Bengalis abroad should know about Masala films: director

As 'masala' flicks are also taking the realistic route to connect to the contemporary audience, there is no reason the Bengali diaspora should be deprived of the latest trend, popular formula movie director Ravi Kinnagi said.
"Over 80 per cent of our audiences watch masala movies. And the look and gloss of such films have undergone a drastic change in past few years," Kinnagi told PTI at the special screening of the highest budget potboiler 'Khoka 420' here tonight.
Happy with the presentation of the glossy entertainer, the story line and the outdoor locales in abroad, the string of superhit maker like Deewana, Awara and Wanted, said "the changeover in this genre of films could also be made known to the Bengalis and Indians living outside who have the apetite for Hollywood and Bollywood action-romance flicks."

"If they know quality masala genre films are also being made in Bengal and not mere remakes of southern flicks, won't they go for it as well as the art house cinema!," Kinnagi said when asked if the hardcore, formula films can't also be screened in summits of Bengali communities in US and European cities.
Senior actor Kunal Padhi, who had an important role in the top-budget film produced by Eskay Movies, however discounted the logic.
"Masala movies follow certain parametres for connecting to the masses and yes there remains a need for such genre films as well as the so-called offbeat cinema. But these works can't be branded as festival materials or even appropriate for screening in abroad in Bengali summits," the Memories in March, Abar Byomkesh and Iti Mrinalini actor said.

"But films like Khoka 420 has a captive audience in Bangladesh also where our heroes enjoy as much fan following as in here," Kunal said.
"I will not deflect from my core area, the masala film genre which is also evolving and which gave me everything today, but yes I am keen to reinvent myself in the domain of arthouse directors as well. Who will not!," Subhasree, who essays female lead in the movie, directed by successful formula movie director Rajib Biswas.
"The film has a blend of action, romance and village panchayat politics and intrigue, and the first ever car sequence from a 40-ft cliff with the hero himself steering a 50-seater bus through hairpin bends," Rajib said.