Kunal Kohli talks about about the naming of his first production TPTMHow did you finalise the title Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic ?I was looking for a title that spoke not just about the film but also about our lives. The magic in the title doesn’t refer to a magician’s magic but the that which we all need in our lives when things get really tough, when we’re down-andout and when all seems lost. We all pray for a little magic in our lives, that’s the magic I’m talking about in the title and in the film. We didn’t have a title but had a trailer ready to go with Tashan,so while writing the trailer I came up with a voiceover that said, “Hum sab ki zindagi mein thode se aansoo likhe hain, inhein mitaane ke liye hamein chahiye thodi si madad, thoda sa pyaar aur thodasa magic chahiye.”. The designer put the words thoda pyaar thoda magic in the poster layout and one of my assistants said, “Hey, that’s a good title,” and that’s how it came about. The title fits the film perfectly.
But isn’t it a tad longish title?The length of the title doesn’t bother me as it is very appropriate for the film. Also, I didn’t want a title from a Hindi film song as there are too many already. I feel an original name is always a clutter breaker, though titles from songs have their own advantage of being familiar as we all know the songs, but personally I prefer original titles.
After such a long wait for a title, now it seems to have run into trouble with Sahil Chadda claiming that he had registered it long back for his film.
The matter has been sorted out with the Producers’ Guild and they’ve allotted us the title. Why was the cast and crew of the film conspicuously absent at the unveiling of the title?Today, the publicity of a film is very crucial. We have a certain publicity plan in mind that I would not like to reveal now, but we felt that to unveil the promo and the title we shouldn’t have the stars present as we wanted the focus to stay on the title. Generally films start getting spoken about from the time they’re launched and the public identifies a film with that title for quite a while, but this hasn’t happened in our case. We just wanted complete focus on the title so that everyone knows that this film is called Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic (TPTM) and also why it’s called so.
You are also co-producing the film along with Yash Raj Films. How was the experience? I believe a director should own his films, not only for financial reasons but also for accountability and for passionate reasons - you spend a long time creating something, you do not want to give it up and you always want it to be yours for life, I’m very passionate about my films, I wish I could’ve produced all my three films, but I’m neither from the industry nor from a film family. I’m an outsider from a middle-class family who didn’t have the position or the resources to produce a film. After the success of Hum Tum and Fanaa, Yashji and Aditya Chopra felt that I was ready to turn producer. YRF backed me into getting into production, and hence this co-production deal.
Do directors make good producers?Ever since I wanted to be a director all the directors I’ve admired, been inspired by or been like my gurus (well, I didn’t get a chance to work with many of them but I believe I learnt from them by watching their films, like Eklavya did) were all producers too. Like Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor, Yash Chopra, Manoj Kumar, Ramesh Sippy, Vijay Anand, Mahesh Bhatt and Raj Khosla. Like them, I too wanted to see the words - produced and directed by Kunal Kohli.
The film is supposed to be based on the 1964 English classic Mary Poppins. Is that so?I don’t know how or why people keep talking about Mary Poppins without seeing the film. If it was so,we would have taken permission and made the desi version of it. Mary Poppins does not have four orphans who hate and want to take revenge from the main protagonist, I don’t remember Mary Poppins so well but I’m sure she wasn’t an angel from heaven either. TPTM is a very desi story with desi sentiments and desi entertainment. It’s nothing like Mary Poppins.
You have cast Rani Mukerji and Saif Ali Khan once again after Hum Tum.Saif is a very talented actor who has always excelled in whatever he took up - Dil Chahta Hai, Parineeta, Hum Tum, Omkara and Race were all different characters and he won accolades for all. TPTM has him in a role he’s never performed to date and I hope it turns out to be another film for which he gets a lot of acclaim. Rani is also essaying something she hasn’t done ever. I didn’t cast them together because of Hum Tum. TPTM is completely different.
Four orphans forced to stay with the hero against their wishes - the concept sounds very familiar. Wasn’t Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke on the same lines?When you see TPTM, you will realise that it is not similar to Hum Hain Rahi …as the reasons for them coming together and their equation with Saif are totally different. Lets please wait for the film to release before drawing parallels. Why are we always in such a hurry to say “Arre this film is copied from XYZ, pehle picture to dekh lo na!
Ameesha Patel has an “item” song. Was it necessary to have one in the film?Ameesha’s character has an important story element running through the film and she has a song. I don’t like the word “item” to be used for any of my songs.
What about Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s music? This is the first time I’ve worked with the trio and the experience has been fantastic. Like Hum Tum and Fanaa, Prasoon Joshi has again written lyrics and I hope the music of TPTM is as popular or more than that of Hum Tum and Fanaa. The music of this film is very strong.
Are you planning any more productions after the release of TPTM? And what are the films you are directing?I would like to produce films that I won’t direct myself , I would like to give a chance to some of my assistants too. I know first hand how difficult it is to get a break into the film industry, though its easier today than it was for me, I understand the pain and struggle a filmmaker has to go through as I’ve been through it. So I would like to help others direct films too. I wouldn’t bind anyone in a 2-3 film deal as has become the industry norm now, I’d like to create a happy environment that’s rewarding in every way for the people who work with me.
Did you ever envisage so much success, adulation and fame as a filmmaker?I think the problem today is that after making two hit films, the media (why blame the media only - even some of us filmmakers) start thinking “We have arrived’ and that our names should be taken with other established big directors. There’s so much media today that getting exposure after a hit film should not be looked as adulation. I find it very funny when after making 2-3 films people start talking about their school of films or how they have a certain style of cinema. Lets first have a body or work and give some more hits before being hailed as filmmakers who have countless fans. Let’s get real, we’ve just started! If we manage to survive ten years and 7-8 hit films, then its something worth talking about, but you know what, after that you don’t need to talk as your work talks for itself.
Hum Tum and Fanaa were well-received at the b-o. What are your expectations from TPTM?I hope the audience loves it. Right now I’m praying for Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic to happen in life too with this film.
