It’s been 16 years since Quick Gun Murugan first hit the screens, and the film still stands out for its quirky humor, bold themes, and unapologetic eccentricity. Director Shashanka Ghosh looks back at the cult classic, sharing how the idea was born, the risks involved in making it, and why its offbeat charm continues to resonate with audiences today.
How did something so crazy ever get made?
I am really grateful that film got made. It required a large dose of guts, and producer Anand Surapur sure did have that. I feel it has the unconventionality that makes it relevant even today, from its themes to its characters and storyline.
How was the idea of Quick Gun Murugan born?
The writer Rajesh Devraj was struck by the 60s Tamil western genre. So he added the ‘veg vs non-veg’ theme and the theme of life after death, and a hero who aspires to be a normal bank employee.
How did you ever think you could get away with it?
We lived in more optimistic times, so the get-away-with-it belief.
Tell me about the zany casting?
The producer Anand came up with Rajendra Prasad. I fell in love when I met him. Rambha was a natural tribute to the genre. Nasser was a bonus.
Why didn’t you carry forward the idea into a franchise?
We planned a sequel. It was to be called The Good The Bad The Idli.
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