For a man who sleeps at sharp 10.30 pm, the party scene can be a bit overwhelming. So, after a hectic nightout, Mani Shankar, talks about his forthcoming film Knockout, armed with a strong cup of coffee. After a grand showing where L.K. Advani “was almost moved to tears”, Mani says that he was touched to see the audience hooting and clapping after the trial run in Delhi recently.
“Advani hugged me and said that the issue that he had raised was beautifully presented in the film and despite the fact that it is a thriller, it managed to retain the strand of patriotism right till the end,” said Mani.
Advani had said that the black money that was stashed away in foreign banks in unnumbered accounts should be brought back as it will give a boost to the economy, and taking this as his central peg, Mani wrote the story of Knockout after extensive research that left him shocked. “What left me numb was that we have allowed ourselves and our nation to be cheated. As Indians when we see the film, we will not be disappointed as it elevates you and gives you a feeling of euphoria. The film as I see it is the answer to a call Advani had given few years ago and Bollywood has answered it with this film,” he adds.
Interestingly, Mani’s research included a trip to Switzerland, where he met a Swiss banker who at first welcomed him with a warm smile, which quickly changed to disgust when he got to know that he wasn’t opening an account, but had come to investigate the process involved in stashing away “illegal money”. “I think I am specially proud of this film as I made it with honesty and in its purity lies its power, it has the masala to rivet the audience and despite it being a controversial issue, I think what we have said is that corruption will not go, no matter which government comes to power, but what we need to ‘knockout’ is the gloom, and look at the positive side of things,” he adds.
Mani is a man who likes to get beneath the skin of the subjects he explores, maybe that’s why when he made Tango Charlie, he travelled with BSF jawans and understood the art of guerrilla warfare, to give his film that edge of chilling reality. “I wanted to raise and explore the question about how we can bring back that `70 crore stashed away in Swiss banks accounts and the art of cracking codes. It is a film based on Chanakyaniti (Arthshastra) and it shows how Sanjay Dutt cunningly tackles corruption and breaks the nexus between powerful people who worked as a team to reveal the truth behind shady deals. And it offends me when people say that it is inspired by Hollywood film, Phone Booth, as I have a complex multilayered film, not a one dimensional one, which is based on a particular incident and place,” he clarifies.
Mani is a friend who can see the potential of an actor, maybe that’s why he feels Sanju baba was perfect for the role. “He is a man who has seen the pain and pleasure, ups and really low downs and his face has the wisdom which comes with life changing experiences. I think he is an effortless performer, who can hold his emotions beautifully and he is the finest human being I have ever met. He could bring out the whole art of statecraft in a delightful way, like no other actor can,” he adds.
But in an industry where no one can predict the future, Mani has learnt to accept everything “failure and success” with humility. “I think I have a winner in my hands, but I also know that I must accept whatever comes my way,” says Mani. And the talented filmmaker knows that there is always home (Hyderabad) to go back to, to rewind and rejuvenate as “the air of the city is magic, it refreshes your soul and even though Mumbai is work, Hyderabad is my city”.