Kid Stuff

Aparajita Saha

The music of Mukta Arts' latest venture Rahul was released amidst much fanfare and celebrations in Juhu, Mumbai.

The film is one of several being produced by Mukta Arts as part of its efforts to promote quality films made in a relatively short time span and on a low-budget.

"Making a simple, low budget film within a short time frame is perhaps the most difficult task for any director," is how Mukta Arts chairman Subhash Ghai spelt out the challenge.

"It's easy to make a film with glamorous stars, fancy sets and special effects. The real challenge lies in telling a story in a straightforward manner minus the frills."

Chairing the audio release was 'Showman' Ghai himself. "Rahul," he explains, "is a simple film that has a lot to say. Audiences have grown, and they don't take just anything dished out by film-makers. They demand quality in terms of content and presentation.

"My prediction is that if Rahul is well received, the trends in cinema are going to change. Prakash (Jha, director of the film) has done a great job, Rahul is completely a director's movie."

The highlight of the launch was the presence of the Yash Pathak, protagonist of the film and all of four-and-a-half-year-old. The film unit, of course, knows him by another name -- Yash hilela nautanki , because he is constitutionally incapable of sitting still for a moment.

He may be a kid in years -- but he was all charm, practised ease and panache while performing the launch function.

"Working with Yash was both a delight and a challenge," says Prakash Jha, with all the air of a proud father talking of his offspring. "We conducted a nationwide search before zeroing in on him. He was perfect for the role, and through the shoot he never complained, never gave us any trouble. I feel very protective about him.

"As for the film, it was a subject that touched me deeply. Ghai's passion was infectious and I took it as a challenge to make this movie within the limited time period and resources."

Music composer Anu Malik, while describing the music of Rahul, said, "Since the music had to be from the perspective of a child and the film was not the usual love story, it wasn't simple to compose. After hearing the music, people say that the music isn't like Anu Malik's usual, and I take that as a compliment!

"It was only on Ghai and Prakashji's insistence that I undertook the musical score of the film, because they needed to complete everything in three months.

"I was busy with Yaadein at the time, and I didn't have the time. But they wouldn't take a 'no' and we somehow managed to get the tunes nailed down in a record 25 days!

"My favourite song is Ched na mujhko, which has a classical base to it, and is sung by Kavita Krishnamurthy and Hariharan."

Veteran lyricist Anand Bakshi hummed a few bars and remarked, "I like the music and the subject matter. This is one of my favourite works in recent times.

"There are various moods in this album, ranging from frothy to sentimental to tragic. Every song has depth and substance," says Filmfare award-winner Alka Yagnik, who has rendered two of the numbers. "I feel it's one of Anu Malikji's best works. I am honored to be a part of this film.

Also present were Ramesh Taurani of Tips and play back singers Sunidhi Chauhan, Ustad Sultan Khan, Mahalaxmi, and Richa Sharma.

The film's cast was represented by Jatin Grewal (model and winner of Gladrags Manhunt 1998), who plays the adult lead, as also Rajeshwari Sachdev, television artiste Mahesh Thakur, Parikshit Sahani, and Neena Kulkarni.

Conspicuously absent were leading lady Neha, and Gulshan Grover.

The film is due to hit the marquee in end-March.