Comparison of Indian cinema with international is common. To discuss the issue, a conclave was held here Wednesday, with actor Anupam Kher calling the comparison unfair and Nawazuddin Siddiqui stressing the need to try out new subjects.
“I don’t see the need to compare what we make at home to what is made abroad. I think we are a young country and we have many other important issue to take care of rather than cinema. It is unfair,” Anupam Kher said at the event held at Hotel Shangri-La.
The conclave, organised by the commerce and industry ministry and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), saw discussions on three issues.
The first issue was the creative divorce between Indian cinema and the world, the second was if the Indian domestic market was big enough to need not tap in the global market. The third point of discussion was the science behind marketing and distribution of films.
The panellists were award winning actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui and CII export committee chairman Sanjay Budhia.
Anupam Kher was seen at his candid best. He praised Bollywood biggies like Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar and questioned the skills of Hollywood stars.
“Shah Rukh and Akshay can do what Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt do in a movie, but I doubt if Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise can do the trademark style of Shah Rukh,” he said.
Nawazuddin, who has proved his mettle by several performance-based movies like “The Lunch Box”, “Kahaani” and “Miss Lovely”, stressed trying out new arenas in India cinema.
“We have so many stories to tell and we can’t put such topics in a corner. Hence we should try out new subjects,” he said.
“Cinema is in its comfort zone right now. Films are made with a formula comprising some songs, love scenes and emotional scenes. When we go to international festivals people come to us and dance, as they think Bollywood is all about dancing. People don’t know us as a country,” he added.
Anupam Kher, who has done a lot of international projects including “Silver Linings Playbook”, expressed happiness working in crossover projects and the responsibility that comes along with it.
“As an actor, I feel very happy if I get an American film and it does well. When I am working on an international project, I am representing India and feel more responsible. The thing that attracts me about them is their professionalism. They are so well prepared,” he said.
With a nip in the air with winter knocking at the door in the capital, the atmosphere at the discussion was quite candid and casual. The actors touched upon several facts from their lives while discussing their views.
Nawazuddin, who has a string of movies which garnered appreciation at international film festivals like “Bombay Talkies”, said film festivals help in cracking the market.
Anupam Kher, who has portrayed a variety of characters on screen, praised the coming of corporates in the industry.
“I was not convinced by the idea of coming of corporates in the industry but I feel it is the best thing that has happened in the industry. Cinema is now so organised and transparent,” he said.
