“When I have eight original scripts, I don’t think I’d be interested in making a remake,” said new-age director Nagesh Kukoonoor at the launch of his romantic comedy film Bombay to Bangkok under the banner of Mukta Searchlight yesterday. (Ironically not many know that his last film Dor was a remake of a Malayalam film Perumazhakkalam).

 

The film stars Shreyas Talpade and Thai actress Lena Christianson. Speaking at the occasion, producer Subhash Ghai adjudged Nagesh as a “great director” with whom he had delivered a quality film in Iqbal that raked in the moolah at the Box Office besides winning many awards.

“I am very happy he has brought another fine subject in Bombay to Bangkok. Such scripts fulfill the aim of Mukta Searchlight that supports the sense of independent cinema, good cinema made within a reasonable budget,” said Subhash Ghai in his role of a veteran filmmaker patronizing quality films like Joggers Park and Iqbal.

Talking about the subject of Bombay to Bangkok, Nagesh said that he has been a frequent visitor to Thailand. “I truly enjoyed the place…this is a place I wanted to showcase in the film. I’ve tried to understand the Thai culture and from my research I can say that there are a lot of similarities between Indian and Thai cultures. It’s Same Same…But Different.” Same Same…But Different also happens to be the catch line of the film that is written in a zany manner on the film’s poster that resembles an Airline Boarding Pass.

Actor Shreyas Talpade who won the Star Screen Award for the Best Actor in a Comic Role for Kukoonoor’s Dor this year was “extremely honoured and happy at working with Mukta once again after Iqbal.” Stunning Thai actress Lina Christianson started off by saying “Swastika” which can be Namaste, Hello or Salaam as Indians are familiar with. “I am very honoured and really excited,” she said.

Lena is happy to be a part of the Bollywood fraternity. "I have grown up on Bollywood films in Thailand and I love the songs and dances in them. To act in one of them now is unbelievable," she said.

However, the model said cannot recollect the names of Hindi film stars because she finds their names difficult to pronounce. "If you show me their pictures, I will be able to tell you about their films. But as far as their names are concerned, I cannot pronounce them!" she exclaimed.

While Subhash Ghai is hoping that Bombay to Bangkok will be a “Superhit of 2007”, Nagesh spelled out the premise of the film by stating in lucid terms, “The basic concept of the film is that it’s a romantic comedy….There’s a lot of chaos…And in the end everyone lives happily ever after.” Considering Nagesh Kukoonoor always comes up with something different, this ticket to Bangkok is something that the cine goers must be surely looking forward to….Isn’t it!

Sources:
http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/02/23/8965/
http://inhome.rediff.com/movies/2007/feb/23look.htm

Next: Eminent Actor/Artiste Shri Dhritiman Chatterji in Bangkok.