prepare for the role. I'm a trained martial artiste and, after Border, I've become like a commando myself."

Shetty added that working with Varma itself was preparation enough since the director tended to get his actors into their characters even before shooting began. "Ramu is one person who works a lot on paper before he begins working on film, so he knows exactly what he is doing. One of the other reasons I want the film to succeed is that, once it does, Fardeen will be exactly where he deserves to be."

Also factored in were three samplers from the movie's songs, which I must say, were much better than anything else that had happened that evening. Even though most film scores today are not worth a mention, Jungle’s soundtrack deserves one. The audience seemed to like it, so did I. Which makes me hope the movie will not disappoint!