Over the years, Indian cinema or Bollywood as it is jargonized by us has been successful in carving a niche for itself in the global market. Not only are our films watched worldwide but have also gained recognition. Fact. But is that enough?
Probably, no. Yeh dil maange more as they say. Fine. I have no issues with we aiming higher, achieving more. The issue is with its DQ -determinant quotient. Here’s why.
We suffer from what I call the ANS – American Nod Syndrome. I mean come on..,we have evidences- The White Tiger wins the Booker Prize and it tops our Top 5 books list.
This is routine. We have a list of artists like Arundhati Roy and Salman Rushdie having been appreciated for their works by US first and then us. My question is -Why? Why are we always so desperate for America’s attention? Why do we need a Booker Prize or an Oscar to anticipate and acknowledge our artists? Why does it matter anyway? I mean it is great if we are applauded on an international stature, but if we’re not, does our worth lessen?
Slumdog had already won accolades in international festivals when it came to India months back but failed to find buyers. Reason given – “This won’t work here. Who wants to see slums and poverty? What’s so great about them? We see them all over. Blah, blah..”
And bamb.. Post Golden Globes (2nd best to Academy Awards), the movie’s splashed all over – everyone’s singing Jai Ho! And now, a little known ‘Q & A’ becomes a bestseller (years later than it should have). Suddenly, multiplexes have a lot of space for this Golden Globe accredited ‘Indian’ film (FYI – its not an Indian film per se, its just shot here). Anyways, who cares now, especially after it being nominated for 10 Oscars!
Cool.. We might even land up winning a few. And gosh! I don’t even want to imagine how we might react then? ‘Jai ho’ might become a patriotic song, Anil Kapoor might land up doing some reality shows himself or participate in Big Brother (or worse Big Boss) and Slumdog might surpass Sholay’s hype.. Well, whatever happens tomorrow, hopefully it shouldn’t be anything that’s happening with the film now.
When Maslow conceptualized his pyramid of human needs, I guess he forgot to customize it for us. Take Slumdog for instance, first we wait for it to get the American Nod, once it does, we go blowing our own ‘its our film’ trumpet, and once it gets all the media hype, we have these ‘here’s-the-moment-grab-the-attention’ types who suddenly wake up, just in the nick of time to criticize, protest, throw accusations and use all their might to play show spoilers. I wonder how Mr.Boyle will cope up with such reception. But poor Mr.Boyle doesn’t know that yahaan shaadi hoti nahi aur baaraati pehle hi aa jaate hai khaana khaane (Mr.Bachchan leading the baaraatis this time). Not that he seeks all the hype. But what the heck if he gets paid lump some for all the ‘blog talk’.
All I got to say is that Mr.Bachchan is not the voice of India. So even if he has had his say, lets not blindly view it through his specs. Cause even if he accepts it or not, the ground reality does not change. There is a difference in realizing and accepting.
India is not all about slums and poverty, but even if this underbelly is exposed, we are not ashamed of it.. So, lets not throw brickbats at something that deserves showering of bouquets.
ps – the book is worth a read. Vikas Swarup may finally take a bow.
Probably, no. Yeh dil maange more as they say. Fine. I have no issues with we aiming higher, achieving more. The issue is with its DQ -determinant quotient. Here’s why.
We suffer from what I call the ANS – American Nod Syndrome. I mean come on..,we have evidences- The White Tiger wins the Booker Prize and it tops our Top 5 books list.
This is routine. We have a list of artists like Arundhati Roy and Salman Rushdie having been appreciated for their works by US first and then us. My question is -Why? Why are we always so desperate for America’s attention? Why do we need a Booker Prize or an Oscar to anticipate and acknowledge our artists? Why does it matter anyway? I mean it is great if we are applauded on an international stature, but if we’re not, does our worth lessen?
Slumdog had already won accolades in international festivals when it came to India months back but failed to find buyers. Reason given – “This won’t work here. Who wants to see slums and poverty? What’s so great about them? We see them all over. Blah, blah..”
And bamb.. Post Golden Globes (2nd best to Academy Awards), the movie’s splashed all over – everyone’s singing Jai Ho! And now, a little known ‘Q & A’ becomes a bestseller (years later than it should have). Suddenly, multiplexes have a lot of space for this Golden Globe accredited ‘Indian’ film (FYI – its not an Indian film per se, its just shot here). Anyways, who cares now, especially after it being nominated for 10 Oscars!
Cool.. We might even land up winning a few. And gosh! I don’t even want to imagine how we might react then? ‘Jai ho’ might become a patriotic song, Anil Kapoor might land up doing some reality shows himself or participate in Big Brother (or worse Big Boss) and Slumdog might surpass Sholay’s hype.. Well, whatever happens tomorrow, hopefully it shouldn’t be anything that’s happening with the film now.
When Maslow conceptualized his pyramid of human needs, I guess he forgot to customize it for us. Take Slumdog for instance, first we wait for it to get the American Nod, once it does, we go blowing our own ‘its our film’ trumpet, and once it gets all the media hype, we have these ‘here’s-the-moment-grab-the-attention’ types who suddenly wake up, just in the nick of time to criticize, protest, throw accusations and use all their might to play show spoilers. I wonder how Mr.Boyle will cope up with such reception. But poor Mr.Boyle doesn’t know that yahaan shaadi hoti nahi aur baaraati pehle hi aa jaate hai khaana khaane (Mr.Bachchan leading the baaraatis this time). Not that he seeks all the hype. But what the heck if he gets paid lump some for all the ‘blog talk’.
All I got to say is that Mr.Bachchan is not the voice of India. So even if he has had his say, lets not blindly view it through his specs. Cause even if he accepts it or not, the ground reality does not change. There is a difference in realizing and accepting.
India is not all about slums and poverty, but even if this underbelly is exposed, we are not ashamed of it.. So, lets not throw brickbats at something that deserves showering of bouquets.
ps – the book is worth a read. Vikas Swarup may finally take a bow.
" GREAT THOUGHTS "
ReplyDeleteIt's really Very nice blog...