For the love of the movies...

In India, if there are two trades that form the staple diet in terms of people's passion or hobbies, its surely got to be Bollywood and Cricket. Though, there can be a handful who might not be interested in either of these but still a majority will surely have a point of view on both these trades. And you can strike a good conversation with them on either of these topics, as is evident in any 'paan-shop', 'restaurant', 'train compartment' or any public place. We Indians just love to press upon our opinions on both these rather massy topics quite vehemently.

So if we leave aside Cricket as topic for some other day and just talk about Bollywood for now we can still get into lot of interesting contours. I often come across a lot of my elders, be it my parents or uncles who strongly lament about the fact that the standard of movies these days has gone down to shameless lows. They feel that not only a strong wave of vulgarity has taken over the movies that are on offer these days but also there is huge dip in the overall content, in terms of message that movies of the yesteryears use to convey. I kind of agree and disagree on this at the same time. I agree on the vulgarity aspect that has taken the front seat in most of content that is served to us but I disagree on the fact that we no longer have meaningful family oriented cinemas been created these days, how about '3 Idiots', 'Barfi', 'Kahaani', 'Taare Zameen Par' and 'Chak De' to name a few. Will they not stand at par with any of the yesteryear gems?

Interestingly, there is new category of cinema that has established itself in recent years, the so called intelligent, multiplex, internationally acclaimed film category, may be an upgraded version of the erstwhile 'Art Film' category. Movies like 'Dor', 'Mod', 'Slum Dog Millionaire' and 'The Lunch Box' will suitably fall in this category. Not taking anything away from the cinematic brilliance of such movies, I often fail to form  a definitive opinion about such movies. I do like most of these movies for there excellent story telling ways but I can somehow never fathom the basis of the huge critical acclaim they garner internationally. I feel these movies more often than not depict the rural/semi urban aspect of India with an intent to wow the urban/international audiences and thereby pose a strong case for themselves in the global award categories. And if this is not true, then why are these rural/semi urban plot based movies not released in rural/semi urban single screen theatres? Will the people there not connect with these stories better? Or the intent of making these movies is just to win those international awards by showcasing the not so good  and sorry aspect of India?

But a section among us kind of defines there taste by strongly advocating such movies at the expense of potboilers like 'Dabang', 'Singhams' and 'Chennai Express'. There is no point discussing the merits of the latters but to prove oneself intellectually superior by advocating the former, is totally irrational. For the simple reason that if you don't like a particular type of cinema please don't watch it and also please don't like a particular type of cinema just because the so called 'intelligent few' have liked it and unless you too do so you won't graduate to the intelligent category.

I believe the beauty of Indian cinema lies in the diversity its offers. On one hand we have the no brainer masala entertainers like Dabang, then on the other we have the Lunch Boxes as well and then we also have the ZNMDs and Milkhas of the world. Where else will you get such a diversified platter to pick and choose from. I for myself watch all kinds of cinema, though I am most inclined towards the ZNMD, DCH and Milkha category. Not that I can't stand the Dabangs and Singhams of the world or can't understand the delectable Lunch Boxes but if given a choice I would rather opt for the 1st of the 3 categories.

 

But then the real fun lies in striking an interesting movie conversation with effervescent massy film lover or the rather classy internationally acclaimed movies, aficionado. Because neither of these movie lovers are less by any means in there love and passion for Indian Cinema. And this passion howsoever different keeps the movie buzz alive even outside the cinema halls.

Long live BOLLYWOOD and long live it's variety!

--
kin...