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Journalism of Courage
For every Aamir Khan, Farhan Akhtar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Ashutosh Gowariker, you have a Pahlaj Nihalani and the like in Bollywood. For many years the head of the AMPTPP Association of Motion Pictures and Television Programme Producers, Nihalani has always dismissed the media, insisting that reviews make little difference to a film8217;s collections at the box-office. Every other filmmaker who has dished out a sub-standard product has, at some point or the other, inevitably repeated the words.
To some extent, perhaps, they do have a point. The movie-going public, although keen to have an idea how critics have reacted to new releases, tend to take reviews with a pinch of salt. They8217;d much rather decide for themselves whether a film deserves the hype it has received or not.
Today, when they say Bollywood is going through its worse phase ever 8212; what with every second big-budget extravaganza flopping with a resounding thud 8212; Nihalani and his fellow producers are blaming the industry8217;s sad state on the film press. The AMPTPP has decided, among other things, to forbid trade analysts and critics from appearing on television during the opening weekend of a film8217;s release, and discussing its merits and its potential.
Ironically, the same set of filmmakers who insisted that unfavourable reviews cannot make a dent in the collections of new releases, is now pointing in the direction of the media, for the way their films are faring. Call it shortsightedness, or simply a case of let8217;s-put-the-blame-on-someone-else, point is that instead of pulling up their socks and making better movies, they8217;re looking for a solution in the wrong place.
Nihalani also says too much money is being spent by filmmakers advertising their films on hoardings and on television. Maybe he has a point. But how about curbing unnecessary expenditure like the sort spent on flattering film stars8217; egos? Better still, why not get together with your ilk and insist that you won8217;t pay stars unreasonable prices, considering none of them are able to justify the money they8217;re asking for in the first place?
Hell no, the producers won8217;t do that. They just can8217;t. Everyone wants to cast Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor. And everyone knows Hrithik comes for a fat packet today. So what if neither of his last two releases Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage and Na Tum Jano Na Hum got even a decent initial.
And why pick on other producers? What about Nihalani himself? Kareena Kapoor has openly declared that she signed on for Nihalani8217;s latest film, Talaash, even though her role is nothing out of the ordinary, only because she got paid a never-before fee.
Today, the producers are putting their foot down against trade analysts dissecting films on television. Next, they8217;ll say film critics shouldn8217;t publish reviews until a week after the film has been released. Where does it stop? And what business do they have to mind our business anyway? By the same logic, can we please put out a list of producers and directors whose films we8217;re just not interested in enduring?
