Panaji, Nov 27 (IANS) Noted filmmaker M.S. Sathyu says he prefers corporates over National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) for film funding because he feels private players are transparent in their business deals.
‘Their (NFDC) funds have dried up because they have huge offices, staff and it is difficult for them to make films. The scenario has changed now. The corporates have come into film financing and how they deal with the filmmakers is transparent,’ he said.
Sathyu is here to promote his film ‘Ijjodu’, which is produced by Reliance BIG Pictures.
The film talks about the responsibilities involved in helping the less privileged when Ananda, an urban young photo journalist meets Chenni, a ‘Basavi’ girl, pledged to the village deity. It is is being screened at the ongoing 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
‘Mostly people expect me to make something political,’ said Sathyu, who gave us ‘Garam Hawa’, which marked a milestone in Indian cinema. ‘But this film has more to do with social problems rather than political issues. Also, ‘Ijjodu’ features a very experimental, contemporary dance number set against traditional, devotional architecture,’ he said.
Noted Bengali filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh also advocated corporate entry into the film business, saying most of his 17 films were funded by private players.
Ghosh’s ‘Shob Charitro Kalponik’, which is again produced by BIG Pictures, is being screened at IFFI in the Indian Panorama section. The film is about a young woman’s recollection of her marriage after her poet-husband’s death. It stars Bipasha Basu and Bengali actor Prosenjit in lead roles.
BIG Pictures is showcasing four of its production ventures at IFFI — ‘Ijjodu’, ‘Shob Charitro Kalponik’, Buddhadev Dasgupta’s ‘Janala’ and ‘Kutty Srank’ by Shaji N. Karun.
Talking about the films, Reliance BIG pictures chief operation officer Mahesh Ramanathan said: ‘These films have done well in the local market as well as outside India. In the last one year, the four films have been to 26 film festivals in 15 countries already. There is a market in India and internationally to be tapped when it comes to Indian films.’
