Style and substance in Bollywood

Theres something about a stylish film that leaves a mark. They may not set the cash registers ringing but they definitely create a buzz.

Stylish films may not set the cash registers ringing but they definitely create a buzz

Theres something about a stylish film that leaves a mark. They may or may not work,but they are always remembered. Till date,Yash Raj Films Dhoom series remain their most successful movies in recent times that brought in a new chapter in stylish filmmaking with its fast-paced motorbike robbery drama and exotic foreign locales. Then theres the recently-released Dum Maaro Dum. The film may have chosen humble Goa as its setting,but the slickly filmed cop-and-robber chase makes it a reasonably compelling watch.

Looking back,there have been other filmmakers who tried their hand at this genre. Subhash Ghais Karz,Vijay Anands Teesri Manzil and Pankaj Parashars 1987 Jalwa all come with crackling style. Who can forget Feroz Khans slickly-directed Qurbani with Aap jaisa koi,the pulsating disco number,Farhan Akhtars Dil Chahta Hai and even Abbas-Mustans Race about the wily acts of two half brothers,its two femme fatales and speeding car-rides were also packaged extremely stylishly. What worked for these films was that their narration moved away from formula,and adopted a different approach to storytelling.

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But style doesnt always pay. There were filmmakers who tried their hand at this genre,but were not so lucky. Sriram Raghavans Johnny Gaddaar,Soham Shahs Luck,Anthony DSouzas Blue,Vijay Krishna Acharyas sun-seared desert drama,Tashan and Goldie Behls Drona about a knight protecting the elixir of immortality from the clutches of a demon were some examples.

Despite their huge budgets,smart ideas and innovative filming,these hip films failed to bring in the audience. The only answer that comes to mind is that despite their modern methods,somewhere the filmmaker hung on to the traditional. Todays cinema needs more than slickly-shot sequences,stylish looks and picturesque locales.

geety.sahgal@expressindia.com

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