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Beyond No Smoking
Reading the critic(s) reviews, fellow PFCian blogs and Anurag’s comments over the past few days has been a tremendous experience. I wonder if we in India have ever had such an intense debate over the worthiness of a film. But then there never was a PFC. I am sure that this whole discussion will continue for some more days. It’s not the first time that a film with which cine-goers had so much expectations from, has disappointed (atleast for a majority). It’s not the first time that the audience found it hard to make a sense of the movie and it’s not the first time that the critics have unanimously panned a movie. I would have loved to see Anurag humbly accept that he went wrong with the film just like Kevin Smith did with “MallRats”. Instead he has gone the Ram Gopal Verma way proclaiming how he doesn’t really care what critics think.. that the movie is his most personal work… that he doesn’t need to explain anything to anyone blah.. blah.. blah.
Which brings us to the question, “Is filmmaking only about you and the way you perceive things??” Film Making is an art and as with any art form it’s a medium through which you give vent to your artistic expressions. Does a painter while brushing a canvas think about the amount that the piece would be able to fetch. No. But every band that comes out with an album, every author who is on the verge of finishing a book, and every fashion designer showcasing his next collection has his or her connoisseur in mind. When did a chef ever formulate a recipe for himself or when did a stand-up artist make a skit for himself. In other words it doesn’t really matter what kind of profession you are in. But if you have the ability to influence lacs of thoughts in a positive way, why not do that instead of being selfish and making a piece of art only for yourself. “Black Friday” was one among many of those films which have made me stand up and want to try and do something constructive with my life. It’s an unapologetic movie that has inspired millions and will continue to do so. I can’t say the same thing about “No Smoking”. Anurag takes pride in his narcissist arrogance, he has made loads of enemies in the industry because of the same and that’s precisely the reason I admire him. But with “No smoking”, he has taken his arrogance way too far.
I read someone on PFC urging readers to give Anurag a break as this is just his third movie. Well that’s precisely the point. If you take your audience for granted just after having made 3 films then you are testing their mettle a bit too hard.
15 Responses to “Beyond No Smoking”
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Oz… read ur comments to Pratim’s blog after posting this.
http://passionforcinema.com/no-smoking-the-hanzo-sword-which-cut-through-god/
To me “No Smoking” is nothing but a brilliant director at his arrogant best with his middle finger thrusted at you. And yes w.r.t. your another comment , I don’t know if Anurag’s aspirations are to be on the same level as Lynch but the styles of two directors are as apart from each other as the north and south pole.
[Admin Notice : Sudip, please dont post same comment on different posts. Your comment is saved on another post and hence its removed from here.
Thanks for understanding]
Pankaj,
What is art, if not the artist’s perception? Every work of art is the artist’s vision, and an artist who even slightly changes his/her vision to make it acceptable and saleable is …well…fake.
People don’t react this visciously when they don’t understand a painting, or even a book. But when they don’t understand a film, they nearly get abusive. It is probably because they are used to seeing cinema as entertainment. And when a film asks them to use their brains, or throws a challenge at them, they react with anger.
Why should you all be so hurt and angry just because the director’s vision doesn’t match yours. If he should not be making a film for himself (as you suggest) why on earth should he be making a film for you?
hey, can we all give Anurag and No Smoking a break, it seems people are reading less and writing more abt the movie, there is nothing new written about No Smoking.
wah wah…. Anurag Kashyap was on rediff chat today. it was wonderful talking to him and i am sure jo log bhi us wakht wahan the unkee kai shikayaten door ho gayee hongi. meri bhi. i guess log mauka milte hee anurag per pil pade.abhi jaan baaki hai, Gulaal ka intezaar hai. per i guess anurag is poore episode se kucch seekhte hue hamen bahut badhiya film dene wala hai. No Smoking bana kar anurag ne koi Paap nahin kar diya ki ham sab raam puri chaaku leke peeche bhaga rahe hain. waise bhi film ki kaafee cheerfaad ho gayee hai ab bas bhi karo yaar.
art need not be for the masses, art can be for art’s sake…art can be irreverent..art is something more than just craft…no one can dictate the artist…who can make sense of Picasso’s painting…who can make sense of Marquez’s literature….only those who have more than passing interest in that art and literature..someone more informed ..more enlightened…
cinema is an expensive medium of art….if u r commissioned by the producer who has given a freehand to “make a work of art as you believe in” then go ahead and make it…u should be sure of your audience..if u want all the masses to love it..then u need to talk to them in a language they understand..if u want to stay tru to your vision..and u cant compromise..its your wish but then dont complain..if u believe in your work stay true to it..but then again if the producer has asked you to make a movie that will get me some money…how can you…?
in the age of digital filmmaking i think the costs will come down and we will see more and more exprimental works of art in Cinema…all kinds of genre, mix of genre
new genre..
Girte hain sheh sawar hee maidan-e-jung mein…Jinhon ne kabhie sawari hi nahin kee woh kya girenge!
Most of the criticism on Anurag is coming here from people who never really had a ride, Instead they like to laugh and criticise,while have not much clue about any creative and mental strugle, An outsider goes through in this Feudalistic industry.
No one is perfect where any art is concern. Many great film makers did big blunders and that is the part of this game.
And here I would just stand by and support a guy who is passionate about his art and atleast trying to give another dimension to cinema.Success or failure is not our choice…His game is to make films and he is making…
Hats off to you Anuraag.Keep making what ever you want to make , We have faith in you.
Sanjay Malhotra
i want to add a little more..
my point is that if artists value their artistic identity they should stay true to their vision..dont care about critics or masses who are under-informed..if that work of art has a soul in it..it will survive..
Our big failure is that there are not many critics who know the language of cinema..who can understand cinema as an artform….
i feel we need to get adoor, aparna sen, mt vasudevan nair, girish karnad, etc…get them to review movies….
a real critic should be able to enlighten both the filmmaker as well as the viewer about cinema as an art…what makes this film great? we dont have people who understand the art of cinema..thats the great tragedy as far as i understand.
Tuhina on October 29th, 2007 4:32 am
People don
why should Anurag accept his film went wrong…WTF??.
to be politically correct:((:((:((:((:((:((:((:((:((
Its getting insane here…taking a break from PFC for a day or two…dont knw if i will manage that.Any stupid fuck comes and starts commenting without an argument…. its painful to read em all..and make note of it.
Where the hell did mall rats come from??…oh my my….god bless all!!
Hey Anurag… when I met u at Osian’s as an interviewer, the perception that I got about “No Smoking” was very differnt. It was one of the most eagerly awaited movies … not just for me but I’m sure for everyone. And them came the trailers which gave an altogether different feel about the movie. But when I saw it at the theatre it was a bolt from the blue. Maybe I am just a dumb fuck and not too much of an intellectual person so I could not make any sense out of it, May be the way film was marketed was bad.. I don’t know. But I did feel bad after writing this post. I know it’s your vision and I am a nobody to question it. But after that talk with u at Osian, I just feel cheated.. letdown .. I think I deserved better. Maybe I am wrong.
Though, I am reminded of Manish Acharya’s comments a while back.
“Making a film is tough enough task. Pleasing everyone.. I leave that to someone else”
Anurag..can you tell us what were the reactions of Vishal Bharadwaj and Kumar Mangat after the movie released? What did they tell you?