Aamir Khan's 'Ghajini' is doing outstanding business. We catch up with 'Ghajini' director, AR Murugadoss...
'Ghajini' is a huge success. It must be a happy moment for you?
AR Murugadoss: Of course my crew and I are elated. We were always sure that the film will be a big hit but the collections are twice of what we expected.
How has the response been to the Hindi 'Ghajini' down South?
AR Murugadoss: The film is a big hit in most south territories like Hyderabad. Since the audiences already knew the storyline, they accepted the film whole-heartedly. And since we changed the last 20 minutes of the film, there was a curiosity factor on what's different in the climax, which worked to the film's advantage.
So which is more success – the Hindi 'Ghajini' or the Tamil 'Ghajini'?
You will be surprised to learn that the collections of the Hindi 'Ghajini' have already surpassed the overall gross collections of the Tamil 'Ghajini'. The Hindi film industry has a huge national and international market and one can certainly not compare it with the reach of South cinema.
Who has done a better job – Aamir Khan or Surya?
AR Murugadoss: It wouldn't be fair to compare the performances of the two actors as both have given their 100% to the films. But if you still ask me, I would say Aamir Khan has performed much better action than what Surya did in the original.
Some are of the opinion that 'Ghajini' was too heavy on action.
AR Murugadoss: Well, I don't think so. And if they do believe that it's probably because there has been no out-and-out revenge film in Hindi cinema for the last 10 years. So it may have been a little difficult for the viewer to digest the action at first go. Hindi films lack the emotional journey of the protagonist wherein the angst is vent out through action. 'Ghajini' was certainly an action film but not violent.