A medium so captivating, a vessel so elaborative and an idea so poignant : Movies being one such enterprise, in all essence amalgamate all the above mentioned facets and hence weigh their worth in gold.
But more than movies themselves, it is in the cerebral hemispheres and the motor skills of brilliant filmmakers, where the talisman resides.
Good movies, like fine art crave for imagination and innovation. And who better than a filmmaker delivering the exact recipe, garnished with his exuberance and perception.
Movie making is no walk in the park. It is mentally, physically and financially exhausting. It demands a broad spectra of specialised skill and talent, microscopic view and magnified understanding of the subject and bucketful of temperament and patience.
Unlike art, movies are not exactly abstract and does not amplify via interpretations. But still, they are viewed and scrutinised, are subject to criticism and analysis, and eventually detested and applauded. A filmmaker, for the same reason, needs to strike a balance. He needs to be imaginative yet rational, innovative while being contemporary, he needs to be classy, yet target the masses. You might have a message but you can't be preachy. You need to make a point, but can't be in the face. You need to make a meaningful film, but it must also entertain.
An able filmmaker is a scientist in pursuit. His idea once reproduced, needs to be nurtured into a story and then developed into a film. The idea needs to function as a virus, replicating and spreading prolifically and targeting what it is meant to strike. His work needs to make sense and needs to be enjoyed by a wide array of the public. People need to Accept, their denial will be fatal.
Belief, trust and faith drives a credible filmmaker. Belief in his craft, trust in his endeavours and faith in his audience. Any of the virtues missing, writing pretty much on the wall.
Here are some Indian filmmakers who have shouldered the responsibility of good, sensible and engaging cinema. Personally speaking, these are a few rare species that have kept my hope alive in bollywood:
1.Rajkumar Hirani : The man is nothing short of a genius when it comes to movie making. He understands the pulse, the emotions and the sentiments of the Indian audience better than anyone. Be it the human connect, selfless warmth or the harsh reality, his sublime treatment makes for a compelling watch.
Man with the Midas touch.
His gems:
Munnabhai MBBS
Lage raho Munnabhai
3 Idiots
Pk
2.Shimit Amin: Powerful filmmaker who has carved a niche for himself with arguably the most brilliant films made in the country. His narrative style and shot taking are second to none. The urgency, the build up and the finale is all so very exciting.
His work:
Ab tak chappan
Chak de
Rocket singh: salesman of the year
3.Zoya Akhtar: A cerebral filmmaker who understands the dark, visceral and obscure human psyche. Her films are a reflection of the modern society, with their promises and let offs, their credentials and debacles. All with her very own perception.
Her movies:
Luck by chance
Zindagi na milegi do baara
4.Vikas Bahl: Though only one film old, the man has been quite a revelation. His first and only movie Queen had almost everything from women empowerment to male chauvinism to hypocrisy and eventually culminating into a celebration of life.
Debut film:
Queen
5.Anurag kashyap: An unorthodox and inventive filmmaker whose unconventional approach on screen is a joy to watch. The rawness and streetsmart projection is his biggest forte.
His flicks:
Black Friday
DevD
Gangs of wasseypur
Ugly
6.Anurag Basu: A sensitive filmmaker who has mastered the art of exploring relationships and their adversity. Though many of his films have been bit of a mixed bag, one must not forget that he was the man behind the epic Barfi.
His films:
Barfi
Life in a Metro
Gangster
Kites
7.Imtiaz Ali: If it is a love story: nostalgic, intoxicating or unconventional, it just has to be an Imtiaz Ali film. He has redefined romance and restructured the expression of love. His films are straight from the heart and absolutely liberating.
His films:
Socha na tha
Love aaj kal
Jab we met
Rockstar
Highway
Undoubtedly we have our own mozarts of cinema yet their number is a cause of concern. In international top 100, less than 10 movies have their place including some of the mentioned above. Bollywood is good but isn't on par with movies like Shawshank redemption and breakfast club.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to broken horses and margarita with a straw to reach that level of excellency.