Mani Ratnam recreates Bombay in Chennai for ‘Guru’
It's
arguably one of the most lavish sets ever created
for an Indian film. For his much talked-about Hindi
venture Guru, filmmaker Mani Ratnam
has recreated an entire era, representing a slice of
Mumbai in the 1950s.
The set, built by art director Sameer Chanda,
has roads with trams as they used to ply on the
streets of the 1950s, houses and hordes of junior
artistes dressed in clothes that appear to be
tailored in that era.
Those who've seen the set say the detailing of the
architecture and mood is so meticulous that one is
instantly transported to the Bombay of the 1950s.
The location of this marvelous set was kept a
complete secret from the public and even the
artistes.
In fact Mani hasn't narrated the entire script to
anyone except Abhishek Bachchan who plays the
title role and is in the film from the beginning to
end.
Says a source from within the unit, “No actor from
Mani's repertoire has ever had a chance to play a
role like the one Abhishek plays in Guru. His
character starts in his 20s in the Bombay of 1950s
and ages to 65. Abhishek not only had to put on
weight but had to be fitted with a specially made
bodysuit to make him look bulky and obese. It took
him four hours every day in the sweltering sun just
to get into the bodysuit and another hour at the end
of the day to get out of costume. But at the end of
the day the effort was worth his while.”
It's
arguably one of the most lavish sets ever created
for an Indian film. For his much talked-about Hindi
venture Guru, filmmaker Mani Ratnam
has recreated an entire era, representing a slice of
Mumbai in the 1950s.
