Kiran is the new storyteller
Aamir Khan in a still from Dhobi Ghat
This week belongs to a very different film called Dhobi Ghat and the chatter around it. I have not been able to see it and even if I have, I don’t think I am as dextrous as the critics in analysing a film. This is about the chatter and not about the film. Let’s say this is about the chatter that surrounds the film. “Aamir Khan should not do films like this,” someone said. “Like what?” I inquired. “This art film type,” she retorted. I thought to myself if there is anything like an art film or a commercial film today. There is only a good film and a bad film. So I let it pass but thought to myself why do we have this compulsive need to slot everyone and everything we come across?
We slot people, relationships and even actors! Aamir Khan has no right to try and entertain us in a different way? That is a tad fascist of us! Why should he only be burdened with a Ghajni or producing a Jaane Tu?
Another disgruntled viewer said he could not understand the film. What I did not understand was with what understanding he had gone to see the film! If he went in expecting a Fanaa then I am sure he would not understand anything.
The most important thing about watching a film is watching it for what its worth. The problem, my dear Kiran, is when you make a film that is out of the ordinary and different, chances are that you will fall to either side of the bar. They might decide to hail you as the new genius or they might decide to hold back their praise. Either way no one will see that at least it’s an attempt to say something different.
As the film adage goes, here you are paid not to try but to succeed and yet there are successes of different kinds. Money is not the only success a film can give you. When a film made at a small budget does not do the business of Three Idiots, are we not being silly at even expecting that?
Dhobi Ghat has given us a new storyteller. That is the most important success that this film has achieved. Every storyteller will have stories that you will love and ones that you hate. That’s fine. That is part of the storyteller’s job.
The chatter will die when Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji releases next week but a fire has been lit and a new filmmaker is here.
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