Mira Nair's The Reluctant Fundamentalist is slated for May 10 release.
New Delhi:
Filmmaker Mira Nair says shedecided to adapt Pakistani writer Mohsin Hamid's novelThe Reluctant Fundamentalist, about post 9/11 world, for her sonwho is growing up and looking for a place to call home.
The director, who has successfully in the past mademovies on books like Vanity Fair and The Namesake, saysher latest film was also inspired by her trip to Lahore in2005.
Hamid's book depicts the story of Pakistani-AmericanChangez, a young man chasing corporate success on the WallStreet. But his world is changed post September 2011 tragedyin America where he finds himself embroiled in a conflictbetween his American Dream, a hostage crisis, and the enduringcall of his homeland.
"I made this movie for my son, who is turning 21 and islooking for a place to call home. Post 9/11 so much haschanged in New York that it does not give you that homelyfeeling which it did before. I wanted to make this story forhim to lift the illusion that grass is greener on the otherside. I wanted to show both the side intelligently," Nair saidduring the Penguin Books India Spring Fever festival.
The 55-year-old director says her film, starring RizAhmed, Kate Hudson, Liev Schreiber and Bollywood veterans likeOm Puri and Shabana Azmi, also tries to present a contemporaryPakistan which is something more than what newspaper headlinessay.
"My inspiration to make the movie came when I firstvisited Lahore in 2005. It was a fantastically movingexperience and I wanted to make a contemporary take onPakistan, which we never hear. All we read about Pakistan inthe newspapers are the drones, the be-headings,assassinations.
"May be that is true but the heart beat is never there. Iread Mohsin's book and craved to make that dialogue betweenAmerica. I know these both worlds and we have never heard ourside of the story but only America's."
Nair also spoke about her much loved but stalledadaptation of Shantaram, whose rights are with Hollywoodsuperstar Johnny Depp.
"Would love to make Shantaram... Everything is ready butthe owner is Johnny Depp as he has the rights to the novel. Sowhenever he gets free from making 'Pirates of the Caribbean17' and still has the interest in making the film we shallwork.
On being asked if Depp is coming to India, she said,"There is some truth to that story".
Mira Nair currently has her hands full with the stage play ofMonsoon Wedding.
"We have recorded 7 songs, four more are left. It isexciting to make a musical. I won't be acting in it but justdirecting. I will start shooting in September and it will openin May 2014. I am excited to take on this new experience ofdirecting. I am nervous but I love taking crazy risks."
The Reluctant Fundamentalist will release on May 10. Nairis currently in India to celebrate the 25 years of her debutfilm Salaam Bombay, which is being re-released.
The director, who has successfully in the past mademovies on books like Vanity Fair and The Namesake, saysher latest film was also inspired by her trip to Lahore in2005.
Hamid's book depicts the story of Pakistani-AmericanChangez, a young man chasing corporate success on the WallStreet. But his world is changed post September 2011 tragedyin America where he finds himself embroiled in a conflictbetween his American Dream, a hostage crisis, and the enduringcall of his homeland.
"I made this movie for my son, who is turning 21 and islooking for a place to call home. Post 9/11 so much haschanged in New York that it does not give you that homelyfeeling which it did before. I wanted to make this story forhim to lift the illusion that grass is greener on the otherside. I wanted to show both the side intelligently," Nair saidduring the Penguin Books India Spring Fever festival.
The 55-year-old director says her film, starring RizAhmed, Kate Hudson, Liev Schreiber and Bollywood veterans likeOm Puri and Shabana Azmi, also tries to present a contemporaryPakistan which is something more than what newspaper headlinessay.
"My inspiration to make the movie came when I firstvisited Lahore in 2005. It was a fantastically movingexperience and I wanted to make a contemporary take onPakistan, which we never hear. All we read about Pakistan inthe newspapers are the drones, the be-headings,assassinations.
"May be that is true but the heart beat is never there. Iread Mohsin's book and craved to make that dialogue betweenAmerica. I know these both worlds and we have never heard ourside of the story but only America's."
Nair also spoke about her much loved but stalledadaptation of Shantaram, whose rights are with Hollywoodsuperstar Johnny Depp.
"Would love to make Shantaram... Everything is ready butthe owner is Johnny Depp as he has the rights to the novel. Sowhenever he gets free from making 'Pirates of the Caribbean17' and still has the interest in making the film we shallwork.
On being asked if Depp is coming to India, she said,"There is some truth to that story".
Mira Nair currently has her hands full with the stage play ofMonsoon Wedding.
"We have recorded 7 songs, four more are left. It isexciting to make a musical. I won't be acting in it but justdirecting. I will start shooting in September and it will openin May 2014. I am excited to take on this new experience ofdirecting. I am nervous but I love taking crazy risks."
The Reluctant Fundamentalist will release on May 10. Nairis currently in India to celebrate the 25 years of her debutfilm Salaam Bombay, which is being re-released.
