EARTHTRIX

ROMANCE, comedy and dhishum, dhishum . . . that was Hindi cinema once upon a time. Recently, though, romance has given way to socially relevant messages as Bollywood turns a corner. In 3-idiots, super star Amir Khan & Kareena Kapoor came together for the first time, but instead of great romance, it was the bigger, more meaningful plot that kept everyone riveted. Similarly, the only sparks that flew in Rocket Singh, Salesman of the Year. Where newcomer Shazahn Padamsee made her debut opposite Ranbir Kapoor, were between the actor and his alpha male boss.
Says producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra, “Cinema is a potent medium. It has a reach that spreads across nations and provides a filmmaker with the privilege of affecting a vast number of people. Apart from being entertaining, films should possess a social message.”
When an issue touches your heart and is relevant to your life, it becomes socially and personally relevant to you. So if cinema is all about mirroring reality, then it is bound to give out a socially relevant message. In the right hands that message strikes a chord with the public and becomes a rage, as happened with 3- idiots. In the wrong hands, it is rejected by the public and may affect the popularity of the movie. In this sense, the message needs to be handled very carefully because it could make or break a film.
Remarks Rajkumar Hirani, director of Munnabhai series and 3-idiots, “I strongly believe in certain issues, which inspire me to write a movie. I made Munnabhai MBBS because I felt that doctors should have compassion. Lage Raho. . . happened after I heard someone at a get-together say that Gandhi was responsible for partition. I realized Gandhi-bashing had become fashionable and wanted people to realize his worth. In 3-idiots, we expressed our concern for the education system in India.”
Traditionally, too, Indian cinema has seen masala movies as box-office block-busters. Actor Amir Khan too recently said in an interview that a film should first entertain people and the message can follow. Agrees director Vipul Shah, who directed the out -and-out enter trainer Sing Is King, “Sholey is among the most fabulous movies made so far and it talks about revenge.” Adds veteran actor Shammi Kapur,”I did movies like Junglee that suited that generation, which was all about machismo.”
More and more filmmakers are driting from romance to more meaningful subjects. Says Boney Kapoor who produce the hit Wanted,” movies like Taare Zameen Par, Rang De Basanti and 3-idiots deal with contemporary issues. These movies remind me the cinemas of raj Kapoor, V Shantaram and Bimal Roy and movies like Shree420, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Bahti Hai, which conveyd messages in simple manner.”
Filmmakers follow their own individual dictates, when it comes to making a comarcial protboiler or a socially relevant film. For instance, many accused Karan Johar’s Kurbaan of portraying a terrorist’s perspective.
Writer Chetan Bhagat, whose books Five Point Someone and One Night @the Call Centre have been adapted into movies, beleaves an entertainer helps to grab attention. He says,” Entertaining is a art. Once you are able to do that, imparting a message could be the next step as one goes to the cinema to unwind.”
Points out veteran theatre director Alyque Padamsee,” Our filmmakers beleaved in following the audience. However, they have realised that it works the other way round, and are now taking the lead. Earlier, nobody tried to blaze a new trail. Manmohan Deshai made Amar Akbar Anthony, and sold stories that were totally absurd. Now the audience is connecting the common man as hero.”
Today, our heroes have changed. He is no longer someone who always wins but one who never gives up. Look at Harpreet Sing Bedi in Rocket Sing, Kabeer khan in Chak De India, Roshan Mehra in Delhi 6, Parag dixit in Jail who fight it out till end.
Adds Madhu Jain, authors of the Kapoor’s,” Ranbir did Saawariya, a romance, but it did not work .He did Wake Up Sid and Rocket Sing. These are coming up age movies, just like Raj Kapoor’s Aag that had its own message.” She adds ,”The current generation of viewers is mature. In times of recession, a movie like Rocket Sing made all the sense. Similarly Dev D was touted as a remake of Devdas, but it spokes about far more serios issues like drugs, prostitutions.”
But, should we be looking at films to change the world? Shah doesn’t think so,” No filmmaker I know will think a socially relevant issue while writing movies. And let’s not burden him with such responsibilities. However any filmmaker today will recognize that people are not interested in empty entertainment anymore. Entertainment has to enlighten. The focus, though, is on telling great stories.”
Adman Santosh Desai concludes,” Movies today help us with wishdom to deal with contemporary reality.”
Experts believe that trend has been set. Echoes film critic Komal Nahta, “ Movies that have a social message and entertain are bound to work. This year we have My Name Is Khan that has a strong social message.” Keep watching and get enlightened……………………..!
-- from calcutta times.
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