The
year gone by saw paradigm shift in the type of Hindi
films made. With the chance in the audience profile
and the growing number of multiplexes it has become
interactive for producers and directors to look for
contemporary themes.
The
sentimental family dramas
with endless marriage songs and
teary dialogues are no more acceptable. Even the actors
like to play ordinary mortals with their own set of
complexities. Two important films which heralded this
new trend were Hum Tum and Page 3. while Hum Tum was
a gentle love story told with modern sensitivity,
Page 3 is a rollicking chronicle of the high society
folks.
Both
the films were big hits on the contrary, a film like
Swades with the perennially appealing theme of patriotism
failed despite the presence of Shahrukh Khan. Shahrukh’s
veer zarra just about scraped through. Hence, it is
clear that big names, beautiful locates and umpteen
songs do not guarantee success. Only a convincing
script which the audience can relate to will set the
cash registers ringing. Another encouraging trend
is the emergence of searing
thrillers
sans bone – crushing action sequences. Take for
example, Ram Gopal Varma’s Sarkar or Anil Kapoor’s
my wife’s murder.
This
year was also important for short feature films which
discussed issues normally pushed under the carpet. Sasikumar’s
film on anti-Sikh riots, Sudhir’s film on Godhra
riots and Boney Kapoor’s film on female infanticide
stirred our souls.
As
we welcome the new age in Hindi cinema, we hope that
such mature themes will also permeate to other languages
especially Tamil and Malayalam.