What’s wrong with Nagesh Kukunoor?

Nagesh Kukunoor’s career as director comprising 10 films so far divides itself into a hit-flop ratio of 7: 3. The good news is ‘ seven’ denotes the number of films that have drawn acclaim for the talented crossover filmmaker. The bad news is the three duds, critically and commercially, in that list have been his last three releases.

For Kukunoor, who chucked an engineering job in the US to join Bollywood in 1998 as a self-confessed ” rank outsider”, the factor for worry doesn’t rest even there. What should be bothering the filmmaker is the utter lack of expectations that greeted his latest, Aashayein , which came and went last week despite John Abraham heading the cast.

If at all, his last two duds before Aashayein -8X10 Tasveer and Bombay To Bangkok -at least generated some pre-release hype. With Aashayein it was almost as if his target audience as well as critics -who eternally love Kukunoor -didn’t expect anything much.

For those who came in late, Kukunoor’s filmography boasts of acclaimed flicks such as Hyderabad Blues, Rockford, Teen Deewarein, Bollywood Calling, Iqbal and Dor.

Statistics will tell you Kukunoor’s last hit is Iqbal in 2005. Dor , which came a year later, may have flopped, but it was applauded by the thinking audience at least. And facts would suggest he has no new film in hand right now.

Kukunoor seems to be aware that he is in a spot, career-wise.

” My fans felt let down when I started doing commercial stuff.

They felt cheated because they had supported me when I was making small, off-beat films.

But they need to understand that I cannot always do just one kind of cinema. I did not sell out,” he said, defending his choice to work in big stars such as Akshay Kumar in 8X10 Tasveer and John in Aashayein. Bombay To Bangkok, his other recent dud was also incidentally a commercial attempt.

Most industry experts feel that in his attempt to go commercial, Kukunoor has sacrificed his niche -of narrating simple stories in a believable setting.

” Nagesh’s speciality lies in unadulterated stories with minimum fuss. Of late, he seems to have become conscious of the saleability factor.

Because of this, he has lost his USP,” said filmmaker Jag Mundhra.

Kukunoor however feels that his early films were made from a rank outsider’s point of view.

Since he is an insider today, he won’t be able to write similar stories again. ” I am of the opinion that different phases in your life appeal to you in different ways,” he said. ” Of course, in this industry you are often forced to compromise and make films that you do not want to make.” On his recent failures, he said: ” I was obviously hurt.

More than anything else, I believe that my last few releases were victims of perception.

One needs to work on managing perception.” K UKUNOOR feels it is frustrating for a filmmaker when his film does not connect with the audience. He blames delay on the producer’s part for the bad show of Aashayein. ” Aashayein , as well as another film called Yeh Hausla were ready quite some time ago. But producers Percept Pictures did not bother to release them in all these months,” he said, adding that he also blames Percept for not promoting Tasveer 8X10.

Not many know that Kukunoor and John worked for free in Aashayein . ” This proves both of us believed in the film,” he explained.

So, what’s next? ” I have been considering taking up acting roles. And as a director, I have small romantic script ready and I want to make it with newcomers,” he said.