Posted on: August 29, 2009 - 5:57 am
The past one and a half years has seen a number of films release that are trying to break the mould - or are at least seemingly doing that. Of course on close inspection, many of them are indianised versions of Tarantino, Kusturica, Danny Boyle and some south American and even Chinese films. But that aside - one of the most important component of creating a new wave in cinema is to involve the audience and for audiences to feel the movement forward.
But consistently, filmmakers have to deal with a media that is totally bought. Supliments like the Bombay times are actually advertising pages. And so are so many other parts of newspapers. For most people, what they read in newspapers is “news”. And so audiences fill halls based on these reports and reviews and they return unsatisfied and cheated.
If this goes on, the audiences will lose faith in the rating system and will start relying on their own judgement, which is - big stars, good songs and the rest be damned.
It is therefore in the favour of those who believe in new cinema and who want to see genuinely good films, to stop supporting this - bought media space trend. If audiences and filmmakers can actually get a genuine rating for a film, it will help both sides.
The audiences will come to theatres with more enthusiasm and filmmakers will no longer be able to get away with making mediocre films just because they know the marketing muscle will push the film through.
I think we should all boycot the bought media spaces. Dont read the suppliments, dont pose for their photos, - do a gandhigiri on them.
Madhureeta, came here from facebook. Before I comment on this blog, let me share with you, I went through all the blogs and enjoyed reading. I love potency of your mind and yes put forth lot more questions than obvious answers…
back on this blog, Having lived close to media, businesses and governments, I see that soon, you will evolve into next level where you would begin to use it for your advantages… journey of an entrepreneur is not in speaking the truth as it exists but on identifying cracks in the society, they come up with a solution. Reality, dreams and imaginations are perception and function of time and space and if as an entrepreneur, one lives few years ahead of time, and sees things much in advance, till masses catches on to it, it remains imagination for masses but reality for few selected sensitive people…So an entreprenuer lives a lonely life not being able to attach with common man reality… this is all fine except when he begins to identify himself with them and leaves his aloof ness alone….
I guess being able to recognise practical realities is a something we are all expected to do sooner than later. I, on the other hand, know these practicalities but cannot agree with them. But who knows, may be, sooner than later, as you augur, i will start to do that. For now…I’m just writing and resting.
It’s true that some of the popular print media in India is no better than toilet paper and many of the so-called movie reviewers need parenting.