That is why I feel sorry for people who look down upon Manmohan Desai or Subhash Ghai and wax eloquent about Satyajit Ray or Mrinal Sen. Manmohan Desai was not a fool: he too could have made art films, but he wanted to entertain the lay Indian, even if it meant weaving a story around incredible coincidences. And he succeeded, because he gave the world what it wanted. Even today, I would not want to watch a Mrinal Sen film even if I was paid for it, but I would gladly watch Amar Akbar Anthony for the 59th time.[link]
I have no problems with the argument that Desai was no fool–an important part of talent is to recognize its limits–Desai did and structured his movies to cater to the masses. Also, I have little doubt that Ray would be unable to direct something like Amar Akbar Anthony because the suspension of disbelief it requires would be beyond him. Or at least, the movie would look very different.
But what is utterly foolish is the statement that Desai could have been an ”art director”–the next Ray?–but he chose not to because he was interested in his market. That seems to assume that the only difference between Ray and Desai is the stories they filmed.
Or it would be the same as Chetan Bhagat claiming he could be the next Philip Roth but since the market for latter may be more limited–especially in India–he cares not to. Or that I can write the most erudite blog in the world but the only reason I don’t do it because of sympathy for the readers of Street Car.
Filed under: Cinema, Media/Blog watch
Or that I can write the most erudite blog in the world …
OMG, you mean, you really can’t?
Say it ain’t so, Roh!
Of course I can!
But what about the readers?
“Or that I can write the most erudite blog”
I think you mean to say “I can write something like life”.
Come on,give it a shot! Probably you can give the Eminent Blogger a run for his money
Hmmm…how will I even know it is erudite? When the five readers I have run away?
Dear Confused:
Thanks for mentioning my post here.
You must not read too much into my statement about Desai being an art director. It was a casual remark — not to be taken at face value. The idea behind the post was to emphasise what Herzog wrote to the Italian filmmaker — how people are not obliged to watch the movies ones makes unless they like it.
But who knows, Desai just might have been another Ray? Though in hindsight, this sounds highly improbable and laughable because the moment you think of Desai, the images from his mindless movies float up to your mind.
Cheers
Dear Bishwanath,
Thank you for your comments. But since you say you were not to be taken too seriously, this post becomes redundant. I would have removed it but I am too lazy.
What is art film?
Home made porn?
If that is the criteria then goat man bunk up will certainly auteur
@ Manmohan Desai was not a fool: he too could have made art films, but he wanted to entertain the lay Indian…….
for a sec, tried to imagine the so-termed Art film by Manmohan Desai. “Harakiri-sh” thought!
Gawd, this is such a wholesome sweeping conclusion, Mr Bishwanath Ghosh!
film makers choose to be in certain genre and decidedly build their equity in the same {fully conscious of their DNA, Preferences, strengths etc), catering to the bull’s eye TA – The class or the Mass, or the class+mass. it could be an exclusive set or the same audience feeling different need states like “sheer entertainment and fantasy value” , “thought provoking cinema” , “reality that one does not want to run away from”, ’societal themes”….etc etc…
well, it’s not “ART film”….but “Parallel Cinema” ,
used to be a very niche genre, which gathering ground n appealing to relatively larger a crowd/appeal in the country, these days. if you look at the current scenario of Indian Cinema, it has more of newer concepts as they run into the possibility of higher acceptance by the crowds
Ray could (and did) suspend disbelief and made a film like Gupi Gayin Bagha Bayin, which is an out-and-out fantasy and is as breathtakingly entertaining (if not more!) than Amar Akbar Anthony.
Both GGBB and AAA are huge favourites of mine as are their directors, stars and screenwriters.
But I feel Ray deserves a little more credit than given to him here.