Festivals, Awards, Celebrities, Recognition – But where is Indian Cinema?
iView Author: Ram V (Bangalore, India)
Email: Shrey.dna [at] gmail [dot] com
Film Festivals, Award Nites, Celebrities, Recognition – But where is Indian Cinema?
Film Festivals in India/Foreign Lands about Indian Films are a big joke. Except for a rare rebellious one or two, like Beyond Bollywood. While making this statement, I go by the film listing and not by the commitment or hardwork of those involved, which is unquestionably good for any event. Everyone, including me and you are prejudiced by several factors, regional, caste, religion, linguistic, political, social and economic are a few. Even intellect, sensitivity and sensibilities add to the bias we incur.
Now, when someone conducts a film festival with the name “Indian”, should it not showcase the best Indian films, rather than quota contents from different parts of India? Is this possible? Take IFFI or IFFLA, its all about Hindi cinema . Why not a retro on Mohanlal/Nasseer/Soumitra/Kamal, instead of Anil Kapoor, have you heard of him? If not let the world know about him..that is the purpose of such festivals, not promoting already undeservingly up-there people , mainstream or independent. Then, we look around for some Marathi Film, or Forcibly introduce on Tamil film, just to ensure that no one raises a question. Does this behavior not hurt the conscience of cinema lover. Is our love for cinema not beyond this language, community, national barrier? The answer is No.
When San Sebastian film Festival awarded the best film in 2003 to a Korean Film, or Karlovy Vary picks up an Icelandic film for best picture, are we not ashamed as Indians, at having not thought beyond Hindi cinema, when we plan to take Indian films International. The Best Indian Films in the last 100 years, have been from non-Hindi Films. But, who knows of them. Are they being heard or seen anywhere.
Someone would agrue, Hindi is our National Language, what do you have against it? Are you one of those linguistic fundamentalist from down South, who says my language is the best? No. I dont care about language, otherwise, I should be tryping in one of them rather than English. My traditional roots are so distant, that I would not be apprehensive even for a second, for recognizing English as my preferred spoken and written medium of communication. I am seeking my roots. But my personal quest aside, are we as a film loving nation away from our roots? Are we not recognizing good cinema, over and above the language it is made. When someone can see Eisenstein in Russian, why can’t we see Neelakuyil in Malayalam. When one reveres Goddard’s ‘Bout de Souffle’, who cares about Ghataks’ Megha Dakhe Tara’. Those who know Aki Kaurismaki upside down don’t know Girish Kasaravalli.
Why does IFFA promote Hindi Cinema, rather than say Malayalam, or Oriya Cinema ? Is it because Hindi films are the most accessible in Indian Cinema ? Is it because Hindi films have the path-breaking quality of content? The answer is not in the inputs but in the outputs. Hindi Cinema, is the easiest way of money-making in the world. More easier than and equally scientific as gambling. Money making is not bad, but what is provided in return, is important. The value provided to the consumers is of highest importance. Hindi cinema provides near to zero quality, independent, dependent, studio or otherwise. It is sad but true.
If one compares the best Hindi Films of the last 25 years with the best regional films then we are in for a shock. Especially, the Hindi audience will realize what they have been missing for all these years. When we speak of Indian-ness when supporting the Indian Team, or Fighting a war against Pakistan, why don’t we proclaim Indian-ness in seeing and promoting good cinema. How many Hindi speaking audience watch Oriya movies. How many Bengalis watch Kannada, or How many Tamilians watch Malaylam ( Neighbouring State) movies. When all of us in here are discussing classic French, Italian, German, Estonian movies, we just overlook our own back yard. We let the fragrance of the blossoms in our garden, pass by and buy flowers from a distant market.
What are we? Morons, Idiots or Indifferent people. Are we vary of our own country men? Don’t we want Indian cinema to improve? Or is it only Hindi Cinema , that we care about? Madame Tussauds has Amitabh Bachchan, SRK , Salman, Aishwarya and Tendliya….Now Kamals name is up for petition..but where is Ray, is he dead, alright so what about Benegal, Adoor or Shaji N Karun? Has anyone heard of the name Soumitra Chatterji ? When will he be applauded? After his Death? Where are so many other great Indian actors who have really contributed to Indian Cinema, where are those directors, where are those musicians. Tussauds is a private initiative, on which we don’t have any control, but the voting patterns and the choice of celebrities lets us know, where we are heading, to oblivion? Hindi Cinema is already engulfed by these big names and a few others. Even Independent Hindi cinema will die off once they see real money, not is lakhs but crores. Greed and Economics with take over Contentment and Artistry.
Let us look as selection for Oscars in the last few years, it has been Idiotic nonetheless. These committee who select films as Indian Entry to the Oscar, must be experts in selling scraps. Look at the deal, 2008- Taare Zameen Par ( What about Ore Kadal, Anuraanan, Subramaniapuram), 2007 -Ekalavya (Where was AK suggested Vanaja, Paruthiveeran, Pulijanmam, Podokkeph, Black Friday) , 2006- Rang De Basanti ( Where were regional films?). If at all one goes for regional cinema, it is either a poorly selected, Jeans, Indian or Kuruthipunal. It is ignorance, coupled with arrogance that drives these people, who sit on the centre and assume that cinema, if Hindi is automatically good, and everything else is of secondary quality which requires thorough examination or reccommendaiton.
None can help Indian Cinema and the film loving nation, unless we stand up and cry foul. Stop supporting nepotism, lobbying , favoritism in film festivals, celebrity recognition, award nites, and international forums on Indian Cinema. Help the true Indian Cinema stand on its own. Dont cry after it dies….
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
durgandh machi hai aur hamen bataya ja raha hai ki yah khooshboo hai…nice post.
Wonderful post indeed! Keep ‘em coming!
Jeans was sent to the Oscars. Good god, I’ll never forget that!
“Stop supporting nepotism, lobbying , favoritism in film festivals, celebrity recognition, award nites, and international forums on Indian Cinema”
Amen!
(Applause) Hats off to you for this post.
wow!!
how did you let it out so beautifully?
Awesome post – valid points – points that were raised by Mamootty earlier, brazenly ignored.
When Vikram won the NA for pithamagan, some guy in bollywood (a big shot) lamented that the award must have gone to Hrithik for Koi Mil Gaya. The national gaze stops five signal lights outside marine drive. Beyond that there are only ‘locations’ for them..
A month has passed by with the strike on. This was a good opportunity for the film clubs and societies to peddle Regional films. After Shivaji Rao’s success this would have been easier. But has anyone done that? No. Sadly, the halls and multiplexes are simply taking a hit in the hope all gets well and they will show the same old crap.
@ Ram- very well written indeed.Its a pity that we Indians do not bother even know,understand & appreciate regional cinema from across the country.as you’ve also mentioned you’ll find a lot of people who are probably hooked to the some of the masters of world cinema, but ask them if they are familiar with the works of a Shaji.N.Karun or a Girish Kasaravalli & they would have nothing to say.In fact how many mallu’s outside Kerala are aware of Neelakuyil or how many bongs outside Bengal are aware of Megha
Dakhe Tara?
I’m completely fine with people appreciating Bollywood/Hollywood or other foreign movies- after all even I patronise them.But how can you just ignore the rest of Indian cinema?If this trend continues we will never see a Kaalpurush or an Anjathey being recognised across our country- a pity – Jaago India Jaago!!!
@Ajay..bahut saalon se isi durghand (khushboo)soong ke rahen hai…
@Kenny Thanks
@Daljeet Thanks
@Jaiganesh…yes, Jeans was Indias nomination along with movies like 2002 ‘Devdas’ as well…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_India’s_official_entries_to_the_Oscars…
@Sethu..to add to your point..appreaciating bollywood is far from my concern..It is conscious promotion of bad quality cinema over good cinema inside the same country..which is of my concern..
@Indraneel…but again..they are in strike for how much money should Bollywood share with them…not how many good films Bollywood would produce…so they dont actually care about regional cinema…it is we the audience who can make a change…authorities and stakeholders are after money…however it comes, quality or no quality…they are happy
Nice one Ram- hopefully people like you continue to use this forum to highlight the zenith of regional cinema on PFC…
Ram : It was a good article. You are very much right when you say regional language films are never sent to Oscar in foreign film category. Even Ray films were never sent in foreign films category.
This has been going on for long. Who will change it ? Tell me.
While I do agree that Indian Cinema should include and celebrate films from other industries other than those made in Bombay, I have to vehemently disagree with your points about IFFLA and this year’s honoree at the festival, Anil Kapoor. It is by appealing to the masses that anything has a chance to survive, to prosper, and as it stands Hindi cinema and a dashing celebrity like Mr. Kapoor are the current, the understandable. After SM — BTW, it’s unfortunate THAT was a film by a non-Indian — the world is finally looking to Indian cinema for their next viewing pleasure. It’s great, it should be cause for celebration, not critique!! Because eventually, through this momentous movement, all of the greatest films being made in the Desh will come to light. Regional, Hindi and beyond…
Nina…SM and Anil Kapoor are not the best of Indian Cinema..thats my point…IFFLA is ignorant about which films to showcase..Real India and Indian Cinema are not what you have seen in IFFLA…have you heard the names of PA Backer, Mahendran, A K Bir, Buddhadev Dasgupta, T S Nagabharana ( on whose film Kannada film Videsh or Heaven and earth was based on)…you would not..what I tell you is tip of the ice berg..There are scores of world class cinema from different parts of India which no one in the world has seen…there is no opening for them anywhere…even in festivals like IFFLA…To be frank, what you have seen in IFFLA is not Indian Cinema, it is an assumption/approximation of what Indian cinema would be…which is entirely wrong…If you want a list of Indian movies for suggested viewing…just email mail..You will be surprised at what has been hidden unexposed for all these years under the huge monster called Bollywood…
I am glad to know about other film industries. Perhaps someone could write about a starter list of recent movies that are worthwhile. I tend to prefer newer movies, at least for getting started.
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While I’m not aware of IFFLA’s particular methods, often film festivals rely largely on the filmmakers contacting them first, except for the biggest-buzz movies. Maybe these festivals need to make regional-language pitches to get the word out.
@Evelyn Tu…
I will post a list of recent films in my blog soon..you can check it there tomorrow..I will try to provide links and other details as to where you can source them from too…
Well it is sad but true…
I have traveled to at least 25 film festivals out of the 30 film festivals our film went to. And maximum places right from the immigration officers to hotel receptionists would exclaim “ahh bollywood”, whenever I would introduce myself as a film maker. I have sincerely tried telling them that Indian Cinema is not Bollywood but they just wouldn’t believe.
Exceptions were Toronto, Pusan, London and few other festivals where they know Directors like Adoor Sir, Rituparno, Santosh Sivan, Buddhadeb Das Gupta etc.
Also sometimes many of the Directors are not interested in sending their films to these festivals as they are scared of being labelled as “Festival Film makers”, whatever that means.
Maximum film festivals hear or see the films in some or the other festival and get in touch with you. They even come to India to scout around for films and actually they don’t see only “Bollywood” films. They do see films from all the regions. Why and how they select a film is purely their discretion, we as film makers have no idea about that.
We as Indians would respect films from other regions if and only if we respect people and their culture from other regions in India. We lack somewhere there itself.
It would take time I guess for people to realise about this folly and as Ram V you have put, forget the westerners we in India are pretty much regionalised in our approach.
@Shivajee..I have less qualms against westerners than our own people…as I dont expect other countries or cultures to delve deep into our socio-linguistic patterns to understand regional cinema…but the discern shown by Bollywood and National Authorities to showcase themselves and Hindi Cinema above everything else, simply because they have the money and power is of major concern, we have had enough of this nonsense and it has to end…
Very nice article Ram! The great onus of this sorry situation lies on the media. They are the ones who play favourites and promote only a few undeserving smart asses rather than real talent. All the award functions and festivals are obsesses only with glamor for sponsorships and advertisements. These are self congratulatory forums run by powerful people in the industry who use it become even more powerful. They don’t care about good cinema. They don’t care about India. They don’t care about talent. All they want is money, power and glamor. Media is no different. It no longer guides the people but just plays along with these powerful ones.
Nice post Ram.
Nina has a valid point above. IFFLA this year was the most successful interms of sales or publicity as some of the films shown are mainstream. But there is/has been an effort all through in some of the festivals I attended here to showcase atleast 1 or 2 good Indian Cinema than mere bollywood. Festivals cannot survive on regional cinema which is neverthless echlons better than bollywood but what to do… the red carpet brings out the folks who can pay.
I had a chance to watch 11 films at IFFLA this yr, none main stream bollywood except maybe QC. You would be surprised how many shows were empty.
There is a SF International Festival on now for which I had a chance to attend a couple of screenings. I had an oppurtunity to speak to some and when I pick up Indian cinema, even the so called world cinema lovers associate first with bollywood, which is sad but hey… people know atleast.
Change will come, in my 3yrs of attending festivals – NY, LA, there is a shift. How much ever I love Telugu, Tamil and Malyalam cinema – to promte Indian Cinema, we need bollywood and its star power.
To add, I see no harm in having a main stream bollywood personality of questionable talent to bring in the money to showcase 5-7 good Indian films where a few movie enthusiasts can see movies that are otherwise inaccessible.
@Ram V
I fully understand and agree at whatever you are saying but as I said it is the people who don’t respect people forget about cinema.
I have stayed for quite a while in South and have seen this regionalism and faced it too being a north Indian and of course have observed it when I was growing up in Delhi. So have seen both sides. Cinema viewing is part of our culture and if we don’t look at things at the basic level then we could never have a voice against this nonsense. Yes it has to end…where do we start?
Thanks ravptor…I dont agree with you or Nina on these points, using Bollywood as a gateway to Indian cinema is a implausible approach…It is like Bollywood directors saying we use ‘Item Numbers’ to attract common public..which I dont buy…These festivals which are cropping up every here and there for the last 5-10 are a fad, and will fade off when the crush on Bollywood will end…My article is however, not about film festivals alone, its about the overall attitude of a nation, its people and authorities towards a hoard of good films which has been shoved under the carpet…just because they dont belong to one particular milieu…
let’s take Frozen for example. I watched it in IFFLA. I only heard of Shivajee through PFC and from some folks who had seen and raved about it in other festivals. I don’t know how else would a films like that, B&W, Calvin & Hobbs styled movies would be showcased anywhere if a festival does not get ticket sales from mainstream bollywood films.
Even at Cannes – the big sticker films carry the moolah, under which so called “good/unrecognized” cinema get shown.
Ram – there will always be qualms. Some many people hated Quick Gun as they could not relate to the charecter. I loved it if not for anything for Dr. Rajendra Prasad. i would like a Retro on him rather than naseer… does it sound logical? We need to stop considering these guys only as good cinema… if we love cinema so much, we should allow all kinds to have their respective followers.
@Shivajee…Yes…I realize the point you are trying to make…It is ingrained too deep into the psyche of each one of us to break free from..difficult, but only a conscious effort at the individual level can bring about a significant change…For starters, one can take into viewing good Indian movies more regularly…
@Ravptor…Retroing good comedies form Dr.Prasad is perfectly logical…people will get to see one of the best comedians of Indian cinema…
@ravptor
Couldn’t stop my laugh…”Calvin and Hobbes” styled movie…hahahaha….
@Ram V
When I had gone to MIAAC NYC…the opening film was Sanwariya…Simultaneous release in India and US. I was aghast but then when I enquired around for a reason, I was told who would have bought those expensive tickets for an opening night if it was a lesser known movie. People hated it that was a different matter.
2 points:
1. How do you sustain a film festival by only showing what “we” consider good cinema? How? If we were to only show Shaji, adoor, bapu, Rajendra prasad cinemas, how will a festival survive?
2. You talk about starting with watching good indian cinema. How? Apart from buying 15-20K worth of cd’s dvd’s on a yearly trip that too with no subtitles – how do i get a chance to watch good indian cinema? pirated… begging for friends to get cinema… all tried. Atleast these festivals offer me a chance to watch “some” good cinema in the way a movie should. And I am paying for it too…
I agree with your post Ram, there is a hypocrisy in the way festivals are held outside india. But i think the people organizing them are aware of it and try to do some good with whatever power they have. Carrying the flag of good cinema only will not allow us to stand a chance… all cinema needs to co-exist.
Shivajee: I still remember that shot where the kids roll of the hill side. I am still kicking myself to not see the parallel. I need a DVD this time when i meet you.
@Ram V
Yeah exactly. When I am asked about my learning school, I don’t talk about world cinema blah blah. I always talk about that Doordarshan slot which used to show regional cinema. Amazing Malyalam films, got introduced to Bangla Cinema and other regional cinema.
@Shivajee & ravptor..you are telling me the economics of Film Festival…which is alright..fine…continue showing opening movies with Bollywood/Retro Bollywood actors…but where are the other movies..dont tell me ‘Garbicha Paus’ and ‘Kanchivaram’ were the only best Indian movies of last year which deserved to be there in IFFLA ,par example…I dont know…and you should show only a small percentage of non-Hindi Indian movies, even if there are several which are good…
@Shivajee and ravptor..yes, DD did such a great service, which I realize now…
@ravptor
or the girl being dragged to the principal in school ;-)
You will get a DVD whenever we meet my friend :-)…
@Ram V
I also agree with what ravs is saying. The festival won’t be able to sustain.
Presently with the strike happening as Indraneelda pointed out this is one chance to show that bit of regional cinema but then again we have to deal with the language (sub title etc.).
Without those sunday afternoon slots…we would not have seen several other language movies..But I remember my relatives would switch on TV on Sunday afternoons only if there was a Tamil or Malayalam movi… :-) destroying the whole purpose..
Glass half empty half full Ram. I am happy I atleast got to see them. You argue there are more. I want to see them, I will do my best to… till then, I want to support any effort aimed at showing cinema – good for some, bad for others.
@31..Shivajee…29 is my argument…fine, my question is not whether to show bollywood or not..but to show good Indian Cinema as much as possible..so that the chasm can be broken…If one can sustain with showing Bollywood and equally or even more of good Indian cinema…nothing like that…
@33 ravptor..Yes its true..I also would not have heard of ‘Gabricha Paus’ but for IFFLA related articles in PFC…all I wanted is to ensure that there is more representation, otherwise why would directors make movies…if only Bollywood is always going to eat the lions share…everyone would start making Bollywood like movies…and that is what is happening with regional cinema..now..It has to stop..amicably and inclusively though…
@Ram V
The selection of films is a very tricky business. As I have moved closely with so many programmers and festival Directors in last one and half years I can say that they get what they think is the best. Also they have a selection panel to finally approve the films. Yes I do agree that some times the past record of the Film maker works in his favor but more or less it is a very democratic selection. As I mentioned earlier there are lots of other factors also like the actual availability of the film for that particular festival, the willingness of the Makers/producers to participate in the festival. Many a festivals need a premiere or an unreleased film so they have the exclusivity. If you talk to Christina the festival director of IFFLA she would tell you that how many film makers avoid going to LA as they are eye Cannes.
Arre baba… the more bollywood does well, the better it is for small film-makers.
See picture making will not stop. Money has to be made, somehow… if the big banners do well, they will start putting money aside for smaller films. Karna padega (will have to do).
Yeah, there is a whole other argument that will open a pandora’s box – are small film-makers, who are successful doing anything for fellow small film-makers. Now that’s something to go back & forth on.
Shivajee… and yr after yr cannes kicks our busty indian asses royally by not selecting films again and again.
Do cannes programmers not watch Malyalam or Tamil or Oriya or bangle films… u know more, i am sure they do but what’s the result… yr after yr we get rejected.
@ravptor37….it does not make much sense to say more Bollywood does well, its better for small film-makers…How? you mean tricking down, portfolio profitting…Its a myth ravptor…it has not happened in the last 30 years, it will not happen in the next decades too….Those who make good films will continue making and those who make Bollywood films will continue making that…
@Ravptor…only regular at Cannes is Shaji N Karun..
Murali nair won Camera’d Or
@ravptor..they watch and we dont…Murali Nair’s ‘Marana Simhasanam’ which won Camera’d Or is unavailable for viewing in India…I tried hard not to find it anywhere..
Shaji had an entry this year and he was rejected. And to be honest, how many indians find shaji’s films enticing or repeatedly watchable?
See that is the irony of our own films. They are sold more enthusiastically to the west than to be shown in India or to indian diaspora.
@ravptor..the fact that you are not aware that Shaji’s Swaham won ‘Palme d’Or’ un certain regard and Murali Nair won Camera d’Or is actually not your problem…it is really the problem of our media and authorities who care for Cannes only when Karan Johar is attending or Mrs. Rai Bachcchan is jury…This is precisely what my post is all about..
@39 Ram – Have to refer you to the CNNIBN interview of Anurag, Navdeep et all. Its the same money… just like in hollywood.
See, malyalam films cracked the formula of making good films with small budgets. the 100% profit mantra… bollywood will get there too… it will take time but it eventually will.
@ Ram – Ravptor and I have both indicated that there was no Bollywood at IFFLA. Quick Gun, The Fakir of Venice, Yes Madam, Sir, Siddharth were all films outside the box. The films shown at IFFLA are made in India, hence they are part of Indian Cinema. It’s like saying a film made in Italy (north south or middle) isn’t Italian Cinema. OF course it is!
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We must all learn to be more open minded about what the masses get and understand. While you and I and the wonderful readers of PFC have a full understanding of what makes great cinema, 90% of those out there do not. Be patient, with Anil Kapoor, with IFFLA, with Hindi cinema being celebrated first. A journey of a thousand miles begins with one single step…
Why do you assume I don’t know shaji’s films?
@ravptor
Yes they do watch and they do reject :-)
And when I had a letter for approval from Cannes no one in the so called “Bollywood” helped me in completing the post and make that one print which could have been sent to Cannes before the stipulated print submission date.
@Ram V
If you know any film maker who wants to send his/her films to any fests for the later half of the year do let me know. I would personally help in at least a submission, where they don’t have to pay the submission fee. Rest I think we have to wait for the change to happen.
@ Ravptor – You make some great, great points!!
@45..agree and hope so..
@47..I thought from your question..if you already know, my bad
@46 Nina…Quick Gun, Fakir of Venice, Sidharth..etc are not exactly what we see regularly out here in India,Its not my point that Fakir, QGM or Kanchivaram are bad, they might be quite good..
I am talking of those films made in Bengali, Tamil, Malyalam, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada…which we go and see in cinema houses…At least in Malayalam, Tamil and Bengali..I have seen exceptionally good movies, run for more than 100 days in the theatre…it has to do with several factors…which I dont want to go into..But my point is you dont get to see these as part of any ‘Indian’ film festival..when these are the quintessential Indian films that India watches..If you really want to enjoy real India..the smell of its earth..it is in these films..
@48 ha ha…Thanks..Shivajee..but I did not write this to get a fee reduction though.. :-)…lets wait for the change…hope its sooner than later..
At the beinging of this decade during an Indian Summer two films came out of Bollywood, which was appreciated by World Audience and brought a new audience to the Bollywood. Those two films were Lagaan and Dil Chata Hain. Also, during that year, Kabhi Khush Kabhi Gham released and broke Oversea BO record of an Indian Film!
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This year SlumDog Millionaire film released and yet we are talking about how the film will change the landscape of Indian Film Industry…..
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I am actually bored of all this ‘Bring The Change’ talk. it is all khokla.
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Having your statue in Madame Tussuade doesn’t mean recognition. It is a commerical business. Many Indians flock to Looondon, so to make the place attractive, you have a few bunch of famous Indian Pootlas in it. The tamil community is not too strong in Looondon, hence there is no Pootla of him.
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To be a patriotic – you don’t need to watch all regional films. Supporting your country in a sport arena is different – you cannot compare it with with watching fillums.
@Honhar Goonda…
The Post never says ‘There is not a single Bollywood film that is worth watching’..regarding Lagaan, DCH or few others…we cannot make examples out of exceptions…KKKG broke records…good for Yash Raj…and bad for Indian cinema…as similiar nonsense was and will be followed by other filmmakers too
Noone say SM will change Indian Film Industry except for ‘Anil Kapoor’ who was over enthu..at the oscar and wanted all of it…
You are bored..take a break..
Statue at M/Tussauds is not recognition it is representation of popular trend…if you want Kamal to be in there vote here…
http://www.petitiononline.com/kamal/petition.html. No need to be in London
But is it representative of true contributors of Indian cinema? We all have our own Madame Tussauds in our mind…the Pootlas whom we think are representative of Indian cinema..
It has nothing to do with patriotism…but respecting each other..thats alll
@Ram V
I didn’t mean that ;-)
It is nice that you wrote this blog. I understand what you mean.
Ram – if it is respecting each other, then we should be respecting any effort made to represent indian cinema, whatever it is.
IFFI, IFFLA are doing something in their own way. If not going to these festivals cos they don’t show Tamil or malyalam cinema is being patriotic, then that inference is idiotic.
What we need is to have indian cinema to grow and be showcased, irrespective of who it is – from Anil kapoor to Shaji and everywhere possible.
These festivals might look fake cos they have glamor but behind this glamor, directors – middle class dreamers who have risked everything get a little appreciation. It’s good, a small start. It should be appreciated.
ravptor, that’s very well-put.
@ravptor…does the post ask you to boycott film festival…please dont infer what is not being said..its all about expanding the horizon and cover the whole of India..I agree that any festival is a good attempt, I have recognized that in the first few sentences as well… but constructive criticism should also be taken in the same light as appreciation…
@54 Shivajee..I just said 51 in a lighter vein…Thanks..
Ram- How about doing it this way- lets keep a watch for the movies of 2009 so that when its time for the festivals next year we’ll know whcih ones should make the cut.And through PFC & other channels if there’s any scope of influencing selection/recommendation of movies we can take it up.I’m sure Shivajee and the others over here would definitely do their best when it comes to it.What do you say?I think its time to think of actions now rather than just feel bad & complain.
@Ram – 57. My bad. apologies. In the first para I only read about the commendable effort being put in by organizers and did not infer that you meant about the film selection as well.
All in all, good post. Keep em coming.
Nina,Evlyn – Muchos Gracias.
Nina – where is your column again? Can you send me the link to ravptor@gmail.com
@ravptor…I accept your apology..this is not Ram Vs IFFLA…I have nothing against IFFLA as such ..I thoroughly appreciate the effort taken by whoever concerned..lets not take it that route and divert the purpose of this article…This is about promoting Pan Indian cinema and urging anyone intending to conduct a festival, Award Nite, or Celebrity endorsement with the tag ‘Indian’ to be inclusive..If someone already is, welcome…thats it..Thats how I intend it to be…
@Sethu…I am for it…I dont know how plausible it would be to get so many things together and pull too many strings…but we can try for sure…Let us catalog films in 2009 that we think should be exposed to the world representing India, write about it and promote it..thats the least we can do for starters…
@ Ram- yes its a tough task, but lets give it a shot & see how it goes.I’m sure it will be an interesting experience.Thats for sure.
Check This and tell me if lately the National awards been any better?
Yes National Awards have been a charade in the beginning few years of this decade…lot of fighting back, criticism, and resignations later it seems to be little bit back on track…but to be truthful, since its inception, the award has been influenced at various stages by various people of power