What prompted you to direct Durga way back in 2002?
Durga, well, you know, sometimes films don’t work—not because they are bad, but because of the impact of your earlier films. The whole idea of making this film was because of Satya. When you ask me about Durga that is the first thing that comes to my mind. That’s exactly what happened with Durga—it came immediately after Satya.
23 Years of Durga: Satya star J.D. Chakravarthy on his directorial; “Maybe I should make Durga again”
Did you enjoy turning director so early in your career?
Well, the good thing was that it was a tremendous high. And the bad thing was also that it was a tremendous high. At that point in time, the South version worked well, so I decided to make it in Hindi. The moment I shared Durga‘s idea with Mahesh Bhatt Saab, he was very excited and wanted to produce the film.
Mahesh Bhatt wanted to produce Durga?
He wanted to be a partner with me in producing the film. But honestly, I don’t remember why that association never worked out. I seriously don’t remember why it fizzled out.
Do you think it was ahead of its time?
I really wish Durga had happened in these present times because that’s the kind of cinema that is working in Hindi today, especially films coming from the South.
The film did receive praise from some quarters.
Yes, Satya was talked about as a cult film. People took all the characters at face value and started believing in them as real. I remember Ramuji (Ram Gopal Varma) saying, after watching Durga, “I love Durga“—he felt it had those typical South Indian high moments that were really intense. But Ramu had his misgivings.
And they were?
Ramu told me that the problem was people had seen me as an actor in Satya, portraying a very intelligent, intellectual character. He added that if Durga had come before Satya, then Satya might not have worked. And he said he felt the same about Durga—that its impact was affected because it came after Satya. He predicted Durga would face the same challenge. He believed that if Satya had been just another commercial hit like the usual formulaic films, then Durga would have been added to my success list.
So, Satya was an impediment to Durga’s success?
Yes, Durga not working was because of Satya, but Durga happening was also because of Satya. That’s what I remember about Durga. Maybe I should make Durga again—just like we can make Satya again.
More Pages: Durga Box Office Collection , Durga Movie Review
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