National Film awards to undeserving, institutes are compromised, will not interview PM: Tigmanshu Dhulia

A National Award for Best Feature Paan Singh Tomar that premiered at the London Film Festival in 2010, Shagird, Saheb Biwi aur Gangster, Hassil, Raag Desh and many more under his belt, acclaimed Film Director Tigmanshu Dhulia is a not the usual breed of Directors in Bollywood. With his roots in Allahabad and being a protégé of National School of Drama, Dhulia is rather disappointed by where the industry is going.

A free wheeling chat with Tigmanshu Dhulia who wrote dialogues for Dil Se, and someone who has been in active student politics in Allahabad, it was interesting to know the inside of India’s film industry.

Asked on Films & literature are mirror of society, and whats happening of it. Dhulia says, ‘99.9 % films in our country are useless. They mirror how our society has degraded. And so are the films.’

On politics in National Awards, are national awards given as per affiliations of the particular actor as we have seen mediocre actors being bestowed with them. And are Film Institutes, where political protégés are appointed as top positions, compromised, Dhulia notes, ‘Irrfan Khan got National Award for Paan Singh Tomar which he deserved. But yes, this happens that films or actors with particular leanings do get them. Listen in………

VIDEO…. https://youtube.com/shorts/wgA-xi8dToo?si=1hGkbBR_CxUpbHT6

Is there deficiency of good writers! Even actors. Particularly bio pics. Do u agree! He says, ‘Agree. We are very poor in writing. Anyone becomes a writer. Unlike Engineers or doctors who take years to skill, anyone comes from anywhere & starts writing. After doing a couple of projects they call themselves skilled. We don’t take writing seriously. Some journalists in Mumbai have become writers because they could not become journalists. But writing is a skill too. Our country majorly consists of unskilled labor. In foreign countries once someone has written for some Hollywood film or a couple of projects he is capable of earning huge royality all his life.  Here writers are not just underpaid but are asked to copy some similar ones.

He further says, ‘Films is a medium where even a non actor can be made to look performing well. With editing, background score and other techniques even a bad dancer can be made to look dancing well. That can’t happen in theatre.

‘It takes at least a year to become a good actor. It comes after 30-35 yrs of age, when one experiences life. Here I am not talking of a star kid, gym going actor. When you have experienced someone close’s death, have had a break up, picked up some fights in inebriate state, lot of experiences of life which are not at 18-20 yrs of age. That experience makes you a good writer or artist.

On the role of Censor Board and films like ‘Emergency’ that are politically inclined, political interference in narration of films that may be harmful for history, hear what Dhulia says,

VIDEO…..https://youtu.be/SdovEzG9V3c?si=z_WncX89yOK-63KB

He further says, ‘Earlier films like ‘Kissa Kursi ka’ were made that had political messaging. Films with political message will have controversies. Everyone has some leanings, nobody can do anything. Gandhi was a good film but why was Quit India Movement not shown in it. These are direct political pictures, controversy is bound to happen. But censorship was misplaced from earlier times, not a recent thing.

Narrating the example of yesteryears classic ‘Ganga Jamuna’ he said,  the film Ganga Jamuna of Dilip Kumar where the character of Dilip Kumar utters the words ‘Hey Ram’ as he breathes his last. Censor Board stalled it saying he can’t say Hey Ram. Why! Because Dilip Kumar was a muslim. Justified it Dilip Kumar said it was the character rendering it who is a Hindu. That picture was banned by Censor Board. Dilip Kumar approached PM Nehru who asked the film to be screened. Few more of the films were censored because of such reasons.

On peoples’ preference to OTT from films, this is what Dhulia had to say:

VIDEO......https://youtu.be/X52hDtm7bXo?si=RKEqw3FkFy9bzOTU

Why are South Indian movies more popular than Bollywood! The Director said, Tollywood films are different in asthetics, are more over the top, have huge budgets and are more grounded.

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On why hasn’t Hindi Cinema still even touched the Technology standard & reach of Western Cinema. Listen to Dhulia:

VIDEO.....https://youtu.be/vVVA34kaQFY?si=39cNSSTwN1x7N8Z_

Bollywood entirely and Tollywood recently has been in the grip of revelations of Casting couch. What Dhulia reveals may surprise you:  

VIDEO….https://youtu.be/OIC_ZFJIMlI?si=VFTN9m2u1eKopIiq

What does Dhulia advise to aspiring artist or film makers making an exodus to Mumbai to become actors. ‘Not required to come to Mumbai for this. Technology has progressed so much and is available everywhere. In fact people feel depressed and down after coming to Mumbai. The city soaks up all energies. Mumbai is a mad house, like a Kumbh mela of actors.’
 
How do you justify the utterly bad language in OTT, afterall it affects our generation.
Some people want to make their product popular by using bad language. I am not the person. You are right. Despite my films being on violence, there is not a word of abuse in them. Language in my films is mainly the local, colloquial  language. People who use bad language do not understand the value of language.

VIDEO……https://youtu.be/TiWHETbBrfg?si=et4yMCWsIg-IbaM0

Why are Women directors not promoted. The number of male directors are more, the Director says, ‘We have great women directors like Meghna Gulzar, Nandita Das, Tanuja Chandra, Sai Paranjpe. Its around the world. Film making, other than only farmers & faujis, is the most laborious work. Also the sense that how can a woman direct me, does exist.

How does Tigmanshu Dhulia see the relations between media & cimema, particularly the critics. ‘It has been corrupted. People write reviews for money. Critics don’t have any sense of cinema. All of them are too mediocre. If I was not a filmmaker I would be a great critic. But a critic can’t make a film.

If you were to interview the PM what questions will you ask. The answer comes quick, ‘I will not want to interview him. Its scary.’  

What would you suggest for improvement of films & society at large if both are on a downward slide.

As far as I am concerned I would not make films for any type of audience. Listen in…..

VIDEO....https://youtu.be/EHu1AhJ1kGU?si=I-vOl8gkM77T1AY1