MUMBAI, January 8 2005
IANS
While some filmmakers favoured culture-flavoured fare for the diaspora
audiences, others here warned that viewers outside India may want a
cinematic choice.
Film director Shyam Benegal, who moderated a session on the Indian
entertainment industry as part of the Pravasi Bharati Divas here, said
the Indian diaspora had become a significant market in the past decade.
Filmmaker Yash Chopra said that films with Indian culture as their
theme found great success abroad, such as his latest production "Veer-Zaara".
"For us as filmmakers it becomes our duty to note the strong influence
that each film can have on our audiences, in particular on those settled
away from India."
But actor and social activist Rahul Bose challenged this.
"I think we as Indian filmmakers have almost never respected those
in the diaspora as having varied tastes. I think this is an insult (to
them). I think they deserve to have a choice," he said.
"A film, if it has appeal, will be viewed by anyone. We should
be giving you stuff that you want to see, not just stuff with the right
ideal (as seen by Indian filmmakers)."
Bose also hit out at Non-Resident Indian financiers of some Bollywood
films.
"I suspect that most of that money has been coming in so that
someone can shake Aishwarya Rai's hand," Bose said.
"I look forward to the day when someone in the diaspora chooses
to invest in a movie because they believe in both the movie and that
it will contribute to the pantheon of world cinema."
Nasreen Munni Kabir of Channel 4 in Britain agreed with Bose.
Kabir said the audience for Bollywood films had become "whiter",
not "wider", referring to the growing interest among western
audiences.
While the length of Indian films and subtitles remained a problem to
outside audiences, cutting out songs would not be beneficial, as they
were becoming the elements most appreciated by audiences, Kabir added.
Participants' views varied greatly, from attacks on the technical quality
of Bollywood films to their higher visibility in the international market.
A change in Indian filmmakers' attitude may meet the huge diversity
of tastes and interests among outside audiences, some delegates said.
A heated debate followed Film and Television Producers Guild of India
president Amit Khanna's outburst against participants airing complaints
about Bollywood films not matching Hollywood standards.
Khanna said the diaspora factor had a dual positive impact, serving
both as a cultural link to India and as a major revenue earner.
But he lamented that while 3.8 billion people watched Bollywood films
(0.6 billion more than Hollywood films), Bollywood only earned 0.2 per
cent of the revenue as ticket prices were lower here.
He asked the delegates from more than 60 countries attending the conference
to assist in the battle against piracy.
"You need to become the ambassadors and protectors of our intellectual
property," he said.