WHERE POLITICS IS REEL

Movie Stars Make A Splash In Andhra Pradesh

When it comes to electioneering by movie stars, none can beat the Andhra Pradesh. At the time when leaders from all political parties are slogging it out in the open, the state bridging North and South India is agog with actors and actresses addressing the people and appealing for the votes. Today I watched Junior NTR addressing the voters from his house and ridden on a bed on account of backache. His speech, which came after hectic schedule of road shows and rallies, was full of vigor and enthusiasm.

Those who have watched any of Junior NTR’s movie knows how the young descendent of Nandmuri Tarak Ramarao can deliver the speeches laden with aggression. He carried the same zeal in reality when he spoke about the political picture of his state. He invoked Telugu pride frequently during his about ten minute long speech. His speech was carried live by the NTV, a channel owned by Tummala Narendra Chowdary. The channel also interviewed some of the supporters of the young superstar and they seemed to have lapped all that was spoken by Junior NTR.

It was very appalling to see a young hero targeting the Mega Star like Chiranjeevi. He took a dig at Chiru, without the naming of course, “who had called Gandhiji to fight for the freedom of India? Who had called Dr. Ambedkar to fight for the cause of Dalits?” He also criticized Congress, the ruling party of Andhra Pradesh and main opponent of Telugu Desam Party, for which Jr. NTR was campaigning for last many days.

However, he was not alone in the fray. Almost half of Telugu movie stars and artists are in election process this time. Nagarjuna, who till now has managed to keep distance from the party politics, has opened his mouth this time. Even though speaking in a reserved manner and refusing to endorse any of the party, he said there have been only two persons in the state who have kept their promises. Those two are NTR and Y. S. Rajshekhar Reddy, the present chief minister of the state. Nagarjuna, a heartthrob of a large number of youths (I myself like the actor) in Andhra as well as in other states, also wished success to Chiru.

Meanwhile, many new actors like Allu Arjun are also campaigning for the Praja Rajyam, party founded by Chiranjeevi.

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Film Festival : Does It Help

The Pune International Film Festival was inaugurated yesterday. It was made to be a great event by all and sundry. Looking from the standpoint of an average cinegoer, I do not find it much exciting. They say the film festival is the place where you can have a vast view of cinema. For me, it is a place where those films are shown which can not stand in the theatre on their own.

Iranian films are hailed by everyone citing their content, which they say is ‘contemporary.’ To my mind, it is because they always portray Iran as others, particularly West, want to see. I have serious doubts whether people speaking on behalf of conneseaurs really have different aesthetic view than that of Hollywood. That is why no South Indian film is showcased in the current festival even though the current rage in Hindi viewers, Ghajini is a three year late remake of a successful Tamil films.

Coming to the speeches at PIFF, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting & External Affairs Anand Sharma was quoted as saying that film making in India should continue to remain connected with social realities and problems and keep hopes alive in the poor as they have been in the past. One fails to understand what social realities he was talking about. Even when protagonist of Hindi flicks were used to be from common masses, as was used to be in Amithabh Bachchan films, it was far away from reality. Now, Hindi films no more happen in India. They either take place on an exclusively reserved paradise-like islands or in Mauritius or any other country, willing to welcome Bollywood in exchange of good money.

Sharma also said that films should reflect the social challenges such as poverty, hunger, empowerment, violence and terrorism that confront us and we cannot allow these problems to overwhelm us. Since when was cinema a tool in fighting the social vices? People who used to make films based on these themes, were skilled in getting monetary help from government departments. Movies made with government money were showcased in festivals in other countries. That is why even festivals in India are unattended by public at large who has made Bollywood so big a industry. This is the seventh edition of PIFF taking place and history shows that forget about foreighn films, English films have been confined to multiplexes only. Audience for the non-Hindi regional films has seen a significant increase. Even second rate dubbed films are raking in money in Pune’s theatres. So much for the film festivals and enlightnement of the masses!

Veteran actress Sulochana, filmstar Shashi Kapoor and well known actress Hema Malini were conferred the lifetime achievement award for their contribution to Indian cinema. This was the only welcome thing in the PIFF as they deserve it.

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Indian movies growing out of all woods

The film industry in India could not have better than this. After witnessing its most successful year in the recent past in terms of box-office collections, the industry is poised to grow even more. And this is not an abstract anticipation of any Bollywoodwallah, it is a studied inference of an American institute.
The PTI recently reported about a report by the Creative and Innovative Economy Centre (CIEC) of George Washington University Law School, wherein the centre has estimated that Indian film industry will grow by more than 15 per cent in the coming year. The reasons attributed are growing number of multiplexes and the availability of digital technology.
What this report did not elaborate, and which I specifically observed some three months ago, that this trend of growth is more evident in Bollywood but it equally, or more precisely more forcefully exist in the regional film industries. The statistical data of these scattered centres of film making does not come up at once and hence it is relegated to the unhidden corners of respective trade papers.
The Bollywood, that now produces Hindi films for mainly urban and overseas audience is considered worth 25, 000 Crores, according to Industry sources. Coming next to it is Kollywood or Tamil film industry which had a turnover of around 23, 155 Crores at the end of year 2005. This year’s data is yet to come by. The second biggest film industry in South India, that is Telugu film industry has a turnover to the tune of 23, 044 Crores.
Even the once near-dead or non-existent industries are gaining or regaining ground in the unprecedented ways. The Marathi film industry was staring at its death just five years ago. But the Shwaas changed it all. The film released in 2004 won a Golden Lotus Award from the President and that provided a much-needed impetus to the Maharashtrian producers. That’s why this year saw as many as 75 films in Marathi language were passed for the release by the Central Certification Board of India, called Censor Board, compared to the two or three on an average in the 90s.
The Bhojpuri films till recently remained in the shadow of the Hindi films. But as the Bollywood turn more and more urban; these films emerged strong with flavor of local themes and talent providing ingredients. Even Bollywood Superstar Amitabh Bachchan has thought it imperative to act in a Bhojpuri film, which was quite unthinkable in the past.
So given this trend, it is hardly surprising that world is anticipating a big growth from Bollywood. The question is, will it take cognizance of the growth of other film industries in India.

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