CAMBRIDGE (MASSACHUSETTS): Social issues may be at the centre of R Balki’s films but the director says his main aim is to always create a story that starts a conversation and is entertaining to the viewers.
The director’s latest “Pad Man”, featuring Akshay Kumar, addressed the taboo surrounding menstrual hygiene in India and was based on the life of Arunachalam Muruganantham.
Addressing the students of Massachusetts Institute of Technology during their annual India conference, Balki said, “I never do a film for any social purposes. I do it for pure entertainment. My definition of entertainment is what entertains me.
“When I was doing ‘Cheeni Kum’, a lot of people told me that India is a young country you are doing a movie with a 64-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman. I said no. I am not doing a film with 64-year-old man and 32-year-old man. I am doing a film with Amitabh Bachchhan. They did not get it.”
Balki said after the movie, he was approached by many elderly people who appreciated its concept.
“A lot of people are coming and telling me, I really love your film. It has given me hope in life,” he said.
“When you do a concept, which is away from what the people expect entertainment to be, you always ride a different path. But I’ve just done films because I believe in today’s world. The biggest need, the biggest thing to tackle is boredom,” he added. (AGENCIES)
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