On parallel lines

Subhash Ghai,an FTII (Film and Television Institute of India) graduate has gone on to direct and produce over 80 films in a career spanning over almost four decades. Black and White marks his first foray into parallel cinema and a paradigm shift from mainstream commercial Bollywood Movies.

“In the life of every film maker there comes a time when he starts questioning the serious issues that plague the society. For me the moving point was when I was watching the news of a terrorist bombing on the television. It was then that the idea to make Black and White struck me. I wanted to understand the mind of a terrorist. As a result I began researching on the ways young men and boys are indoctrinated with these shallow ideas,I also met up with religious heads,and authorities on various religions and sought their help and the different types of interpretations of religions. Black and White is born after a lot of painstaking research by not only me but also the actor Anurag Sinha who actually read and spoke to people to understand the mind of a terrorist,” Ghai says.

Speaking about future projects he says,”I definitely intend to make movies on such issues. Also my company Mukta Arts intends to foray further into Marathi and regional films.”

When asked what message did he want to give to the society through his film Black and White,he says,”The only way that we can fight terrorism and kill it is by educating people. University professors and teachers are actually coming up to me asking me to hold special screenings for the youth and school students. This is a warm gesture and also an indication of the fact that change is setting in.”