Covering Bollywood and the Hindi Cinema

Subhash K Jha queries Amitabh Bachchan about the recent Aamir Khan controversy and isn’t afraid to ask the tough questions.

Aamir Khan continues to justify his severe comments on Black and in the same breath he calls you the biggest star that Indian cinema has ever seen. Comment.

The only thing correct about this question is Aamir’s justification of his severe comments on Black. It’s his individual opinion and it must be respected. What I entirely disagree with is the largesse he offers me on being the ‘biggest star of Indian Cinema’. There he has gone totally wrong.

We hear a lot of Aamir recently because he has a film to release and needs to promote it. Madhuri Dixit has said that in today’s day and age everyone needs to scream about their product. The age of subtle and soft marketing is over. And what’s wrong if the subject of Aamir’s film, which I believe deals with challenged children, needs for him to take a stand on his beliefs about the film. He did the same post the release of Rang de Basanti. His beliefs could differ from the beliefs of other makers, so what? Black, which he had issues with, won huge laurels, both critically and commercially, nationally and internationally. If his is a voice of lone dissent, it’s his right as an individual, living in a free society. And if his comments attract debate, it can only help in drawing attention to the product he now promotes. I think it to be very smart of him to be able to have achieved that. Is there a provision in law or society that states that one cannot be smart? And why just Aamir... in today’s available mediums we all do it. So what if Shah Rukh goes to a cricket match to promote his film? Does not the media dress and decorate its pages and headlines to gain maximum attention and saleability? I will do it too, when my film comes up for release to assist marketing.
Your glowing comments on Saawariya have provoked a lot of debate and discussion.

The ‘film not living up to expectations’ has got nothing to do with my personal opinion. I stand by my comments and my observations about the film.

By comparing Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor’s performances to a symphony...

Have you heard Beethoven’s symphony? There’s loud orchestra followed by a thin flute sound…This was the genius composer’s interpretation of desire and destiny…It’s like the two protagonists in Saawariya — Ranbir is the storm, Sonam the soft breeze.

So, what’s your opinion on film criticism in our country?
Film criticism is a part of journalistic freedom. And it is the freedom of the reader to accept or reject it. But it’s a healthy practice. It gives a point of view. A view that at times gets camouflaged in the exuberance of the offering. I read film criticism regularly.

I learn from the mistakes that they bring out and also at times, disagree with their assessment. That is my prerogative.

Some of your best works were panned.
I have two views on this. The obvious is the immense hurt of reading disparaging analysis. Somehow if it was just a one-on-one it would be more tolerable. But to know that millions will be exposed to it is like losing your pants in the middle of a crowded street. And two, to accept it in the right spirit.

The Khans and the Bachchans are said to be on different sides of the firing line. Once and for all, state the nature of your rapport with Shah Rukh Khan?

I disagree with you entirely and strongly. Our film fraternity is an excellent example of happy integration. Please do not put it on a psephologist’s drawing board, where expressions like this are used often to examine the political future of a party in an election process.

Finally, why weren’t you at Goa Film Festival for the premiere of The Last Lear?

I was unaware of the protocol involved at the Goa Film Festival. My very busy and tight schedule keeps me away now from the premiere, since I was made aware of it at short notice.




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