Razdan's 'animal instincts' checked by Maneka Gandhi

Mumbai, March 24 (IANS) Director Karan Razdan, whose two back-to-back ready-for-release films "Souten" and "Eight Shani" were in censor trouble, says filmmakers need to know the codes regarding treatment of animals in films.

"It was the animal welfare activists. There are scenes involving animals in both my films. These days any film with animals is scrutinised. I am okay with that. But I need to know the dos and don'ts better," Razdan told IANS.

"Anyway, I met Maneka Gandhi and I must say she was extremely courteous. Though, when I spoke to her about creative freedom she did reprimand me not to hide behind concepts of creativity to get away with code violations. But we filmmakers seriously need to know what those codes regarding animals in films, are.

"Are we supposed to not have animals in our films at all? Anyway thanks to Manekaji's reasonable attitude both 'Souten' and 'Eight Shani' have been cleared. Distributors who were on tenterhooks can breathe easy," he added.

After the release of "Umar" last week, Razdan has "Souten" - where a mother and daughter fall in love with the same guy and "Eight Shani" - a spooky thriller -lined up for release.

Razdan is probably the first director to have three consecutive releases in three weeks.

"Yes it's 'Souten' on March 24 and 'Eight Shani' on March 31. So that's three releases in three weeks. I don't know of any other director with the same track record," said Razdan.

"In the first few years of my career as a director I just made one film. In the last three years I have directed six films. That's because of my Buddhist leanings. In fact, 'Eight Shani' is entirely an offshoot of my experiences in Buddhism."

Razdan has dedicated "Eight Shani" to his late wife Priya Tendulkar.

"I dedicated my first film 'Roshni' to her. But it never got released. Luckily my other tribute to this remarkable woman is finally going to be out. 'Eight Shani' is my way of saying sorry for all the wrongs that I did to Priya."

As for "Souten"... "It does have a fair amount of body exposure because it's about adultery. And you can't show adultery without sex.

"But compared to what we got to see in films like 'Neal 'N' Nikki' and 'Aksar', I feel 'Souten' is child's play. Even 'Girlfriend', my film about lesbianism, had no skin show."

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