Cultural representation one-sided in Hindi cinema: Sudhir Mishra

Director Sudhir Mishra believes a "mass culture" has emerged in Hindi films due to lack of diversity, which is depriving the younger generation of different ideas.

The National Award-winning writer-director said though there are independent minds influencing popular cinema, there is still a dearth of alternative voices.

"There is a deficit, especially in the Hindi belt, where the culture has become one-sided. A mass culture has emerged. The younger generation is not able to see or hear something different, or find some alternative," Mishra told PTI in an interview.

"I think the younger generation has become nutritionally deficient. Cinema is also a nutrition that helps one understand about different countries and cultures. They are being deprived of different viewpoints, worlds and ideas. Hollywood or Bollywood are not the only ways to say a story," he said.

The "Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi" director, speaking on the sidelines of the launch programme of Jagran Film Festival's 'Under the Banyan Tree on a Full Moon Night', said if the same style of films continues to dominate, the youth would be a "deprived lot".

Asked what has led to this situation, the co-writer of cult classic "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron!" said, "Those with the money are deciding 'what is cinema'."