"If you see films like Mission Impossible have a budget of 300 crores. If there is more budget there is more action", explains action director Allan Amin 
By Avanti Dixit, May 10, 2007 - 03:48 IST
The breathtaking sequence with Hrithik and Aishwarya plunging away into the deep valley in Dhoom 2, Uday Chopra and Abhishek cleverly fighting their way through the narrow lanes in Dhoom, the sequence with Shah Rukh leaping towards the helicopter in mid air in Main Hoon Na, ever wondered who created these mind blowing sequences. Well its none other than Allan Amin one of the leading action directors in our industry today.
Dhoom all the way
Allan who started off his career with films like Beta, Dil, Raja, and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander has come a long way and is now nominated for the Taurus World Stunt Awards for Dhoom 2. “It feels great and is a great honour to be nominated for an international award”. But doesn't the director for whom the most memorable film is Dhoom feel that the Dhoom sequels were mainly his baby more than the director's, as both the films were entirely based on action. “I wouldn't say I was as good as a director for the films because both of us come from two different fields of filmmaking but obliviously we were working for the same film together”.
Learning the act-ion
Talking about filmmaking there are schools to learn direction, acting, editing etc. But where does one learn to direct for action, is there some special training or one has to rely on experience only. “Action directing is completely based on experience. It takes years to master the skill. It can't be learnt by going to some school.”
Action directing is completely based on experience. It takes years to master the skill. It can't be learnt by going to some school.
|
Fear factor
Apparently in the upcoming film Fool And Final directed by Ahmed Khan there are some power packed action sequences full of swanky vehicles like Hummers and BMX bikes. In one of the sequences Shahid who plays Rajaa in the film had to jump from the 16th floor with his BMX bike. Wonder how that was made possible. The director has all the answers “Well Shahid had to practice a lot before he did the stunt. After all the practice he managed to pull of the stunt all by himself”. Imagine that! Well that's not all. The film will also have some dare devil stunts by Sunny Deol and gang.
The other film Race which is directed by Abbas Mustan has Saif as the lead. Saif also had to go through some rigorous practice for the action sequences. But he wasn't quite up for the challenge when Allan told him that he had to jump from the 24th floor of a building “Yes in the beginning he was a bit worried, but I was there with him. Once he came over the fear he performed the act and went ahead and did it almost five times. I am planning to do a few more action sequences with him. I think in the last couple of films he had the best stunts.”
And what would be the most risky stunt that he has performed till now “It's not a question of risk it's about betterment. The last film I did was good but the next I do will be better”.
Planning for some action?
Allan has had no formal training or any godfather in the industry but still he has managed to climb the ladder of success and in quite sometime achieved a name for himself. So doesn't he feel that from the time he started till today, action direction has gained more recognition? “Yes definitely I believe as more and more films are being based on action, it is definitely in the limelight.” Now that every film requires a stylized action sequence how does he go about planning for one? “It's a long process. You first read the script and plan out. A design is made, then the storyboarding is done and finally I do a small preview so everyone has an idea of what I am doing.” And how does he ensure safety during these dare devil acts “Safety is very important to me. I make sure not only the actors but also the unit members are well protected. All my equipment and cables are only used in one stunt and I make sure I don't use it again.”
|
All my equipment and cables are only used in one stunt and I make sure I don't use it again.
|
Hollywood or Bollywood?
Action in our films has definitely evolved through the years but still Hollywood is considered to be far superior in action sequences than Bollywood. So what is the reason for such a big difference? Is it just lack of proper training and equipment or is it the issue of budgeting. Allan Amin who is a great fan of action director Jerry Crompton is quick to make the choice “The difference is of budget. If you see films like Mission Impossible have a budget of 300 crores. If there is more budget there is more action, which has been made possible in Dhoom2 which had a budget of 35 crores.”
Lights, camera or only action?
So doesn't the noted action director want to ever direct a film? Pat comes the reply. “No I am not interested in making a film at all. I am happy with what I am doing”.
|
