PANAJI : There is no fixed method or formula of story telling, says veteran filmmaker Subash Ghai.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference on the sidelines of 47th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) which concluded yesterday, he said,”There is no fixed method or formula of story telling. There has to be ideal relationship between the teller and listener. If you think in align with the audience, movies are hit. If you don’t it flops.”
”I think my Nani (maternal grand mother) was a great story teller when I was innocent. Even she was telling me useless story, I would love them. So when you make a fictional or non-fictional film, you are successful as long as you impress you audience.”
On trend of stories in Bollywood films, he said,”After every 30 years, there are different people. New people are born and grown up who think differently. Stories have been told through various devices and media. Years back it was told in form of Ramayana, Mahabharata. Question is have we improved on that. Are we in a position to realise better Ramayana or Mahabharata ? Are we better thinker than those who were 5000 years back. Are we better in wisdom and intellect than them.”
”The current movies which have been made during the last one year are different one. There were stories in 1940s which would talk about sacrifices, valour. Then there were stories of friendship, sacrificing life for others. Then in 60-70’s there were stories of patience and waiting for better time.
That was followed by violent stories when Amitabh Bachchan’s character became icon of anti-establishment. People wanted to revolt. They were not getting what they wanted.,” he said.
The director of many blockbusters said,”Though we like stories of kings in Ramayana and Mahabharata, in 70’s and 80’s we did not like rich people because we thought that they had became rich due to dishonest practices. The films were about fight between poor and the rich. Then came 90’s when romantic cinema took over. Mr Shah Rukh Khan was born. His character was always interested in a girl who was getting married. Means, the films were about anti-parents. Young women started revolting and people liked it. Then romance part was over and films started to be made on friendship. There was definition of relationship. Now latest trend is that youth leave their house rebuking their parents for a soul search but later come back.”
Commenting about future trend of films, Mr Ghai said next trend would that men can fall in love with men and women with women. “I am not judging over it. I am just saying how we have been changing. Trends have been changing in the society. In the name of freedom we are experimenting with our life. So cinema is the reflection of society. What happens in society gets reflected in cinema. ….There is nothing wrong in change, be it society or cinema. Its about our mankind,” he said. When asked was there dearth of stories for making films, he said there was no dearth of stories but certainly there was lack of inspirational ones. ”The story teller beats around the bush and the audience does not have the style to accept good story telling techniques. The audience wants songs, cabaret, maulas etc,” he said. He said technology would be an aid in telling stories efficiently but what mattered ultimately was human emotion. When asked was censorship coming in the way of freedom expression and telling, he said he said issue of censorship had always been there and it was not a bid deal. People on the censorship were liberal and keeping up with time. ”Its not censorship but film certification which provides certificates to film according to their content,” he said. ”Social problems will always remain. Its all about speed and time. But in the name of expression one cannot abuse freedom. There is code of conduct for life. There should not be comparison between our country with the best. Films should inspire young people to lead a better life,” he said. He said a film maker, producer or director, should lead, influence and analyse issues irrespective of the theme. (AGENCIES)
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