The Hindu : Kerala News : Over-dependence on Government broke the new wave: Benegal

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Sunday, Dec 12, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Over-dependence on Government broke the new wave: Benegal

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, DEC. 11. New wave cinema ran into crisis owing to its over-dependence on the Government, film-maker Shyam Benegal has said.

Addressing a meet-the-press programme held as part of the ninth International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) here today, Mr. Benegal said that filmmakers should change their strategy in tune with the changing times to keep afloat. Kerala is one of the States where new wave cinema survived owing to the efforts of directors like Aravindan and Adoor Gopalakrishnan. They made independent attempts, he said.

Audience

Television has mopped up the audience of serious cinema and in due course, new wave cinema had to depend on the audience of mainstream cinema. Hence a change in strategy is mandatory.

A film-maker should take into account the financial responsibility and has to think of the audience too. He should get them to cover the cost and also have the skill to make the film of his choice. A director cannot be oblivious of his audience, Mr. Benegal said.

Permanent venue

Goa should be the permanent venue for international festival and it should be developed as a film market. Each State should have its own festival like the IFFK that has come of age over the years, he said.

Censorship

Though not a votary of the Censor Board, Mr. Benegal said that such institutions should function above politics. The Board should not act like a schoolmaster punishing filmmakers who do not toe the line of the Government. That shows how the Board functions, he said in response to questions regarding Anupam Kher's ouster from the post of Board chairman. Considering the country's diverse nature, there should be broad guidelines to check the making of films that tend to offend certain sections of society, he said.

The latest film

His latest film, `Bose the Forgotten Hero' with san international cast, is all set for release in February. The film, made at a cost of Rs. 21 crores, was completed in one-and-a-half years.

The focus of the film is on the life of Subhash Chandra Bose from 1940 to 45. Sachin Khedekar, an artiste from Maharashtra, plays the role of Bose and Surendra Dhajal from Madhya Pradesh plays Mahatma Gandhi.

Other than in India, the film was shot in Britain, Germany, Uzbekistan and Myanmar. Netaji's valorous struggle for freedom and his fascinating relationship with Gandhi figure in the film.

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