Patrick Graham: ‘Directing Actors in Hindi Is a Challenge You Have To Plan For’

What is your take on Indian horror films and how different is it from the west?

I have a slight problem remembering names but I have seen a lot of horror films here. I have seen the ones directed by Ram Gopal Varma, like Bhoot, Vastu Shastra and Raat. I think Bhoot was a solid horror film. I also liked the first half of Ek Thi Daayan. I’ve also seen bits and pieces of Ramsay Brothers’ films. They were very kitschy and I’m not like that. Though I do understand the space and the value it offers. There is a certain kind of voice that India needs to find when it comes to horror. A lot of the west’s work is derivative. There are a lot of possessions and exorcism and kind of repeating tropes whereas in India there is so much more. There is mythology, folklore and superstitions ”” so many potential stories. So I feel very sad when only very few are focused narratives. Most of the time the same story goes on and on, usually with a female avenging spirit or a demon possessing somebody. Having said that, I really liked Pari recently.

Graham with actor Manav Kaul.

How was it directing actors in Hindi?

My Hindi is shit. I can’t speak Hindi. Directing actors in Hindi is a challenge you have to plan for, strategize and overcome. We had rehearsed, we knew each other and we knew what we wanted from the character. I had two people on the sets who would help me on the monitor to gauge if the delivery was right, to pick up on continuity errors or speech errors so, I insulate myself against foreseeable problems.

You have a very strong team of actors working for you in Radhika Apte and Manav Kaul. How was that experience?

I genuinely feel that I couldn’t have asked for better actors. They were very patient and professional. Radhika is one of the best actors around. She brought things to the character that I hadn’t even expected. She brought a lot of vulnerability which really upped the emotional content to such a degree that we added scenes to explore her emotions even further. Along with that vulnerability, she also brought an incredible toughness which surprised me during rehearsals and freaked me out in a good way. Manav’s character is actually someone who had a glorious past but his present isn’t exactly living up to it and his life is falling apart. Manav is a very funny guy, so it is always fun to have a few jokes around when you are shooting serious stuff.

Radhika Apte in ‘Ghoul.’

Is there a possibility of taking the show forward and create multiple seasons?

I wouldn’t want to say anything either ways. It is something that needs to be addressed in the future. But once you see the film, you will have an answer.

Ghoul is releasing after Sacred Games. Does it add more pressure on you?

Yes, Sacred Games was wonderful and I loved watching it. It was a grand story. Ghoul is a very different proposition. It is a miniseries, meant for a one session binge watch and in a completely different genre. Yes, it does put pressure, but in a way that will also help to elevate Ghoul as people are excited to see what Netflix does next. I hope that it doesn’t lead to crushing disappointment.

How was it interacting with Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane, the co-producers of the show?

Anurag and Vikram are stars to me and I was awestruck whenever I met them. Vikram played a larger role in the development of Ghoul, Anurag obviously lent his support to the project. Vikram was there from day one, helping me formulate my ideas. He was great with feedback. His mother (Dipa De Motwane) also really nurtured the project at Phantom. These guys were very nurturing to me as a newcomer and as someone who has a lot to learn. And they are film geeks like me. For them, it is content first, commercials later.

This article originally appeared on mansworldindia.com