Parallel cinema is still struggling to find a place in India
and even multiplexes have not been able to create space for
it, says veteran actor-director Amol Palekar.
"Non-mainstream cinema is mostly forgotten when we talk
about Indian cinema. Only masala Hindi films are not what Indian
cinema consists of," Amol, 65, told IANS in an interview
here.
"There is no platform for smaller films. It is crowded
and bombarded by mainstream films and their hype and hence there
is no visibility for different films," said Amol, who helmed
movies like "Thodasa Rumani Ho Jaye", "Daayraa"
and "Kairee".
"We need to make people aware of other films as well,
so that it is not limited to just a niche audience. People say
now with multiplexes, small films are getting their space, but
it's not so. Even in multiplexes, small films get two shows
and big films get 19 shows, so how will it be visible?"
he said.
Amol is ready with yet another small-budget, non-stars film,
"And Once Again". It is slated to hit the screens
Aug 13.
The English film is the story of a man who loses his wife and
child in a violent attack. While trying not to go over the edge,
he seeks psychiatric care but just when he feels his life is
back to normal, he faces another dilemma.
Asked if English as the language of the film would not restrict
its reach, the filmmaker disagreed.
"It is a myth that Hindi gives you a wider reach. Hindi
has a wider reach provided you are making a mainstream masala
film. But if you are not making a big film then it really doesn't
help so much.