As Indian cinema celebrates
its century, director Nikhil Advani says this is the most exciting time
for filmmakers as they are experimenting and getting creative freedom
thanks to flexible audiences.
Earlier, filmmakers were
apprehensive about trying out new themes because audiences were
inflexible, but today's movie buffs are open to new subjects spelling a
boom time for creative minds.
"I would not change from where I am
for Rs.100 crore (movies). It's the most exciting time for the
industry," said the 42-year-old who started as an assistant director in
Sudhir Mishra's "Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin" (1996).
"I have been in
the industry for 20 years and in the 20 years, everyday I used to think
there will be a day when people will start understanding what we want to
do, and the cinema will change. But we forgot that audiences have
always accepted great and different films. The last two and a half years
have only proved that.
"The kind of films that have been made only proves that every time you give something different to the audiences, they will accept it with open arms."
The box-office
successes of women-centric thriller "Kahaani", dark comedy "Peepli Live"
and sperm-donation-based comedy "Vicky Donor" have proved that viewers
are accepting change.
"I am very happy that the studios are today
going to the directors who they wouldn't even look at in normal
circumstances. It's the best time to make films.
"I want to thank
the audiences and say that the more you accept it, the more we will
give you different stuff, the more we will keep thinking differently and
boldly," Advani added.
Advani's first full-fledged film as a
director was Shah Rukh Khan-Priety Zinta-Saif Ali Khan-starrer hit "Kal
Ho Naa Ho" (2003). After that he went behind the camera for
"Salaam-e-Ishq", "Chandni Chowk To China" and "Patiala House", but they
couldn't replicate the success of "Kal Ho.."
He however hit the bull's eye with his animation film "Delhi Safari", which won a National Award.
The
filmmaker also feels today's youth "is asking for a difference, whether
it's difference in politics, leadership, music, fashion or cinema".
He
admits that the demography of people looking for different films is
lower than the masses sticking to certain subjects. "That's why you will
always have a 'Rowdy Rathore' or 'Bodyguard' or 'Dabangg' still working
(at the box office).
"But the niche audience has grown over the
past few years and that's very gratifying and helps filmmakers like us
to make something different."
Over the years, the definition of romance has also changed.
"In
2003, when I made 'Kal Ho Naa Ho', the generation then believed that at
the end of the day Shah Rukh will give up the love of his life for
Saif... but today's generation is not like that, they will simply not
accept it."
His next is "D Day", a film on cross-border
terrorism, in which a bunch of RAW agents is assigned to bring a
terrorist back to India from Pakistan. The film, starring Rishi Kapoor,
Irrfan, Arjun Rampal, Shurti Haasan and Huma Qureshi, is coming out July
19.
"I am making another romantic comedy next year. But it's the
kind of romantic film that I think this generation would identify. So
it's not going to be in the same space of 'Kal Ho Naa Ho', but it will
be a romantic film," he added.
