October 9, 2017
Actor Dulquer Salmaan's latest bilingual film "Solo" has
opened to polarised views from audiences and critics alike. In an emotional
Facebook post, he has urged the audience to not kill the film and watch it with
an open mind.
"Solo", directed by Bejoy Nambiar, is an anthology of four
stories connected by water, wind, fire and earth.
"I've been meaning to
write a note about 'Solo' after watching the film myself and because of my
schedule I could only get the time today. I saw it. And it's turned out much
better than I could ever imagine it. I loved every second of it," Dulquer wrote
in his Facebook post on Sunday night.
He admits the film has issues.
"The issues might be in terms of language, because it is a bilingual and
maybe the Shekhar track needed longer screen time. But, I absolutely loved the
film. The original version. The version my director, Bejoy Nambiar envisioned.
Films like Solo are any actor's dream. I loved it the moment I heard it. I loved
every second of shooting it," he said.
Dulquer said he would do films
like "Solo" again because he wants to constantly do "different" films. But he
said he doesn't understand why a certain section of the audience don't like
different cinema.
"7 billion humans walk the earth. There is bound to be
that many stories. That many issues, that many conflicts or differences. If you
are not familiar with it, doesn't make it go away. If you are not aware of it,
doesn't make it wrong. Cause if you do, you just run the risk of being ignorant.
Or judgmental. Or both. We are only human. So why judge," he asked.
He is
upset with the flak the story of Rudra, one of the characters he played in the
film, has been receiving from audiences.
"The Rudra story in 'Solo', it
breaks my heart. It excited all of us actors. Be it Nasser sir, Hasini ma'am,
Neha (Sharma) or me, we were kicked that it was so unique and bold. It's based
on true incidents and there have been several news stories like it. We wanted to
make a film about it. We thought the best way to tell it was through humour. So
when people say it became unintentionally funny I don't get it," he said.
In the story of Rudra, an incestuous relationship is explored which was not
received well.
"The sequence where the amazing Suhasini ma'am in a
stellar performance breaks the news to my character Rudra has been for me one of
the greatest scenes in my cinematic career. It was a single shot and I had to
interpret it how I deemed best. For an actor like me, that was new and
unprecedented. With no reference point, I enjoyed that more than any scene in my
life because it's different from anything else," he said.
He said the
whole episode was treated with dark comedy.
"It was funny when Bejoy
(writer-director Bejoy Nambiar) told us about it. It was funny when he called
cut. It was funny during dub and it was funny when I saw it on screen. Of
course, the characters won't make it a comedy.
"They will be sad and
broken and awkward on screen, especially Rudra. Sadly because it was awkward
people didn't understand if they were laughing with us (the makers) or laughing
at us. Dark comedies are meant to be awkward. Always have been. That was our
intention," he explained
"So mocking it (the film), booing in theatres,
spreading negativity and hate and degrading the film because you didn't get it,
just kills the film. It breaks our hearts, breaks our spirit, and kills the
courage you gave me all along. So I beg you. Don't kill 'Solo'. Give it a go
with an open mind and you will have a blast with the film," he said.