As an author, journalist, film critic and director of MAMI Film Festival, Anupama Chopra’s views about films and filmmaking are insightful. She was in the city to moderate a panel discussion on ‘Short films and Cinematic Excellence in India’. Excerpts:
As a film critic, how difficult is it to review films made by Vidhu Vinod Chopra?
Well, I don’t really review anything that he is involved with. It’s a conflict of interests. Any review that I have to give, I give it at home in private. In fact, it applies to the whole family, be it Tanuja, my sister or Vikram Chandra, my brother. Sacred Games is based on his book. So I prefer to not review anything when it comes to my family.
How important is the role of film festivals in putting Indian cinema on the global map?
I think it plays a very critical role. As the director of the MAMI Film Festival, I have seen how much it has helped filmmakers. I know there’s always this question whether they are relevant because they’re all there on streaming platforms. But I think cinema is all about collaboration. It’s about people working with each other, and I don’t think that can happen unless you meet people. Film festivals create that environment where you celebrate cinema and connect with other people. These connections help films move.
Movie watching used to be a ritual for families and friends, especially during the holiday season. Will the growing popularity of short films dilute this experience in any way?
No, I think as a viewer, it’s exciting that there are different things to see. When I started as a journalist more than 20 years ago, there were only movies. Growing up, we had nothing except one DD film on a Sunday afternoon. My kids cannot even imagine that life. They have 200 choices on Netflix alone.
So, basically, you now have different kinds of experiences. And I don’t think anything can replace the theatrical experience of watching films in communion with other people. It’s just magical.
But there are times when you just want to lie in your bed and watch something great. As a Mumbaikar, I spend half my life commuting and if I can watch an interesting story on my phone while I am in that commute, it’s wonderful. It enriches my life.
I think all these things cross pollinate and fertilise each other. I don’t think they take away from each other. I saw The Irishman, a film produced by Netflix at MAMI last month. And the 1,200-seater was packed to the last seat. You can’t really replace the euphoria that followed when Martin Scorsese’s name came up and 1,200 people applauded. That feeling is different. Of course, the show will now be available on Netflix and many people will watch it. But for me the experience that will stay is the theatrical one.
Despite such interesting content, why are some movies that are being showcased at international film festivals not being watched here in India?
That’s because many of them aren’t theatrically released. A theatrical release costs a lot of money. For instance, Soni — a fantastic film. It would be a very tough theatrical release because you’d need to convince people to come to the theatre. When you go to a theatre and spend 500 rupees, you know the actors, the songs etc. But these films don’t offer that. So how do they find their audience? Streaming platforms have thankfully enabled the reach and have really changed the landscape in a big way.
You have been in the industry since a very long time. Do you still need prior preparation before interviewing actors?
I never get into an interview without preparation. I research, and if possible even see their movies. It’s disrespectful to their talent to just walk in there and not know what they have done. I would never do that. I’m not interested in their personal lives. My focus is always on what they do on screen. It’s the craft and creativity that I’m interested in.
