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Sudhir Mishra and Soha Ali Khan on Hindi cinema
‘You had that classic look!’
When Bollywood producer-director Sudhir Mishra and actor Soha Ali Khan met the other day, the conversation veered towards their first venture together, the recent “Khoya Khoya Chand”. And out came close observations about the film industry.
Rana Siddiqui tuned in.
Sudhir Mishra Thank God, the film industry is undergoing a positive change. Otherwise, as a film director, I was getting frustrated. Till a while ago, I barely saw films of my kind. Directors such as Anurag Basu (of “Metro” fame) have filled in the gap between the so-called mainstream and parallel cinema.
Soha Ali Khan You are right. I was looking for a film of my heart’s choice to enter the industry but it came late. I think it began with “Rang De Basanti” and has got stronger with your “Khoya Khoya Chand”. In fact, your film is my first author-backed solo role.
Sudhir
(smiles) I couldn’t zero in on any other face than yours for that ‘classic’ look. I wanted it for my heroine. People are so short-sighted here. They discouraged me and told me you were a wrong choice. But after watching the film, they had to eat their words!
Soha
(laughs) This film has made me look at myself differently. Though I was aware of my ‘classic’ look the ground-breaking role in “Khoya…” has proved it on screen. In fact, the use of Urdu diction in the film, the dialogue delivery and the body language transported me to that era. Despite working back-to-back for several months, I never felt tired.
Sudhir I think those filmmakers who have been wishing to make films with that 1960s and 1970s touch will now look at you….
Soha Since no one so far cashed in on it, I even thought once that it was a drawback…
Sudhir Yes, if an actress has the right face, she will have an irritating way of dialogue delivery. If an actor has good articulation, he will look very artificial. We filmmakers really have a tough time looking for the right face for a role.
Soha I wonder how the film industry is still not making films that have women in substantial roles? See the contrast with films made in the 1950s and the 1960s, and now. Though acting was taboo for women those days, powerful roles were written for them. See Madhubala, Meena Kumari, Waheeda Rahman and the others… they had a well-defined space in films. And today, despite talks of ‘women’s liberation’,hardly any good roles are written for women.
Sudhir So true. There are no films that reflect our times. I face a lot of difficulties making a ‘contemporary’ or time-denoting film. That way, Anurag Basu inspires me. See, his “Metro” was so true to today’s city life.
Soha Even “Rang De Basanti” was a sort of ‘time film’ that cared to teach the audience to respect the present and the past.
Sudhir I often wonder why only 20 per cent of today’s films include art.
Soha Films are another expression of art, isn’t it?
Sudhir For me, today’s art film is Vishal Bhardwaj’s “Omkara”. See how beautifully he has used language and location in it. We always tend to change the meaning of a word according to our convenience. I call it an art film, many call it an action film, isn’t that strange?
Soha I believe with so many multiplexes coming up even in the smaller cities, there is scope for films that have both an art and commercial flavour. There is an audience for good films. Time has proved it. And still they say only ‘masala’ films work.
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