We have to break stereotype through narration: Aanand L. Rai

Known for his successful films like "Tanu Weds Manu", "Raanjhnaa", "Tanu Weds Manu: Returns", director-producer Aanand L. Rai believes filmmakers should break the stereotype in films through their narration and that he communicates to his audience through films.

"We have to break the stereotype through narration. There were no urban and rural films earlier, it is the filmmakers who portrayed small town and some character in a stereotypical way," said Rai who was present here at the 10th NFDC Film Bazaar Knowledge session.

"I cannot remember when in 60's-70's, directors like Bimal Roy or Hrishikesh Mukherjee who made films like "Bandini", "Sujata", "Chupke Chupke" or Raj Kapoor came up with "Jagte Rahoa, "Shree 420"... audience created any such difference," he said.

Conducted by film critic and journalist Rajeev Masand, the topic of the session was - Spicing up the urban space in mainstream films.

Taking the reference of Kangna Ranaut's character from his film "Tanu Weds Manu" and "Tanu Weds Manu: Returns", Rai said there is no point of thinking her character was less relatable to any Mumbai or Delhi girl and more to a Kanpur girl.

However, as a filmmaker, he does not keep an actor in mind while writing a story.

As one of film "Nimmo", produced by him has been selected as 'Film Bazaar Recommends' film, while asked about what roles he plays as a producer, Rai said: "Producing a film is a very emotional job for me. In my early days, I went through a struggle with my script to find a producer for my film."

"It takes years after years to meet the right producer who agrees to make a film with newcomers. As a producer when I read a good script, I try to save some of their years of struggling."

On the same note, appreciating the initiative Rai added: "That way, NFDC Film Bazaar is a good platform where youngsters are getting such opportunity to meet people with their script. We never had such platform when we started our career."

"So even 5 per cent of budding filmmakers will find a way to enter the cinema industry in future, that would be a lot to change the language of Indian cinema," he said.

(The writer's trip to Goa has been sponsored by NFDC Film Bazaar. Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhuti.b@ians.in)

--IANS

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