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The non-resident Indian film market has spoilt the country's
mainstream cinema, feels filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj who has just
won a National Award for "The Blue Umbrella". "In their cinematic
entertainment, the NRIs look for a country they left behind 50
years ago. 'The Blue Umbrella' is targeted at a white-skinned
audience," Bharadwaj told IANS.
In fact, not too many people know that "The Blue Umbrella" was
ready before "Omkara".
"That's right," laughed Bharadwaj. "But my producer UTV wanted to
give it an international release and it was taking too long, since
'Umbrella' isn't a conventional song-and-dance ethnic NRI film.
That market, I feel, has spoilt our mainstream cinema. That cinema
and audience are caught in a time warp.
He is hugely excited about "The Blue Umbrella".
"It's very different from my other film with children 'Makdee'.
It was made for kids. 'The Blue Umbrella' is more humorous,
humane and mature, like an Iranian film. Kids will have to be
accompanied by parents for this one.
"In those days, right after 'Maqbool', I was heavily into Iranian
cinema. I came across this Ruskin Bond's good-versus-evil story
with an authentic setting. 'The Blue Umbrella' is a kids' films
for adults."
Bharadwaj is very impressed by Iranian films.
"Look at them. They make culture-specific films that are universal
in appeal. That's what I aimed for in 'The Blue Umbrella'. We
are such a self-sufficient market we don't look for
non-traditional audiences, whereas European and Iranian cinema have
to look outside the country for an audience."
Ironically, "Maqbool" never got released overseas.
"Today, when I see myself being announced as the director of
'Makdee', 'Maqbool' and 'Omkara' on the posters of 'The Blue
Umbrella', I get a bit nervous. I don't want to live under any
illusions about how much of the audience I can draw in.
"'Omkara' had stars. Before that 'Maqbool' didn't get the same
audience, though it was an equally powerful subject. So stars are
really valuable to reach the masses. Let's see if 'The Blue
Umbrella' can get the audiences in without stars."
Bharadwaj says that NRI filmmaker Deepa Mehta first wanted to
produce an English language version of his much-lauded "Omkara".
But later she changed her mind.
"Yes, she wanted to buy the rights of 'Omkara' and make it into
an English film when I met her in Canada. Then when I met her at
IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) awards two months ago, she
offered to convert 'Omkara' into a play to be staged at
Shakespeare's birth place," Bharadwaj said.
Indo-Asian News Service
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