Bollywood in 2014 was a perfect balance between masala and meaningful cinema. Be it Queen, Highway, Haider, Ankhon Dekhi or PK, there was an underline issue which stood out as a clear winner. Sangeeta Yadav speaks to a spectrum of celebrities who tell you which issue-based film was a definite crowd puller and which ones failed to make a noise
Reality sells
Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra has always tried to bring out a real picture on celluloid be it through Chameli (2003) or Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2005) or Traffic Signal (2007) or Inkaar (2013). When it comes to issue-based cinema, every director has his trademark style of treating the subject. But Mishra feels that a simplistic approach is what leaves a lasting impression on the audience.
“Art can be interpreted in many ways. And it is the presentation that differentiates one film from the other. Everybody has their unique style of presentation and they like to stick to it rather than experimenting with style for every film. Personally, I feel, as a filmmaker, I need to make a film that provokes and asks questions instead of providing answers. It’s not the job of a film to provide answers; instead we should push our audiences to think about the film,” Mishra says about his style of working.
Ask him about his favourite genre and pat comes the reply: “Everything that is interesting and can be put on to a canvass is my favourite. But I tend to take up social issues as they haven’t been explored as much as they should have been,” the talented director tells you.
Issue based movies, according to him, should not become like a moral science subject. “These films typically pretend to have an impact on society but fail in their purpose,” Mishra says, adding that he is in his happy space right now.
His favourite issue-based films of 2014 include Ugly, Haider, Queen, Ankhon Dekhi, Highway and PK. “I also liked Sulemani Keeda a lot. Amit V Masurkar in his debut film has done a good job,” he says.
Mishra is all set for his 2015 big release Aur Devdas for May 2015. “Aur Devdas has shock value. It’s more of a political thriller. We had to delay the film as the actors did not have dates. We have completed 85 per cent of the shoot and the eight day shoot is left which will be shot in Delhi,” Mishra says.
Queen and PK rule
Issues related to women in India have always been a hot topic for Indian filmmakers but 2014 saw some really hard hitting ones which delivered the right message and how! According to filmmaker-turned-actor Kunal Kohli, movies like Queen, Mardaani, Super Nani, Bobby Jasoos and a host of others were bright subjects treated well. “Queen was a slice of life film that talked about women empowerment but in a very subtle and entertaining way. Kangana Ranaut was amazing as a middle class punjabi whose fiancé ditched her at the altar. Vikas Behl’s Queen inspired a lot of women to take stock of their own life with or without a companion. Whether it’s a mother, wife, daughter or a grandmother, women should maintain their self esteem and never allow anyone to treat them for-grantedly,”Kohli tells you. He adds that breaking out of an entrenched stereotype is not easy but with films likeQueen and Mardaani, things are shaping for the good in the industry.
There is another issue-based film that made a lasting impression on Kohli. “PK is one of the best satires made in Bollywood. The film showcases a completely different take on religious beliefs, customs and superstitions. It gives out a strong message to the viewers,” he says.
Message delivered
Celebrated scriptwriter Gopi Puthran took more than two years to wrap up his story on child trafficking and its ill effects. When that transformed into Mardaani, Puthran's joy knew no bounds. “I am still reeling under the absolute joy of seeing people react in a positive way to Mardaani. Really overwhelmed. Hard hitting and issue based films should be tackled in a different way and I am happy to see our industry dealing with such subjects,” the writer says.
Puthran tells you that an issue-based film should ideally talk about a social agenda and must create awareness around it. “Such films should inspire the audience to think about the subject. But it is an imperative that while dealing with serious issues, the director has to be most sincere,” Puthran tells you.
Haider andPK are the two hard hitting subjects that impressed upon Puthran. “Even though Haider was based on Hamlet, the way Vishal has weaved in the Kashmir issue in the backdrop is mindblowing. I still remember Kulbhushan Kharbanda’s character and the way he speaks about conflicts was very impactful. Second comes PK which is an eye-opener and gives a reality check especially to those who blindly follow religion without questioning its existence and philosophy,” Puthran tells you adding that it’s a challenge to speak about controversial issues which has been neglected in the society.
While 2014 was witness to a lot of hard hitting films, there were others who dealt with a controversial subject but was not handled well. “An issue-based film should not be made for the sake of controversy or exploiting the issue. For instance, after the Nirbhaya incident, there were a few filmmakers who instantly made a film on it. That was the exploitation of the issue,” he says.
Migration maladies
Many a times filmmakers have put the spotlight on the life of migrants who travel from small town to the glamourous city in search of a better living. Whether it’s Hansal Mehta’s Citylight, which is the remake of the BAFTA nominated British film Metro Manila (2013), or debut filmmaker Pawan K Shrivastava’s crowd funding movie Naya Pata, Bollywood 2014 had its dose of issues based on the hardships that migrating people face in the cities. In their pursuit of happiness and success, migrants end up becoming a different person altogether and gives a life-changing experience.
“Citylight is one of the best issue based film of 2014 and RajKumar Rao and Patralekha have portrayed their roles beautifully. The movie not only shows the cultural disparities but also delves into the psych of the man who comes from the small town with a dream. Some manage to live with it, some return disappointedly and many others struggle till their lifetime. This film too captures the dark side of the glamourous city light,” Subhash Kapoor tells you.
Giving a satirical perspective to life and relationships, Rajat Kapoor’s Ankhon Dekhi is another issue based movie that left a strong impact in the minds of the viewers. “Ankhon Dekhi gives an insight into an old man’s life. Bauji (played by Sanjay Mishra) who was disturbed thinking about his daughter’s love affair and how society would take this. It’s a semi-dark film that gives a glimpse into the society,” Kapoor tells you adding that he is now looking forward to release of his next movie Guddu Rangeela in February and will start shooting for Jolly llB 2 in March 2015.
Ugly is new beautiful
If 2014 started with a bang with box office hits and hard hitting films ruling the roost, the year concluded on a high note as well. With a satire and a high intensity drama, 2014 surely belonged to the meaningful films. If Highway, Queen, Om-Dar-Ba-Dar, Gulaab Gang, Queen and Ankhon Dekhi made noise, PK and Ugly were the icing on the cake.
Actor Rahul Bhatt feels that 2014 was a treat of good entertainment with a message. “Ugly doesn’t preach or teach. It’s a simple and straight movie that shows you the real mirror. It talks about the ugly side of the society which is all the time running after money. Everyone has a shade of grey that keeps popping out at various intervals. Moreover, the movie touches upon the issue of missing children and how relationships go for a toss. The baggage from the past that we carry inside us keeps haunting us in the present,” Bhatt says.
Bhatt also feels that Rajkumar Hirani has done a fabulous work in PK. “ PK is an interesting film with a strong message. Rajkumar Hirani is a gem of the director and it’s every actor’s dream to work with him. On the other hand,Ugly is a good break from the regular Bollywood masala films,” Bhatt tells you.