I want to make Tom Cruise Dance: Farah Khan

Choreographer- Filmmaker Farah Khan was at her wittiest best at an in-conversation session at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) Goa. When she was told that she wears various hats, Farah answered,  “Primarily I am a mother to my three children. I have directed only 4 movies in 12 years. So that is something I have done the least.”

Asked about the challenges when it comes to choreographing a song, she opined, “It is easy to choreograph when a director has a clear vision about how the song has to look. Mani Ratnam has great clarity he pushes the technicians to give their best. Even Kundan Shah, Mansoor Khan…they all are great.”

On being accused of making masala films, Farah said, “Please don’t leave your brain or any part of your body behind. A general perception is that a film that has entertainment that has no value. Unfortunately, we all are prejudiced.”

“I love all sorts of films…I love them (Art films) for their serenity. I admire movies that let you be. The only thing a film shouldn’t do is to bore you. I don’t expect a film to educate you… at least in a preachy manner… because I went to school. I loved the film Munna Bhai that has entertainment along with a good message.”

Farah didn’t agree that films have an impact on society. She feels, “Gandhigiri would have been a big thing or India Pakistan treaty would have happened after Main Hoon Na if that was the case.”

When asked about being addressed as a female director, Farah said, “It’s not a gender-specific job. Don’t slot me. A lot of women directors accept and revel in that but I reject that.”

When asked about why there are very few women-centric films, Farah said, “Because there is a business module. A big-ticket film with a big hero tends to earn more. Audiences don’t go to watch films with women in the lead. They want to go and watch a big hero film over a female-centric film.”

On being blamed for making masala films, she clarified, “No director should be told what to make or not make. In all my movies I make sure that the woman has a job, they are not only there because they want to get married. You won’t see any obscenity or vulgar scenes in my films.”

Looking back at item songs in films, Farah said, “In the 90s and early 2000 we did a lot of songs. When we look back, we wonder if that really happened. Now as you grow and learn, you realize you shouldn’t do these kinds of songs where you objectify women. Now you are careful… sometimes people also get touchy about frivolous things but a lot has changed too.”

Talking about the song Deewangi from Om Shanti Om, Farah was asked if she managed to get all the actors she wanted. She laughed, “Aamir drove me crazy for ten days but he couldn’t make it because he was editing Taare Zameen Par… After 4 years he told me he didn’t want to do the song.”

Talking about the iconic Chaiyaa Chaiyaa song, Farah said, “We couldn’t get the permission to shoot at the station, so we managed to shoot it on top of a train and without rehearsals, we did it in 4 days…no one fell,” she joked and added, “We approached Shilpa to Raveena… a lot of other actors but no one did it. Malaika did the song and became a star after that.”

Talking about how there are fewer song and dance numbers nowadays, she explained, “Lot of songs today are non-lip sync. Soon you might not have songs to dance on.”

Talking about remixes, she said, “I am fed up of remixes. I don’t know why they are making them. It’s a call the music company has taken, because it is nostalgic. A retro song catches fast.”

She also spoke about her web show called Back Benchers. “It is a quiz show…sometimes we dumb it down when we know which celebrity is coming,” she said with a wink.

When asked about what she wishes to do in says the next 5 years, Farah promptly replied, “I definitely want to make Tom Cruise dance!