Imagining Bollywood film-makers' take on 'Super Deluxe'

“Bega kodi, sir. Film start aagbidate” (give it fast, sir. The film is going to start). At the Urvashi cinema hall in Bengaluru, a man’s impatience at the popcorn stall during the interval of the Tamil flick Super Deluxe made me wonder if he was director Thiagarajan Kumararaja’s fan.

Perhaps it's superficial to expect a strong fan base for a one-film-old director. But the man’s reaction best described the mood around Kumararaja’s second film -- a mix of eagerness and curiosity. Eight years is too long a time to wait. Especially if you give a glimpse of your brilliance like Kumararaja did with Aaranya Kaandam in 2011.

An analysis of Super Deluxe is now a done to death idea. The film has blown away critics and the public alike with its excellent handling of themes like black comedy, philosophy, sex and relationships.

Like an eccentric teacher, Super Deluxe has made heads turn in the school of cinema. And it schools a hoard of mainstream Bollywood film-makers, the most popular industry in the country. Super Deluxe offers a lesson on how to engage and entertain without compromising on uniqueness.

Let’s take a leap into the imaginary world of Bollywood to understand where Super Deluxe stands in today’s time. Caution: the people in this world are highly miffed but it won’t be hard for you to guess who we are talking about.

It’s a family get-together but the atmosphere is sombre. “Apparently the script is the biggest strength of Super Deluxe,” begins Wajid Khan. “And what a fancy title! Not as good as my Housefull though. But perhaps I should start focusing on scripts too. The film’s dark comedy is a slap on my slapstick comedies. Maybe, as a counter to my Housefull series, I can begin an 'Abandoned' series, reflecting on people’s ignorance to the sheer worthlessness of stories in my films,” Wajid wonders.

“Relax brother,” comforts Aarah. “Sequels can impress the audience. The year is nearing its second half, so I will wait for 2020. And then, I will announce Happy New Year Again. Or wait! I can slot a place for another heroine and make Om Shanti Om Shanti,” she says.

Upset with the discussion, Aarah’s husband Kunder silently drops the idea of Chaalis Maar Khan, a second instalment after Tees Maar Khan. Meanwhile, somewhere in a deserted area of Mumbai, cars are flying for fun before Mohit Shetty screams, “Cut it.” Mohit is busy filming Lions, the English remake of the cult classic Singham series. Turning to his assistant, he asks: “How can that Tamil flick be a thriller without a single action sequence? There is some Golmaal in this.”

The assistant director gathers the courage to respond. “Sir, you should do something different. Perhaps you can actually show the cars on the road? Always throwing them up in the air or blowing them up isn’t cool. How about being sensible enough to show a car race?”

Speaking of races, Gopal Varma is facing a race against time. By his own standards, he has slowed down on churning out ‘films’. He takes a breather to attend to a film correspondent at his office. “I don’t believe in taking eight years to make a dark film. I am a master at it,” he beams.

If rumours are to be believed, Gopal Varma, with ‘fire’ intact in his belly, has begun work on a sequel to Gopal Varma Ki Aag. Jealous with the success of Super Deluxe, he has titled it Gopal Varma Ki Jalan!

Meanwhile, in his huge mansion, a downcast Johar speaks to himself. “It’s a Kalank to our industry. None of our multi-starrers have matched the brilliance of Super Deluxe. It’s high time I cast ‘actors’ in multi-starrers. That way, Karma Productions won’t be a target of nepotism.”

While Johar cares, Bhai doesn’t. He picks up the phone and talks to his producer. “Listen, they are hyping the Tamil movie as ‘India’s best film’. Don’t get influenced. My policy is simple: pick a festival date for release and rush to collect your 100 crores.”

To preserve sanity in Bollywood, Kashyap, Motwane, Sircar and other sensible heads shower praise on Super Deluxe on Twitter and are inspired to further push the boundaries of film-making.
Note: Ardent Bollywood fans looking for quality work can try Super Deluxe, which stars Vijay Sethupathi, Fahadh Faasil, Samantha Akkineni and Ramya Krishnan. The not interested ones can head to Junglee, where, according to a popular review, elephants have outperformed the film’s hero.