ABP Ideas Of India: From OTTs to reviews, from creative adjustment to box office figures, ABP Network’s ‘Wild Stone presents Ideas of India Summit’ heard it all from a panel of ace directors at one of its sessions titled 'The Cultural Revival | Digging Deeper: Telling India’s Stories' in Mumbai Saturday.
“OTT ensures new voices for the film industry. The entry barriers to feature films like for instance budgetary issues are not there and this will ensure a wider platform for storytellers. Certain stories are great for theatrical release, others might require a series form to help develop characters better and this is where the strength of OTT lies,” Kabir Khan, film director, screenwriter and cinematographer, said at the session chaired by journalist and ABP News anchor Shobhna Yadav.
Added Aanand L Rai, film producer and director: “The playground has become larger and more themes can be explored. I think OTTs will help us go global.”
Nagesh Kukunoor, film director, producer, screenwriter and actor said, “Today it is easier to make films. One has more avenues to get across to the audience. Thanks to OTT, we are no longer scared of reaching out to our audience. In fact the OTT platform has been a blessing for someone like me who was not really concerned about how much business my movie made.”
Rai, who is credited to have made movies not on ‘run-of-the-mill’ Bollywood topics said that the young generation gives him the strength to pick unexplored topics. “Today I know there is an audience (read young generation) for films dealing with progressive thoughts. Their clarity and progressive outlook inspires me to take up taboo topics,” he said.
Regarding the display of patriotic fervour in all his films, Khan said, “We are part of society and take our stories from society. Nowadays patriotism and nationalism are different. To show nationalism you need a counterpoint, a villain. Patriotism is pure love for the country and that is what I tried to show in “83”.
When asked whether the Indian audience has problems accepting realistic movies, Rai said, “I don’t think audience plays a role in making a movie unsuccessful. I would like to believe that it is the craft or the filmmaking technique which lets a film down. Moreover, an unsuccessful film cannot be seen as a failure, rather it marks a step forward in learning from mistakes.”
Added Khan: “Storytelling or the way the story is told is what fascinates the audience the most. Be it fantasy or reality, audience will accept anything if they like the way in which it is portrayed.”
Khan asserted that he does not take hate posts seriously. “Due to social media, people nowadays have freedom to say what they like, there is no responsibility to own one’s words. I have realised that social media is getting toxic. But I do remember that I have come here for storytelling not to fight my detractors. It’s part of the game and I have to move on,” he said.
Speaking on the starkid versus newcomer debate, Rai said, “You need talent to survive here. You do have an opportunity of your family is part of the industry but that also adds to the pressure. Starkids do have their struggles as well.” Kukunoor, however said he prefers newcomers as they are like a blank slate or canvas where he can draw as he likes.
'Rejection is not personal'
Do the filmamkers feel demoralised when stars reject their projects?
No, asserted Khan. “It is natural to feel disappointed but I do not see it a s rejection. Everyone cannot be fascinated by the same story and nothing works better than a willing collaborator.”
Added Kukunoor: “Rejection is not personal; it is an everyday reality. If you are not tough enough to face it, then look for another business.”
Today, reviews are losing their relevance wing to their sheer volume. “Due to media exposure, a film today gets 250-300 reviews,” said Khan. “How can you go through all of them? It is not possible to take them all seriously. I have realised that just like in filmmakers, there is segmentation in critics too – some of them simply might not like the genre of my film,” he added.
On a lighter note, Rai said, “I think now there should be reviews of all the reviews. As they say, you have to feel love and not read about it, I too can feel the love of my audience. Writing it on paper is not important.”
Kukunoor confessed that he does no read reviews anymore as he simply doesn’t understand their value. “They cannot tell me how to make a good or bad film."
Regarding The Kashmir Files controversy, Khan said, “Filmamkers are not here to prove a point. We are storytellers with the aim to entertain people. A film is not made with an agenda, we choose a theme only when we are passionate about it. Breaking institutions is not important but I believe each filmmaker has his own perspective.”
Rai added that audience go to see a movie only when it touches their hearts and not based on personal recommendations. After all, audience is not one face, he asserts.
Box office records, though important, is not the only parameter to judge a film, feels Khan. Rai feels that box office is a responsibility of the crew. “It also represents whether our film is loved or not,” he said.
Have the filmmakers ever faced creative compromise? Kukunoor said: “All of filmmaking is a compromise. You are constantly making adjustments and just make your way.” Khan said, “Filmmaking involves a tactical logistical process. Of course limits are capped, on say, budget, but that is essentially on the larger vision. Creatively we are not compromised.”
WATCH | ABP Ideas Of India, Day 2 LIVE
ABP Network’s two-day 'Wild Stone presents Ideas of India' Summit brings thought leaders from various fields — culture, sports and cinema to technology, business and politics — to talk about the journey of India so far.