MUMBAI: Director Nikhil Advani has refrained including an item number in his films. I wouldn’t have an item song in my films as I would not like my seven-year old daughter to subscribe to a warped sense of sexuality from item numbers portrayed in films, director Nikhil Advani has said.
“While I cannot comment on the validity of item numbers in contemporary Hindi commercial films- to each his own- as a director I would refrain from incorporating them. I have a seven year old daughter who is at an impressionable age and as I writer, I believe I have the qualification to write a script strong enough not to require an item song to prop up a film,” he told Radioandmusic.com.
For Advani, it is not so much about marketability of a film but about taste and ethics. “It is not about taking a ‘risk’ by not having an item song but more about the guilt inside if I incorporated them (item songs) when I blame others for including them.”
Advani’s whose resume includes ‘Patiala House’, Kal Ho Ya Na Ho’ is ready with a new film ‘D Day’ slated for 19 July release. An all- out action-thriller based on the secretive RAW (Research and Analysis Wing), the film has a formidable cast of Irrfan Khan, Huma Qureshi and Arjun Rampal and no item songs.
“The background score has been done by Shankar Ehsaan Loy (SEL) who have incorporated a ‘non-traditional’ sound to a very grungy and gritty film. There are no item songs because there is no need- so it’s not a question about taking a risk or being foolish. The song and dance of D Day is an integral part of the film and the challenge was how to incorporate a real and grungy sound to the film. SEL’s music is a killer,” Advani pointed out.
The film’s grittiness includes some hair-raising stunts from the actors under world class Hollywood stunt director Tom Struthers (The Dark Knight) without the masala part like taking on 10 ‘baddies’ at a go.
“The challenge of the film is basing the story on RAW- an agency that many are not aware of. For most people, it’s the CBI or police and any association with RAW is Salman Khan in ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ or Saif Ali Khan. “
Advani is however confident that D Day will make its mark at the Box Office even without Bollywood masala ingredients or an item song. “The notion that Indian audiences are unpredictable or only go for masala movies is lazy stereotyping. The only predictable part is audiences are ready for fresh entertainment which connects with them emotionally,” he added.