A few days ago the Film Society all around the world witnessed a magnificent day but our country refuse to do that. 2nd May, 2021 was the 100th birth anniversary of the legendary Indian filmmaker Bharat Ratna Satyajit Ray, the creator of several masterpieces who was named by the famous English filmmaker Martin Scorsese among his 4 ideals, the only Indian to win an Honorary Academy Award who influenced many movies in the entire world and an artist who brought world recognition to the Indian cinema.
But, unfortunately, the celebrations were marred by the fact that the election results in five states of our country were declared on the same day. The news headlines were reined by the political scenario and the heinous covid pandemic because of which our cultural recognition and pride remained unnoticed by our own people.
But the real tribute to this genius cannot be given on just one day. The real tribute is when we understand the importance of art films and try to promote them which we are not. The major chunk of our population is inclined towards the irrational commercial films starring big celebrities, forgetting about the real significance of the art.
ART FILMS
Art films are a bit complicated films which everybody cannot understand and is mostly liked by the educated and sophisticated audience who know the technicalities of this art but these are the films which remain alive in the memory of the people for a longer time and represent our culture. It also becomes a matter of national pride when these films win International Awards and bring laurels to our country. Thus, these films should be acknowledged and promoted.
The optimistic hopes of our artists is far away from the reality. Not only art films are not coming to be financially successful but the Classic films of Satyajit Ray are also not given any proper platform to be promoted.
THE OTT IRONY
The advent of OTT(over-the-top) platforms showed a ray of hope for film lovers as it was anticipated that now good films are going to be presented in front of the audience but it is hard to convey this reality that the Apu trilogy by Satyajit Ray was given its place on Amazon Prime for 6 months and then removed when the contract ended but after that nobody wanted to take it because of its reducing viewership and fading popularity among the masses.
MONETARY FACTORS
While irrational commercial films starring big celebrities are earning 100, 200 or even 300 crores in the box office, art films like Udaan, Tumbbad and Kadwi Hawa have earned just 3.5, 13.57 and 8.7 crores respectively which is very less for any film producer. It discourages the directors to make such films as they appear as a big financial loss to them.
THE REGIONAL CINEMA
Satyajit Ray is also a name which can be related with the rise of regional cinema in India. As far as the awards are concerned, regional cinema is far ahead than the Hindi cinema but due to the language issues and the lack of proper communication with the audience it is not getting its fair share of acknowledgement in the financial arena while their remakes are conquering the Box Office though they are reducing the level of original films, as pointed out by many critics.
SOLUTIONS -
Art films and regional cinema should be promoted by the government through many platforms. Awards should be given fairly by them and if possible, the government should itself produce some art films to promote our cinema.
But as I always say, the real onus is on the society itself. It should get rid of this menace of blind following the celebrity culture and do some effort to understand the complex art. When the people will start demanding such films the change will become inevitable.
CONCLUSION
Rightly quoted by Walt Disney ,"We don't make movies to make money, we make money to make movies." Film- making is a new and growing art which is the most popular of all of them. Victory in this can lead to triumph in many other art forms also.
-VATSAL DIXIT
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