R Ghosh, TWF, Bollywood Trade News Network

Q:You are known for making serious films. So why this change all of a sudden?

A:(Laughs). It is a change definitely and I wish it's something I wanted to do for a while now. I love making films and good films can be from any genre. Yes, it might seem a bit surprising for many that I am making a comedy but I don't find it surprising at all. It's only that I came across a good script that could be made into a comedy, hence I am making it.

Q:So, does this film also have a social message? I mean is it a satirical comedy?

A:Ha...ha...ha... It again all depends on the audience. If they try and find out a social message they might but I didn't have any intentions. Comedy has a wide range from satire to caricature to slapstick. Mine is to a great extent a romantic comedy. As a filmmaker I haven't tried to give any social message though the film touches upon quite a few areas of the Indian rural society.

Q:How did the idea of making a comedy come up?

A:It's to a great extent from my personal experience. (Smiles). I need to tell you a story then which will make you laugh.

Q:And what's that story...

A:It all happened in front of my eyes because this used to happen in my office. Long time back there was a peon in my office, who was illiterate...so much so that he couldn't even read. Forget writing. It started after he got married when he used to exchange letters with his wife who lived in the village. This person had to take the help of someone from the office to write the letters as well as read it where as his wife knew how to read and write. And we always used to read him those letters....some of them were quite intimate. That would at time embarrass the peon and we used to smile. That is how the idea came up.

Q:So WELCOME TO SAJJANPUR touches upon illiteracy?

A:That's only the backdrop; otherwise it's a hilarious film. You won't stop laughing. The film's protagonist Shreyas is one of the few literate people in the village of Sajjanpur, who writes letters for others sitting by the side of the post office.

Q:That sounds interesting...

A:Yes because there's the protagonist's vested interest behind all this. Mahadev, always wanted to become an author but couldn't, so he writes letters for them. At times he also manipulates them to make the letters more interesting....

Q:And what was the reason behind roping in young actors like Amrita Rao and Sheyas Talpade after working with serious actors like Naseerudin Shah, Om Puri, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Smita Patil and Shabana Azmi...

A:You answered it yourself. It's because they are young. There's no other reason apart from this. But I am satisfied that both have done a great job....more importantly Amrita and Shreyas are ready to learn and don't have any hang-ups.

Q:Okay, how do you see the future of comedy films today? Initially when directors like Priyadharshan and David Dhavan started making comedies they were well received but now most of the films aren't working.

A:I think so long there's a future for tragedy, there is a future for comedy also. It all depends on how good a story is how smartly you tell them. I must say they have done an absolute brilliant job by changing the taste of the audience.

Q:Will you be making more comedies?

A:Why not? I am already working on another script.

Q:On a different note... you must have heard about the Singur issue and the unrest going on there?

A:Yes, I have and I must say the situation is grave.

Q:Do you think it's going to have a solution sooner?

A:That's very difficult but whatever is going on there will have a far reaching effect on the state. It's not that only the people of Singur will suffer but everyone in the state.

Q:Would you like to make a film based on this issue someday?

A:Ha...ha...ha I have really not thought about it yet.