Sangeeth Sivan, 
National Award winning cinematographer Santosh Sivan's older brother, has three Hindi movies and six Malayalam ventures to his credit. His first Hindi film, the Sunny Deol starrer Zor (1997), did reasonably well, but the other two -- Jackie Shroff starrer Sandhya and Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne, featuring Zayed Khan and Esha Deol (both 2003) -- were big flops.
Now, with Kya Kool Hai Hum, Sangeeth has an unlikely blockbuster hit. Patcy N caught up with the director as he basked in newfound glory. Excerpts:
On the success of Kya Kool
I am waiting for it to sink in because we were not expecting such a great hit!
I am very grateful to my audience for believing in the kind of film that I made. It's very difficult for a comedy to click, and evoke laughter at all the right times. We always take the audience for granted but they are the smartest and most intelligent people. My writers got it on the spot! Now, more such movies will be made. We have set a trend.
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On future plans
(Producers of Kya Kool) Balaji Telefilms have spoken to me about a sequel but it will be a tough act to follow! If we can work it out, we will.
Most of the characters will remain the same. At least, the boys will be the same. It could even be a prequel; that's something that we (Bollywood) have really just started working on now.
On the film
Kya Kool Hai Hum is a full-length comedy, and is basically about mistaken identity. Usually what happens is you think something, and without even knowing the truth you make an evaluation. It might not be reality, but you choose to perceive it the way you want to.
It (Kya Kool Hai Hum) is not like Masti, No Entry or Shaadi No 1. It's a different genre. The only similarity is they are all comedies. Masti was about extramarital affairs. But we aren't going into family at all (in Kya Kool). It is basically about two wannabes who think they are special, but actually are very simple people. Because of trying to do something, they get into problems. It is a very situational comedy. It is because of their attitude to life that things happen.
Our film was entirely shot in Mumbai. We would do a lot of rehearsals. A lot of things happened spontaneously, and we would add it to the scene. It was not a hardbound script, it was always open for improvisation, right till the time of the shoot.
Of all the films I have done, Kya Kool Hai Hum is the only film which I thought is an out-and-out entertainer. It's not about (cinematic) technique or anything. It is a pure entertainer, and very commercial. It had to work!
More than a sex comedy, I would call it a naughty comedy. There isn't any skin show in the film. It is basically about situations with sexual connotations.
It's not a film that you can't watch with your family. It's an absolute family entertainer! It's a film that is guaranteed to make you laugh.
On his brother Santosh Sivan
He worked with me for my first six Malayalam films. Since I know he isn't very keen on doing a typical commercial movie, I haven't forced him to join me. The day I make a meaningful film, I will ask him to join me.
I don't speak to him about scenes or camera angles during my film. We talk about projects that we are doing and the story -- that's all. He is one and half years younger to me.
