In a discussion held at the second edition of the Crime Writers Festival, director Sudhir Mishra explained the reason behind the downfall of content-based films and his take on the commercialisation of films. Arjita Mishra reports
He has given films like Ye Saali Zindagi, Dharavi, Chameli and Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi. He has received three National awards, Filmfare awards and Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des lettres by the French Government. He is one of the few directors who have managed to remain contemporary in a time of commercialisation. We are talking about veteran director Sudhir Mishra who was present in the discussion, Shoot to kill: The badlands of Indian cinema on the second day at the second edition of Crime Writers Festival, 2016.
In the discussion, Mishra said that he is glad that there are still some directors who focusses on the content rather than making it a commercial success. He added, “I am happy that some directors of this generation like Vishal Bharadwaj, Anurag Kashyap, Abhishek Chaubey, Imtiaz Ali and Tigmanshu Dhulia are taking this legacy forward and are making thought provoking films.”
He is disappointed with the commercialisation of the films and also explained the reason behind the downfall of content-based films. He pointed out that in the present day, music companies demand six to seven songs in a movie with a larger focus on the locale. “They are less bothered about the content,” he added. Citing an example he said, “Dil Se was made on the insurgency of North-East India, but we remember that film for the song Chaiyya Chaiyya which was shot on the roof of a train.”
Mishra appreciated the Marathi film industry for the kind of films they are making. “Marathi cinema is doing a commendable job. I want North Indians to watch Marathi films and they must also demand to get these films to be released here as well.”
Currently, Mishra is working on a film titled Dasdev which stars Rahul Bhatt, Richa Chadda and Aditi Rao Hydari. The film flips the story of Devdas and is set on the political backdrop of Uttar Pradesh. The film is inspired by the ideology of Sarat Chandra and William Shakespeare. “If I will say it in Salman’s style then it would be Apne Dev ko Das bante dekha hai ab Das ko Dev bante dekhiye (you have seen Dev becoming Das, now see Das becoming Dev),” Mishra laughed.
He divulged some more information on the movie, while being careful not to give out too much. He said, “In my film Paro is not the same as she was in Devdas. Chandramukhi is the one who is narrating the story.”