Within the vibrant corridors of filmmaker Sriram Raghavan’s office, adorned with vintage posters and memories of the cinematic past, the atmosphere is palpably filled with the charms of an era long gone. This is the creative sanctuary of the director whose thriller ‘Merry Christmas’—featuring the compelling duo of Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi—has garnered significant critical acclaim, echoing the success of his previous works such as ‘Andhadhun’ and ‘Badlapur’.
For Raghavan, rejecting conventional casting was a way to spark a new excitement, a journey that led to the unconventional pairing of his leads in ‘Merry Christmas’. Despite a career carved with thrilling storylines, Raghavan’s latest venture brought forth a different narrative vehicle, delivering a drama peppered with tender romance and subtle obsessions. His muse for this project? None other than French auteur Eric Roma, who provided inspiration with films rich in dialogue yet devoid of typical action plots.
While navigating cinematic tastes that diverge from his brother Sridhar Raghavan’s penchants for commercial extravaganzas, Sriram explores his distinct nostalgic love—evident in the retro appeal of his movies. Harnessing this affection for nostalgia, he excites audiences with memories of the past, including a not-so-subtle nod to the legends like Rajesh Khanna through intriguing cinematic elements.
When asked about the impetus behind ‘Merry Christmas’, Raghavan reveals the pandemic’s interruption of his war film ‘Ekkis’ provided the unexpected space to bring this story to life. It demanded a fresh casting approach, which eventually led to the selection of Katrina Kaif, fueled by her desire to diverge from familiar roles.
However, casting Vijay Sethupathi was a move that took a year to settle after a careful contemplation and the need for a ‘fresh pairing’. Balancing the different acting schools of Kaif and Sethupathi required a directorial finesse that Raghavan believed could contribute to the film’s allure. And while creating this fresh cinematic mix was challenging, it also contributed to a thrilling tension that he believed would ultimately benefit the film.
The decision to shoot a Tamil version was born from a blend of delight and practical considerations—a response to an opportunity that arose due to delays connected with the pandemic. Though Kaif initially expressed reluctance, she embraced the challenge, supported by creative solutions that assisted in syncing her performance with the Tamil dub.
The film ‘Merry Christmas’ not only brought together diverse talents but also navigated the complexities of bilingual production. Since its release, it has shown a promising stance at the box office. Over the course of five days, the film accumulated around Rs 12 crore net in India, with the Hindi version enjoying an occupancy of 10.25% on the fifth day.
Depicting two strangers, Albert (Vijay) and Maria (Kaif), whose paths cross and entwine in an unpredictable series of events, ‘Merry Christmas’ leverages Raghavan’s command of suspense to ensnare audiences, as they anticipate each twist and turn. Backed by producers Ramesh Taurani and Sanjay Routray, along with others, the film sustains a steady box office journey, instilling optimism for the days to come—much like the hopeful tales Sriram Raghavan grew up fantasizing about as a young cinephile.