Dibakar all for anthologies a la 'Bombay Talkies'

Director Dibakar Banerjee wonders why a lot of filmmakers aren't attempting anthologies like "Bombay Talkies". He feels that the concept is beneficial for filmmakers as well as for audiences.

In 2006, Ram Gopal Varma's "Darna Zaroori Hai" featured six stories by six different directors - J.D. Chakravarthy, Manish Gupta, Prawal Raman, Sajid Khan, Jijy Philip and Vivek Shah. In 2007, "Dus Kahaniyaan" was a similar sort of project.

Now comes "Bollywood Talkies", an amalgamation of four short films by Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap and Banerjee. It releases Friday.

"I am very surprised that more ventures like this didn't happen... I am feeling very lucky to be a part of the four (in 'Bombay Talkies')," said the National Award-winning director at the special screening of the film here Tuesday.

"It could have been any director from Hindi cinema. First of all, I am feeling very privileged and excited. It will only happen once in hundred years," he added.

Banerjee said it is a huge benefit for him as he will get the audience of the other three directors as well.

"For the audiences, it's a great benefit as when they will come to see my film, they will see a Karan Johar film, an Anurag Kashyap and a Zoya Akhtar film. I feel greatly supported as every time I will get my audience to see the film, I will also get the audience of other three directors."

"That's a huge benefit and I have never got a such big audience for my film ever before," said the director, whose last film was "Shanghai".

--indo asian news service

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