Interview: Irfan Kamal
By: Simran Mody, India Correspondent
While many are claiming his latest film on India’s slum life is a significant upgrade from Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, all Thanks Maa director Irfan Kamal can think about is working with Bollywood superstar and A-list actor Salman Khan.
Indeed, the signs of Kamal’s ambitions were everywhere, as various scenes within the just-released Thanks Maa featured actual movie posters from some of the director’s favorite films featuring Khan.
“Salman plays a very important role in the film,” Kamal begins to explain in his chat with the press last week. “Shams Patel’s character is a big fan, and we see posters of Salman’s films like Tere Naam and Saawariya throughout the film. Considering how important Salman is to the theme, I badly wanted to show my film to him.”
Of course, Kamal has yet to have the opportunity to give Khan a private screening, but the filmmaker is certainly happy the movie itself is a reality. After all, he told the press how he invested more than three years in developing his story of a street kid and his search for an infant’s mother.
The investment appears to be paying off, as not only has the film been well-received by critics, but the lead child actor won a National Award in the Best Child Artist category.
Still, Kamal wanted Khan to be a part of the film in some manner, as the story was apparently crafted specifically for him.
“When I wrote Thanks Maa, the first person I narrated it to was Salman,” Kamal announced. “He was very excited about the film then. I don’t know what happened after that. Salman’s father Salim Khan Saab has seen the film, but not Salman.”
And it was not just Salman but many industry insiders who were not apt to give Kamal a chance, despite his familial connection to the famed movie choreographer Master Kamal.
In an industry known for its nepotism and familial dynasty crossing generations, it was quite the anomaly for Kamal to have so many doors shut to him. Even so, Kamal was determined to make Thanks Maa a reality, even with the less-than-lukewarm reception his film received for nearly three years.
“I’ve knocked on every A-lister’s door in our industry. No one has even agreed to see my film except Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar and David Dhawan,” he frankly told the press. “But it’s okay. I’m not bitter. Of course, my father was a very important part of this film industry, but why should I be granted any favors because of my father? I want my film to be judged on its own merits; but for that to happen, people have to watch the film.”
Now that Thanks Maa is currently out in theaters and receiving critical acclaim, Kamal may actually have an easier time than he realizes in having his film not only be judged on its own merits but also garnering a large enough of an audience to make anyone who was a naysayer or door-shutter wish they gave this movie a second look.
Playing in theaters across India, Thanks Maa is a film delving into the sensitive issue of child abandonment in India and features a fresh cast that includes a debut performance by Master Shams Patel, who is the film’s lead.
Distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment and produced by Quantum Films, Thanks Maa was co-written Kamal and Vishal Vijay Kumar. Coincidentally, the production was also Kamal’s directorial debut.
According to news reports, Thanks Maa was an official selection at Edinburgh International Film Festival, Pusan International Film Festival, Montreal World Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, International Film Festival of India and Palm Springs International Film Festival.
(Editor’s Note: Indo-American News Service contributed to this story.)
