by Subhash K Jha

Rakesh Roshan was never perturbed by the competition offered to Krissh from its FX-driven Hollywood counterparts.

"I was not bothered by them. I knew I wasn't going to fall short of the special effects in MI3 or Superman. However if they've one hour of F-X in two hours of playing-time, I've half an hour in three hours. My budget which is ten million dollars didn't allow me any more F-X whereas they've a hundred million dollars at their disposal.

I therefore wrote a story that permitted me as much F-X as my budget. Krissh has special effects on a par with any Hollywood film. Krissh isn't gorged with special effects. We've used effects sparingly to focus on the family values in the plot.

But whatever little special effects are there, they're on a par with MI3 or Superman. Let me tell you, Krissh isn't about a hero with super powers. It's only at the end that he gets these powers. Since this film has worked Hrithik can play a super-hero in the next instalment of the series."

So is there a third part to the ongoing saga on the anvil? "Why not?" shoots back Rakesh Roshan. "I'll definitely make another segment, and with a bigger budget and hence more scope for special effects."

There were lots of speculation about the plot of Krissh. "And all wrong. It all their imagination That's why I'm not bothered. ..."

The Tamil and Telugu versions of Krissh are also hits. "The dialogues are in Tamil and Telugu. Otherwise they're identical to the Hindi version in every detail. Everyone who has dubbed has brought in the same same emotions as Hrithik, Priyanka, Rekha and Naseer."

Though Hrithik didn't sit over the regional dubbing papa Roshan selected the voice very carefully. "I was very impressed by how the film sounds in the South Indian languages. We're releasing forty prints in Telugu. That's because in Andhra Prdaesh we aren't allowed to release both the Hindi and Telugu versions simultaneously.

The Hindi version will be out in Andhra after two weeks. In Tamil Nadu both the Hindi and Tamil versions are being released together, though in proper Chennai we'll release the Hindi and the Tamil version in the interiors. Technically this is Hrithik's first regional film."

What about comparisons with Shankar's dubbed Telugu-Hindi film Aparichit ? "I've seen it. There's absolutely no similarity to Krissh. Aparichit had lots of violence and action. I don't have any violence in Krissh. Whatever action I've is a choreographed treat.Even their visual effects are very different from ours.

Hrithik in Krissh isn't at all like the larger-than-life character Vikram plays in Aparichit. Krissh is a very normal humanbeing who falls in love and follows his sweetheart to Singapore. It's a very simple story."

If the melodious Rajesh Roshan-composed music of Krissh didn't catch on before release Rakesh Roshan isn't perturbed. "If you see my earlier films the music caught on only after the film's release. In Kaho Na...Pyar Hai and Koi...Mil Gaya the music picked up after the release.

I can see the buzz gathering momentum. Melody and meaningful words cannot be digested and forgotten that easily. In today's average score, you can't even make out the words."

Rakesh Roshan is pleased with the success of recent films like Fanaah. "People want to see good films. I believe filmmakers like me, Karan Johar, Yash Chopra and Sanjay Leela Bhansali have a huge responsibility on our heads.

If our film makes a profit of Rs 6-7 crores it's a hit by trade and media standards. But according to me I've failed unless my film generates at least Rs 12 crores per territory. Only then will I succeed."