'Rann' of business and conscience in media

New Delhi, Jan 26 (IANS) After scanning the underworld, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma now shifts the focus on the modus operandi of the Indian media in "Rann", which is releasing Friday.

Made at a budget of Rs.30 crore, "Rann" (war) is primarily about the conflict between business and conscience in the electronic media these days. It features megastar Amitabh Bachchan along with Riteish Deshmukh, Gul Panag and Paresh Rawal.

Amitabh clarifies that "Rann" a not a media bashing film as perceived by many.

"The film shows that in the media there is often a conflict between business sensibilities and a person's conscience. Now does a person compromise on his conscience for the survival of his business or vice-versa is what has been highlighted in the movie," Amitabh had said.

Added Varma: "It is not about media bashing at all. I've always said that the media exposes, and now I am exposing media. Now it is not necessarily about the bad things - I may be talking about the media's vulnerabilities, their compulsions and their greed - after all every human being is susceptible to situations and pressures and his own emotions."

The story revolves around making news which is not easy. So the next best thing media people obviously do is make anything and everything appear as news.

"Rann" shows that news has become so entertaining that people are addicted to it now.

Varma's film shows that the media had been invented as a truth telling machinery serving the purpose of the common people so that they know they are in good hands, but it has lost its purpose.

It shows what people do to be ahead of competition and how higher circulation and higher TRPS influence their conscience.

The movie not only hogged the limelight for its theme, but also for the tampered version of the national anthem titled "Jana gana mana rann hai", which was banned by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Though Varma had to change the song to "Vande mataram", he maintains that the original did not portray the national anthem in a bad light.

"I was not okay with taking it (the song) out. But it was better to take it out instead of fighting with the censors and delaying the process, so we replaced it with 'Vande mataram'. I did not change my mind (about the song), I was made to change my mind. Otherwise, the censors wouldn't have given the certificate," he said.

The movie is Amitabh's first release this year and is coming out on the same day as two others - "Ishqiya" and "Road To Sangam".

Varma is expecting mixed reviews and reactions to his movie from media barons and journalists.

"Everyone is only speculating at the moment. Since they are unsure about what I have done in the film, they are speculating about it. I think whatever criticism has to come, it will be after the release. I think it will depend from person to person. One could agree with my ideas or disagree. I am actually expecting varied reactions," he said. Click the Movie button below for more info:
Rann