AN INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR SANTHANA BHARATHI

Technically, there are a lot of changes; there are a lot of improvements. But culturally, there does not seem to be much of a change. The society is changing, and this change is getting reflected in Cinema. It's a gradual shift; there is no sudden jump over. As the times are changing, so is Cinema. The change is probably because of the increased exposure to international cinema. Even when it comes to Television, we are exposed to so many channels from all over the world. So the change is not really jarring. Leave alone cinema and television, even if you go down South, children there, know about the Internet. There is so much information available through all these media, that everybody is aware of what's happening all over the place.

We do have a certain amount of responsibility towards the Society. Since it is a very powerful medium, we have to look at it from the Society's angle. But all said and done, Cinema is meant for entertainment. Movies should come with a message but you cannot compel everyone to make movies only with messages, because finally it is a business. You have to look at it from the society's point of view. I would say, it should be a mix of both entertainment and didactism. If you look at my first movie -Paneer Pushpangal, is about adolescent love. What I have tried to highlight in this movie is that, most adolescents tend to get attracted to the opposite sex, but how you deal with it makes all the difference. If parents get too hyper about it and apply strict methods, most adolescents become even more rebellious. The way this subject is dealt with in this movie, is like, 'getting attracted to the opposite sex at this age is natural, but you also have to think about your future'. In other words, you have look at the practical aspects as well. It's out and out entertainment, but in the end, it comes with this particular message.

If you see Cheran's, movies, in Porkalam, he talks about problems faced by the physically handicapped, in Vetri Kodi Kattu, he has dealt with the effects of westernisation. It is good to see such movies. One of Bharatiraja's movies deals with, female infanticide. We have to make movies with messages, but end of the day, it is not a documentary or an educational tool that we are making. Making a movie requires huge investments and we need people to come in and watch the movies in the theatres to get our returns.

But basically, I like to make movies that come with messages. For example, Mahanadi's theme was drawn from the frauds committed by chit funds. Within one year of the movie's release, a number of chit funds closed shop and disappeared.

But that is the truth, you have to accept it. Yes, lots of people said Mahanadi was disturbing and so was Guna. But certain issues have to be dealt with strongly, to bring out the seriousness of the subject. The seriousness of the subject comes through only if you give a powerful treatment. You cannot use comedy to deal with these issues. You cannot possibly use the same treatment as in Panner Pushpangal for these movies, because it will be like, neither here nor there, totally half-baked.

Even in comedy, only slapstick is popular. Subtlety or dialogue-oriented comedy is not something everybody understands and appreciates. Probably the educated class does; but not the masses. If it is a comedy you should laugh then and there, and when it comes to that, slapstick seems to work better with the masses.

As far as I know, the best comedians in India have come from Tamil Cinema.  Not even Malayalam, Telugu or Kannada...  Whether it is slapstick or dialogue oriented comedy, it's been very powerful only here. 

In the beginning, people did not really understand the potential of Television.  Nobody expected it to evolve and grow in such a manner.  As people understood its reach, they became more open to it.  If I act in a Television serial today, there is scope for the whole world to watch me, because all these channels are aired in so many countries.  Earlier on, the exposure was limited to India, now artists working in the Television media are getting International exposure.  And all said and done, it is also an entertainment media, it is not something different from what we were already doing.  Just as cinema evolved from street theatre, television is just an offshoot of cinema.  So the only difference is the big screen and the small screen.

Cinema has its own charm. Certain movies you can enjoy only in the theatre. For example, a movie like Titanic can be enjoyed only in the theatre, only then you can understand its depth and breadth. Benhur will look very ordinary on television.  You cannot say that television's popularity will overshadow Cinema, because even Television depends on Cinema for most of its programmes.  If you look at the various channels, the most popular programmes are based on Cinema.  And in good serials, you can only find the big screen actors or actresses.  Why do they take Banupriya?  Because people already know her, so people like to watch those serials. If it is someone nobody knows, the viewers attention span will be limited and they will promptly switch channels.  In fact, Television has helped many people from the big screen.  In the last two years, there has been a slug in the production of Tamil cinema.  So television became an alternative for a lot of people from the Cinema field.

As far as strengths are concerned we have the best directors, best technicians and actors in this industry. Our actors, musicians, directors, technicians are among the best in the country.

We lack in finance and exposure.  Otherwise we can rise to international standards.  Finance is a major draw back; our budgets do not allow the kind of quality that is seen in Hollywood movies. 

I feel, I need to accomplish more. I have gained the name that I am a good director, I want to continue that.  Since it's a bit dull on the cinema front, I have got into acting; I need to establish myself as an actor as well. Even now, direction is my first love, I plan to get back to directing movies again next year.  If you feel you have achieved everything you will not have the drive to do anything more. So dissatisfaction should always be there, to drive you further to achieve more.

|