New Trends in Indian Cinema

New Trends in Indian Cinema

Today Bollywood is going through a stormy change. Filmmakers in India are producing films with small as well as big budgets. In 2010 films like Kites, Raavan, Guzarish and Veer had big budgets, big stars and big banners. However, these films did not do well at the box office. On the other hand small budget films like Peepli Live and Ishquiya proved hit. The point is what audience likes is the story. What they want is healthy entertainment, not big star or big budget. Therefore, big budget, banner or star is not the key for the success of films. The story should touch the heart of the audience. 8 Nagesh Kukunoor and Madhur Bhandarkar made Hyderabad Blues and Chandni Bar respectively with small budget and these films proved that what you say is equally important as how you say it. Big budget films like Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, directed by Karan Johar and Taj Mahal directed by Akbar Khan did not do well at the box office despite big star cast. Now films have become a planned set of activities starting from idea to the final product from the point of view of economy. Filmmakers are planning films in such a way that the result is profit. For example, filmmakers usually hesitate to release any film during Diwali or Durga Puja and examination days in March-April. The content of the films is shaped in such a way that if it does not work in India, it will definitely work in the overseas market. Today, distributors and exhibitors also influence the content of the film. The revolution in digital technology has made it possible for small and independent filmmakers to make a film. Now it is possible for any creative person to exploit the medium of cinema to tell good, great and memorable stories. Monsoon Wedding, a film by Meera Nair was made with digital camera and it was well received. Digital technology has given the chance to new filmmakers to experiment and produce films they want. Technology has changed the face of cinema; experiments are being made continuously in India in the field of cinema. A film like Krish could be possible because of technology. The film was commercially successful. However, content is still important. Whether it is small budget film or the use of latest digital technology, content is the king. Films like Teesri Kasam, Shri 420, Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Aandhi, Ijaazat, Mausam, Koshish, Megha Dakha Tara, Pather Panchali, Sholay, Deewar and Swaas are still in the memory of the people because of their story. Audiences these days are more aware of the content of the films. Filmmakers cannot befool the audience by cheap comedy and unbelievable, unconvincing actions. Recently, there was one ‘fresh’ regional film titled Shwaas – directed by Sanddep Sawant in Marathi. It was completely a different film. Shwaas is a film about human relationships. India produces more than one thousand films every year but few films work at box office and get critical acclaim. This is mainly because of weak script and immature direction. Now the film industry has realized the need of good scripts and stories. Even some Insititues in India are running scriptwriting courses. Film and Television Institute of India (FTII,website:wwwftii.com), Pune, and Whistling Wood (www.whistlingwoods.com), Film Institute being run by Subhash Ghai- a well-known filmmaker, also offer screenplay writing courses. 9 The last few years have seen the change in the way films are promoted. For example, Twinkle Khanna fixed Akshay Kumar’s zipper to promote his film. Amir Khan travelled across the country to promote his film 3 Idiots with TV cameras with him. He even went to attend a marriage ceremony in one of the villages in Punjab all of sudden. Ram Gopal Verma had offered to pay viewers to watch Phook-2 alone in the cinema hall. Filmmakers are using these techniques to promote their films and it has become a very clever venture. However, all these techniques could help to fetch money to filmmakers but if the content is weak, these techniques do not turn the films into classics. The audience has proved that film is an art and cannot be treated like any other products. Today most of Indian classics and milestone films are available on CD and DVD format. The revolution in digital technology has made it possible for audience to watch and enjoy all kinds of films at home. Few years ago, this was not possible to have access to old classics. These DVDs and CDs are available at very reasonable prices. In the 70s and 80s, Doordarshan was the only source where one could hope to see some old classics made by Mehboob Khan, Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor and Bimol Roy. Today the films of these legends have become the part of any film buffs personal video library. Impact and relevance of films Films are relevant because films entertain, educate, enlighten and inspire audiences. As far as India is concerned, one cannot imagine life without films. Films have become part of Indian life and culture. The difference between reel and real life is disappearing day by day. Bollywood is making films on different issues and aspects of Indian life. Films like Munna Bhai MBBS, Taare Jamin Par, and 3 Idiots have affected the people in a great way. These films comment on the educational system of the country and have positive message. India is a country where people worship film stars like Amitabh Bachcan. This is a country where thousand commit suicide if their favourite star faces defeat in the election. At public functions, people wait for film stars. Political parties have been using actors or stars in political campaigns for many years. Film stars have the charisma to attract the crowd. In a country like India, where people still live under poverty line and cannot read and write, mass medium like cinema plays a very important role. Watching movies are a cathartic experience for audiences. People identify themselves with the characters of the films and release their anger against injustice and existing systems. Even illiterate people can enjoy films. However, to understand and examine cinema properly and deeply, one needs to have the basic understanding of the art and craft of filmmaking. 10 Some Institutes like Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune in collaboration with National Film Archive of India (NFAI), Pune are conducting Film Appreciation courses to teach interested and serious film lovers how to appreciate good cinema. Every year around 70 students from different fields (particularly from fields like Television, Cinema etc.) participate in this course. Apart from film appreciation, the students are given the basic knowledge about script writing, cinematography, music and sound, direction etc. Mumbai University also runs a Film Appreciation course. Federation of Film Societies of India (FFSI) is running a film appreciation movement throughout the country. FFSI was established in 1959 as an apex organization of all film societies in India. Shri Shyam Benegal- a well-known filmmaker is the present president of FFSI. The main objective of the film society is to propagate film as an art form by way of screening films, organising seminars and film appreciation courses. At present, there are 300 Film Societies in the country. From the facts given above one can easily understand the importance, relevance and the impact of films in our daily lives. Today, cinema is an economic activity. It has become a multi-crore business. Thousands of artistes, technicians are earning their livelihood in this business. In India, film industry is the third biggest industry after steel and coal. Cinema is the medium, which provides economical entertainment for masses, both literate and illiterate. Now most of the people keep some money for movies from their monthly income. Films also have the healing impact on patients or people who suffer from traumas. The cloudburst tragedy in Leh town in 2010 created fear in the mind of those who saw it closely. Children also suffered trauma because of the tragedy. However, films helped them to recover from the shock. Mr. Prasad Eledath, Principal of Druk White Lotus School where 3 Idiots was filmed, says, “To help students overcome their horror, we have started special co-curricular activities and movie screenings.”