Top Indian film actor Naseeruddin Shah says Indian filmmaking is still in the Stone Age compared to elsewhere. Characteristically outspoken, he didn’t mince words when he spoke at the ongoing DIFF about religion, cinema and social responsibility of films. Excerpts from a press conference on the global premier of his movie Shoot On Sight.
How does Indian cinema fare vis-à-vis international cinema?
I think we (Indian cinema) are in the Stone Age as far as filmmaking is concerned. You see films from Iran, Poland, Czech Republic, Argentina, Chile, Thailand, Korea and you get completely blown away from the kind of subject they are tackling and the manner in which they are doing it. The evolution of filmmakers is evident there. In India what do we have? Boy meets girl. People do not think beyond that.
Our so-called serious filmmakers make films about the oppression of women and that of landless labourers. There doesn’t seem to be a third topic in the country seemingly worthy of making a film about. It is amazing how our filmmakers don’t look at the life around them.
Satyajit Ray said in his book that the country (India) which has inspired artists from various mediums from all over the world seems to be completely incapable of inspiring the filmmakers. We are very much behind although the world is watching Bollywood films today.