Gangnam Style could never be a part of the main story in Rangrezz: Priyadarshan

Priyadarshan is not much into item songs. When an item song was brought into his last Hindi release Tezz Priyadarshan had rebelled against the producer Ratan Jain and disowned the product. Now Priyan who is currently on a lengthy sabbatical from direction, has agreed to include an item song in his new film Rangrezz, albeit after initial reservations. Says Priyan, “Look, I don’t want to come across as the party-pooper every time. I don’t want to get the reputation of a director who comes in the way songs and music in every film. Initially I felt the Gangnam Style track didn’t fit into Rangrezz. You have to understand this is not one of my lighter films. Rangrezz is not a comedy. And there’s no way an item number can be interpolated into the plot. But then Vashu Bhagnani and I had discussions over the song. We both agreed finally that the film needed a big promotional track.” The Gangnam Style number will be part of the opening credit titles in Rangrezz. “That’s what Vashu and I agreed to. I have to tell you, working with Vashu Bhagnani I was very comfortable. Making this film was a pleasant experience because the producer didn’t give me hard time. Also, I worked with my cinematographer Santosh Sivan again after many years. Santosh had shot my second Hindi film Gardish with Jackie Shroff. Now in my film starring Jackky Bhagnani Santosh given the same rugged look. So from Jack to Jackky is like a full circle in my career.” Priyadarshan insists that Rangrezz is very different from its source material, the Tamil film Naadodigal. “The Tamil film is 3 hours and 10 minutes long. Rangrezz is 2 hours 10 minutes long. We’ve cut down the length by an hour. The focus here is more on Jackky’s character, and not because he is the producer’s son. But because that’s how we rewrote the film. And Jackky is a fine actor.” The prolific Priyan whose two Hindi non-comic films Aakrosh and Tezz have been box office duds says Rangrezz is not a comedy. “Some of the promotions may convey the feeling of a comedy. But Rangrezz is a serious dramatic film. Gangnam Style could never be a part of the main story. It had to come at the edge. And I don’t mind it.”