There was a message that 2010 held for the Hindi film industry: Fresh perspectives welcome. Some of the most acclaimed films this year were helmed by first time directors or featured new faces. While Abhinav Kashyap’s Dabangg and Punit Malhotra’s I Hate Luv Storys had the benefit of star billings, Anusha Rizvi and Vikramaditya Motwane delivered gems that were shorn of A-lister brilliance. Peepli Live, India’s official entry to the Oscars, was much feted for its black humour and Udaan, screened at the Cannes Film Festival, was lauded for depicting a troubled father-son relationship.
“Both Peepli Live and Udaan managed to bring into Bollywood the very different perspectives of their makers,” says trade analyst Komal Nahata.
Producers say the key to the success of these low key films has been that they are made on a small budget and costs are covered once these films do well at various film festivals. Another reason, says producer Sanjay Gupta, is that these new breed of filmmakers offer the film-going public’s jaded palate a new experience. “These new directors aren’t afraid to embrace any theme — even if it’s the very antithesis of the all-singing and all-dancing formula,” asserts Gupta.
The industry too is very gung-ho about these first-timers. Producer-director Anurag Kashyap says, “I enjoy the out-of-the-box sensibilities that these unknown faces are ushering in.”
“What it all boils down to is whether you have a good enough story. People always want to hear new stories, see new faces,” says trade analyst Taran Adarsh.