‘Cinema is a reflection of society’ legendary film maker of Russia
Andreai Tarkavosky write these lines in his book ‘sculpting in time’.
After studying Indian cinema I live by these lines. I would like to put
changes and challenges witnessed and recorded by Indian society in
Indian cinema. Indian society and Indian cinema shaped simultaneously, as both are inter dependant. The very first Indian Filmmaker was Dhundiraj Goving Phalke for Raja Harishchandra released in 1913. It was a completely Indian production. Several Indian silent films were made between 1917 and 1931 on epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
As sound came in cinema during 1930, 1931 Alam Ara, the first Indian talkie film made waves with its fantastic musical score. Indian films had a strong influence of drama or nautanki. Indian cinema is has great influence of drama and mythology. Indian audience has always praised the poetry as it is used to describe the heightened emotions. Song sequence is a unique character of Indian cinema. Indrasabha in 1932contained 70 songs I think this example proves my point.
The decade of 1930s was a revolutionary decade for Indian cinema. Film makers like Dada Saheb Phalake and Baboorao Painter handled many social issues. Subject of cinema changed from mythology to real life. As most of the films were silent and music is played in the background.
In the decade of 1940s Indian cinema developed in cinematography technique. The use of sound in form of music, songs, dance and fantasy has become a part of Indian cinema. Second World War changed the sociopolitical landscape of India. As country is moving through political change and religious unrest many film directors and actors like Bimal Roy, Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt, V Santaram, Mehboob Khan took Indian cinema to other countries. India got independence in 1947. It is a positive indication for Indian cinema. Mythological subjects took the back seat and subjects other than mythology and real life took prominence.
Many film historians note the decade of 1950s as a golden age of Indian cinema. Movies like Awara (1951), Pyaasa (1957), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Shree 420 (1955), Mother India(1957), The Apu Trilogy by Satjyajit Ray consisting of Pather Panchali (1955), Aparajito (1956) and Apu Sansar (1959),carved a niche of Indian cinema in world market. Most of these film talked about the subjects like change and challenges of city life and development and displacement.
In the decade of 1960s Indian government has realized the immense potential of Indian cinema as a business and aspect of art in to it. In 1961 Indian government formed Film Finance Corporation, which later became National Film Development Corporation. The motive behind this initiative is to finance and export Indian films. This decade gave us many color films. Films from decade talked about class difference, education and employment changes and challenges of reforms are easily found in this era.
In 1970s decade many people have shifted from villages to towns. Many factories have started; the changes and challenges of human resource, exploitation, poverty and grassroots problems of sanity, food, and issues of middle class. This is the period of emergence of middle class in India. Television altered the perspective of Indian Cinema. People started watching TV serials. This change put up a challenge for scriptwriter and Indian cinema gave importance of character other than story. Films like Mera Naam Joker, Seeta Aur Geeta , Bobby, Ankur, Dharmatma, Deewaar, Sholay, Amar Akbar Anthony are some of the examples.
1980s decade gave us many stars like Amitabh Bachhan, Vinod Khanna, AmirKhan became popular with their devil may care attitude. Changes and challenges in music, trends and society, technology, importance of education and collage shaped society along with cinema. 1990s decade became famous out of new stars like Salman Khan, Govinda, Shahrukh Khan and many made their mark through love stories. The emergence of Cable Television and the job opening frim abroad Changes and challenges to Indian youth they are jolly reflected in Indian Cinema.
The
role of negative hero played by Shahrukh Khan gave a new twist to the
portrayal of character. Films like Baazigar, Darr, Roja, Bandit Queen,
Hum Aapke Hai Koun , Pardes , Taal, Satya, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Hum Dil
De Chuke Sanam made Indian audience more open to the character and
subject.
New millennium 2000s decade came up with challenge of digital
technology. Digital photography camera became more famous. Digital Film
making became more easy and cost effective. Film makers like Nagesh
kookanoor made his film with a very low budget film Hyderabad blues. The
other films Monsoon wedding, Mumbai Express followed the league.
Changes and challenges of gender, belief, terrorism, NRI marriage,
collage life and suffocation of city life are handled very effectively.
Indian cinema made a mark for Oscars with the entry of Queen Elizabeth
by Shekhar Kapoor. 2010s decade has come up with many changes and challenges. Indian cinema industry in year 2000 got official “industry” status. It helped to raise the finance from bank. Subhash Ghai’s company, Mukta Arts, availed this facility later that same year with a public offering of its shares on the Indian stock market. Many others followed the league. Changes and challenges like, boom in satellite television, global market for Indian movies, large number of Television production houses. It was a blessing in disguise for Producers to earn for selling Tv broadcast rights. Film making became a successful business. Every film makes sure earning by theatrical release, by selling oversea release rights, music rights, by Vcd or Dvd rights or for selling the rights of broadcasting on TV. It is a win-win situation. Now Hollywood studios have started to distribute Indian movies in a small way, although they soon ventured into production.
With the growing number of films are produced every year. Very few film run for a month in theaters. Audience of film has now various options to access the film via internet or TV release. Modern movie multiplex houses are located in major cities of India to lure back its middle class film goers. Many multiplex are coming in India. The add-on facilities and schemes of Multiplex convince middle class to visit back the cinema hall. Very lately Indian cinema has witnessed a paradigm shift of using ‘Red Camera’ to shoot a feature film. Now using a film stock is old and expensive idea. With HD digital camera the clarity of image could be achieved and with no quality loss between any transfers of information. Today Indian cinema image is not depending upon the way they shoot but the way they do the postproduction. I have mentioned the method in table.
The use of Digital SLR for shooting a feature film is a new trend. Many regional film makers are making their film with Digital SLR. This technology offers you an extra ease to move your camera in a small location. This way we save time and money to make a film. LED lights have taken the place of earlier Halogen Baby, Multi lights. LED light can be run on battery or on low energy. This new style of film making offers speed and accuracy. Nonlinear film editing completes a monstrous task in few times. The development of technology has not overtaken the subject of film. Indian cinema has entered in animation and SFX as well. Films like Krish, Don 2, Agent Vinod, Ek Tha Tigher are the few examples of this league. Indian regional cinema has made entry in Hollywood, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have shown keen interest in preserving the screenplay for their research library. The script of this film is preserved in museum of Academy awards. As we have many languages in country and films are also made in many languages we have a strong base of regional cinema. Regional cinema of south India and West Bengal is already famous in foreign critics. Now many film makers are making their films on shoe string budget with the small but powerful equipments like Digital SLR and portable sound recorder. The boom in technology has created a platform for Indian directors to explore the world of storytelling. Impeccable background of poetry, literature Indian film makers are ready to take the world.
In 2013 Indian cinema has carved its own stand on world cinema. We have completed 100 years of film making very recently. Indian Society has changed with the years of post independence, reform era, Industrial era and post-industrial era. Indian Cinema has witnessed all these changes in it. Indian cinema has now reached to all over the world and it is relished all over the world. World wide release or European release opens a golden opportunity for Film Distributers and Producers.
Indian cinema is deeply rooted in Indian society. As Indian cinema has completed 100 years many film makers are making the sequels of old hits or making films that reflect the old cinema. This particular movement proves the love towards cinema. Now Indian Cinema is studied all over world for its style and narration of film making. I am proud of Indian Cinema which is not only in the basking under the glory of Classical era rather it is making classics. We can read Indian Cinema as a social tool to study the Indian society and its development.
Our legacy must move ahead for another 100 years with pride because ‘picture, abhi baaki hai mere dost!’(om shanti om)