Majority of films made in Chhattigarhi language have lost the connect with public, this is the prime reason of Chhollywood movies are under-performing commercially, opined Dr Yogendra Choubey, alumnus of National School of Drama (NSD) New Delhi who is based in Raipur.
Choubey who is among the founding persons of theater department at Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya Khairagarh, had directed a Chhattisgarhi movie ‘Ganje Ki Kali’ based on the story of renowned writer Amrita Pritam.
The film won several national and international accolades and was praised widely for being a different kind of movie with intellectual touch.
Sharing a personal experience, he informed that a few years back while travelling in an auto rickshaw he had asked the driver whether Chhattisgarhi movies entertain or inspire him or not?
“To my surprise the auto-rickshaw driver denied watching Chhattisgarhi movies while reasoning that nowadays movies of Amitabh Bachchan are failing so how could Chhattisgarhi movies live up to people’s expectations,” Choubey said while adding the reply was basically an indicator that Chhattisgarhi movies have lost connect with audience.
Choubey who has been part of government’s several cultural committees including the selection board of NSD, is ‘not’ an advocate of government supporting films.
“Any commercial cinema can’t be directly supported by government. However, on merit basis films that promote local culture, language could win support,” he claimed but was quick to add that Rs only for screening of films in theaters government’s intervention is required’.
According to Choubey, Chhollywood today is a victim of narcissism. People in this industry feel they know everything but they have to learn to grow then only good cinema can be produced.
“In our state most of the movies are being made not for the public but for self-satisfaction. If you mute the sound of most of Chhattisgarhi movies, then you feel that you are either watching a C-grade Hindi film or a Bhojpuri cinema,” he remarked.
However, Choubey is optimistic that there are a handful of good creative people from top film institute like, Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute Kolkata, FTII Pune, NSD Delhi.
