HYDERABAD: FICCI Ladies Organisation, Hyderabad Chapter conducted an interactive session with and for its members on Hindi Films --- New Voices, New Directions in the city. The panellists for the session were Zoya Akhtar, Dibakar Banerjee and Abhishek Kapoor . The session was moderated by Anupama Chopra. The discussion focused on New Hindi Cinema --- the cinema that Zoya, Dibakar and Abhishek are making. This genre of cinema has moved away from formula and has a new sensibility that reflects the changes in urban India. It is radically different in its portrayal of relationships, language, sex and attitude. The panelists also discussed on how these films reflect the cultural churning in India. They work on low budgets and are still a commercial success. Zoya Akhtar commented on how she is taking mainstream formula (stars, songs) but imbibing it with a personal sensibility. She also spoke on how the palette has changed over the years. Movies are becoming more entertaining and they strike a good balance between engrossing the audience attention, expression of the directors’ thought and being a commercial success. Anupama Chopra debated with the panelists if these films spoke mainly to the urban, multiplex audience. At one point, Hindi films were the great pop-cultural unifier in India. Do these films accentuate the divide or they are bringing in a social message. Dibakar Banerjee expressed that nothing works without a good script. Producers and financers can design a movie for the audience but a director just follows his heart. Abhishek spoke about how emotions connect across the line. The industry is star driven and they are expensive but it is exciting to work with stars because they are very professional. As filmmakers, there are far more options available now-a-days. The new wave of liberalisation has created an urge and freedom in the filmmakers to express themselves. Pinky Reddy, the chairperson of FLO said, “These movies are showing us that even off-beat thoughts can be converted into mainstream cinema. Similar thing can be replicated in all spheres of businesses. Traditional entrepreneurship is making way for the unconventional. The most important thing is whether we enjoy doing what we are doing and I think Zoya, Dibakar and Abhishek love making the kind of cinema they are making and that is why the audience loves to watch their movies.”
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