‘Tanu Weds Manu’ is an honest film: Anand Rai

MUMBAI - Director Anand L. Rai says that his “Tanu Weds Manu” is an honest film and portrays the world from the place he belongs - New Delhi.

“It’s an honest film. You will feel you are one of them — part of that love story and part of that humour. What I am very positive about the film is its honesty - and it will stay on,” Rai told IANS.

“It’s definitely from the world from where I come, the place where I belong, the roots where I started growing. Being a Delhiite I know the north Indian culture very well. When you are telling a story it should be portrayed in a right way, then it reaches everywhere. It’s a fiction but it still remains a slice of life for me,” he added.

The film released Friday.

The director didn’t have any intention to build up a new on-screen pair but he was sure his lead cast Kangana and Madhavan would fit best for the characters Tanu and Manu.

“It was from the word go. I had to slog for it. It’s a love story. It’s a very Indian romantic comedy that I had to make and I have to see to it that I should make it the way, it gets delivered in the right way. First thing for that was a fearless right casting.

“I was very sure that the Manu character should be played by Madhavan and for Tanu, I was looking for someone who was hungry for this kind of character and has the potential to perform. Kangana had all the guts (to) take on all the challenges. She just broke her image, moved into this world and did it,” said Rai.

He didn’t write the script keeping them in mind though, said Rai.

“I was very honest to my characters. I was getting it right there, then I started thinking for it,” said Rai.

Rai made his directorial debut with “Strangers” and then he made “Thodi Life Thoda Magic” (2008), which were duds and the director regrets that though his first film was appreciated by reviewers, it bombed because he didn’t bother to connect his film with the audience.

“When I made ‘Strangers’ I got nice feedback for myself in terms of reviews but I was very selfish while making the film. I realized that I missed on to the major thing — the connection with the audience, which was not there. When I made ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ it was just the audience I thought about,” said Rai.

Rai hinted that his next movie would also be a love story.

“After ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ there is still a bigger chunk of this emotion lying in me. I would get rid of it in the coming one and then move on.

“I will spend little more time with ‘Tanu Weds Manu’. I know the script of my next film, I know the region where it belongs, but I am in no rush,” said Rai.