Indian cinema needs to shed its skin: Majidi
New Delhi (PTI): Oscar-nominated Iranian director Majid Majidi, who has grown up on a rich diet of Indian movies and is now readying to shoot in India for his new film is of the opinion that the country's film industry needs a revolution that will produce more of simple yet profound cinema.
Majidi, whose 'Children of Heaven' lost the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film Academy Award to Roberto Benigni's 'A Beautiful Mind,' is a self-confessed admirer of the legendary Satyajit Ray and has produced simple and heartwarming movies like 'Baran,' and 'The Willow Tree.'
"This is the cinema that I have been familiar with since I was very young ... I grew up watching commercial cinema (of India) like everyone else... in my youth this might have well interested me," Majidi told PTI during his recent visit to the capital.
He said, "As I became interested in cinema and I became fond of India's other cinema. I became fond of in particular with the cinema of Satyajit Ray, he is a great master of cinema someone of great influence on me, a profound influence on me and his cinema is that kind of cinema I like, cinema that is kind of simple on the surface and on a deeper level having great impact."
Majidi who is not comfortable with English spoke in Iranian using a translator."In my opinion Indian cinema sort of needs a revolution. In an industry that produces as many films as India does, has a tremendous opportunity not just here in this country but throughout Asia and the rest of the world having such a huge impact on the development of higher standard, commercial cinema of higher standard. I believe that it is time for Indian cinema to shed some of its skin," he said.
His lyrical and simple narrative structured films that apparently lack special effects, advanced editing, or photographic techniques does not mean that the themes are simplistic and he compromises on the story. At a time when fellow directors like Abbas Kiarostami choose themes that are rather obscure in nature, Majidi insists his films remain straightforward.
"Technique is often what is the first impression of the film, a strange sort of movement or an odd camera angle or this incredible sort of crane shot especially in big budget films, and that partly is what we see and why we go to see those films but for me what is important is the spirit of that technique."
The writer-director adds, "The technique is at the service of the story and the most difficult thing to do is to tell a story simply and by this I dont mean a simple story. Telling a very complex idea of the subject in a manner that everyone can understand it so that I can engage all types of people the masses the intellectuals the critics everyone can understand the subject this film."
"For example when I see the flower, the beauty of the flower has a simpicity in itself but behind the beauty is an incredibly complex activity.In that same way my aim is to tell a story in a manner that allows it to shine," he points out.
Beginning his career as a child actor in amateur theatre groups, Majidi is comfortable working with children and enjoys the experience. His 'Children of Heaven' and 'Colours of Paradise' are basically films meant for adults though they potray children in key roles.
"I am very fond of my childhood and understand children well and though it is very difficult my experience has so far been I have been able to get the kind of performances I wanted from the children," says the director.
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