Akhtar saw Mukkabaaz & said, ‘You don’t like making money’: Anurag
In a candid conversation, acclaimed filmmaker Anurag Kashyap revealed that renowned screenwriter Javed Akhtar had a differing opinion on his critically acclaimed film, Mukkabaaz. The film, starring Vineet Kumar Singh, was a gritty portrayal of the world of Indian boxing, and its non-linear narrative and unconventional ending had sparked a lot of debate and discussion. According to Anurag, Javed Akhtar watched the film and then shared his thoughts with him, which were both surprising and insightful.
In an interview, Anurag Kashyap recounted the conversation with Javed Akhtar, saying, “He told me, ‘You’ve a problem. You don’t like making money’.” Anurag was referring to the fact that the film’s ending, which saw Vineet Kumar Singh’s character, Shravan, lose his boxing match and ultimately give up on his dream to become a wrestler, was unconventional and didn’t follow the traditional hero’s journey arc.
The statement by Javed Akhtar is a telling commentary on the commercial pressures that often influence the creative decisions of filmmakers. It suggests that Akhtar believes Anurag Kashyap’s reluctance to compromise on his artistic vision and show his protagonist winning at the end of the film was a major factor in its commercial underperformance.
Anurag’s response to Akhtar’s comment is telling. He said that he wouldn’t have made the film if he had wanted to show Vineet’s character winning because he wanted to portray the harsh reality of Indian sports. He believes that the film’s unconventional ending was a necessary step to highlight the struggles and disappointments that athletes in India face.
Mukkabaaz was a critical and commercial success, but it was also a film that polarized audiences. Some viewers appreciated its unflinching portrayal of the dark underbelly of Indian sports, while others felt that the film’s non-linear narrative and unconventional ending made it hard to connect with the protagonist.
One of the major criticisms of the film was that it didn’t provide a clear resolution to the protagonist’s journey. Shravan’s character arc is marked by disappointment and defeat, which can be frustrating for audiences who are used to seeing heroes overcome adversity and emerge victorious. However, Anurag Kashyap’s decision to subvert this expectation was a deliberate choice to highlight the harsh realities of Indian sports.
In an interview, Anurag Kashyap had said that he wanted to show the struggles that athletes in India face, including poverty, lack of resources, and lack of support. He believed that by showing Shravan’s defeat, he could highlight the systemic issues that prevent Indian athletes from achieving success.
Anurag’s decision to take a risk on an unconventional narrative was a bold one, and it’s clear that Javed Akhtar’s comment was a reflection of the commercial pressures that often influence the creative decisions of filmmakers. However, Anurag’s commitment to his artistic vision has paid off in the long run, as Mukkabaaz has become a cult classic and is widely regarded as one of the best Indian films of the past decade.
In conclusion, the conversation between Anurag Kashyap and Javed Akhtar serves as a reminder of the tension between artistic vision and commercial pressures that often exists in the film industry. While Javed Akhtar’s comment may have been a critique of Anurag’s decision to subvert traditional narrative structures, it also highlights the importance of staying true to one’s artistic vision, even in the face of adversity.
