After observing Filmi interviews, movies and mindsets for most of my life, I've finally decided what Hindi cinema's biggest problem is:
It's always trying to impress others or seek foreign validation.
It's always trying to impress others or seek foreign validation.
Though that mindset is by no means recent, it has gotten stronger over the years.
First off, it's the Hollywood wannabe, trying-to-be like "the west" obsession. How long will it take the producers/directors that white people do NOT WANT TO SEE INDIAN MOVIES! Stop trying to make movies that battle conflicts and story lines that virtually no Indian can connect with. Western audiences have hundreds of movies from their own countries to watch. Movies that often times have larger budgets, don't have 99% Indians and are actually in their language. So, by making a rom-com that is totally Hollywood in temperament, like Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (just one of the many movies that come to mind), production companies, like Dharma, are gaining nothing. Indian people in India aren't going to want to see the movie because frankly speaking, who wants to see a movie that is hand catered for a totally different audience. Likewise, Non-resident Indians won't watch the movie because they go to see Hindi films to get a bit of home, to get a bit of their culture and not to see Indian people acting American! If they wanted to see people acting American, they can easily watch an AMERICAN movie (surprise!).
First off, it's the Hollywood wannabe, trying-to-be like "the west" obsession. How long will it take the producers/directors that white people do NOT WANT TO SEE INDIAN MOVIES! Stop trying to make movies that battle conflicts and story lines that virtually no Indian can connect with. Western audiences have hundreds of movies from their own countries to watch. Movies that often times have larger budgets, don't have 99% Indians and are actually in their language. So, by making a rom-com that is totally Hollywood in temperament, like Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (just one of the many movies that come to mind), production companies, like Dharma, are gaining nothing. Indian people in India aren't going to want to see the movie because frankly speaking, who wants to see a movie that is hand catered for a totally different audience. Likewise, Non-resident Indians won't watch the movie because they go to see Hindi films to get a bit of home, to get a bit of their culture and not to see Indian people acting American! If they wanted to see people acting American, they can easily watch an AMERICAN movie (surprise!).
Secondly, if a couple of Hollywood stars say a few things about Bollywood, that doesn't mean that Hindi films have reached some pinnacle of success. Of course, if reporters are attacking Lady Gaga with questions, like "Do you like Bollywood" or "Would you ever work in Indian movies", she's going to say yes. Does she want to get stoned by the people of the most populated country on earth? Of course, not! I'm sick of seeing articles about Hollywood stars saying "I like to dance and sing...I'd love to be in Bollywood". Does it even matter? Is Tom Cruise going to sign some type of proclamation about how Bollywood is a "worthy" film industry? Does it take a Hollywood star to make an Indian filmmaker or actor, feel good about themselves? Success is gained by being proud of who you are and your own films, not by receiving validation from foreign film industries.
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| Why so star-struck Abhi? It's just Tom Cruise! Did you forget your dad is AMITABH BACHCHAN!? |
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