BADAL
He’s out to wipe out every dark cloud
If there was an award for a young producer who came to Mumbai to make films, not just to make films but to make films freely, frankly and fearlessly, with a set of rules framed by himself, I can bet it would go to Salim, who started his career more than a decade and a half ago and made all kinds of films, big and small, some which succeeded and some which didn’t, but Salim had a will of his own. He knew he was not going to give up. He was not going to be stopped in his march to conquer to clear every badal (cloud) and come out shining, dazzling, successful. Salim who has faced all the travails that a producer faces, travails that change their lives, their faces, still looks as young as he looked when he first landed in Mumbai and his ambition, his dreams, his determination more than anything else are the same — a rare quality in men today who crumble after facing just one dark cloud of crisis. Salim who is a big name in the business of entertainment, a man whose movements, manipulations and manoeuvrings (all of them positive) are closely watched, specialises in tackling the stars which is considered the most difficult task by most producers. Salim has made a name for himself, a name which means so much for the stars, the directors, the music directors, everyone associated with his films. Like Rani Mukerji who is his discovery says: “I wish all the producers I meet are like my favourite producer, Salimji. He was the first man to give me a break. He was also the first to go out of his way to make everything comfortable for me which in turn helped me in giving a good performance in my first film Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat. The film didn’t do very well but my performance was noticed which later helped filmmakers to discover me. Luckily some of the best filmmakers remembered me and gave me good breaks. I am whatever I am today because of producer Salimji’s confidence in me, the kind of confidence very few filmmakers succeed in instilling in their artistes.”

Salim has just completed one of his many ambitious adventures, Badal. He had everything planned. He had learned from all his rash experiences and made a very strong film which gives the entire unit the confidence of banking on it. Says Salim: “Some of my recent films didn’t do as well as I wanted them to do. I could have been a frustrated man but that is one negative feeling I would never let walk anywhere near me. I had seen the quality work of director Raj Kanwar. I thought about Raj for a while and finally came to the conclusion that Raj Kanwar would direct my film. He proved my decision right as we went along from the casting stage to the final stages of the film. Raj cares for a good, sound and soothing subject. Raj cares for quality and excellence which he can get only if he is given the right opportunities, given all the things he needs that are necessary to make a good film. Raj is a brilliant technician who knows cinema and also a very sensitive artist. My Badal is a combination of both his excellence and his love for good songs and a good sentimental story. He is one of the new generation directors who will rule for years, I am sure that Raj has made a perfect entertainer in Badal. He has seen to it that Badal is one of the most talked about films and as a man with so many experiences and with all the sincerity I can say Badal is one of the first films to be made in the shortest possible time without compromising on quality. It is only after seeing the results of the film that I have decided to venture out to make some very big films which you will hear about soon, films that will make a difference to the films made in the year 2000, films that will set the trend for the time to come.”

Bobby Deol was so impressed by the project that he allotted bulk dates for Badal. And so was Rani Mukerji. “It is a love story. I know love stories cannot be very different. It is difficult to be different when you are making a love story but we have tried to do something that will give love a new meaning, a new character, a new depth to our love story. I am very happy with the performances of Bobby and Rani. The other artistes in the film add to the quality of the film. It is, frankly one of the most modern love stories which people of all times and generations will love and learn from,” director Raj Kanwar says.

And a Raj Kanwar film cannot be complete with quality music, “music that appeals to the soul” (Anu Malik). Sameer has written lyrics that go with the strong-soft subject. “I have used many ways, all kinds of ways in all kinds of cicrumstances to get the best out of every man and woman who has worked in Badal. I am confident it will inspire and impress,” Salim says.

His confidence, I hope, will conquer the dark clouds that are looming around menacingly. Salim’s Badal must storm out, burn out the dark clouds and usher in a new era of light. A light that will change the world around.

Ali Peter John