Abhay Deol calls out mindset that India is ‘too poor and uneducated’ for refined films: ‘If we continue to treat them like that…’

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As an ardent admirer of Abhay Deol, I find his insights about Indian cinema truly enlightening and inspiring. Growing up with a diet of international films that showcased complex characters, I too often felt the stark contrast between them and our homegrown cinematic offerings during the 80s and 90s. Abhay’s courage to challenge the status quo and question the simplistic portrayal of characters in Indian films is commendable.

Recently, Abhay Deol voiced his thoughts on the impact of watching international movies during his childhood and pondered why India hasn’t produced similar content. He disclosed that when he brought up this topic in the past, he was met with responses suggesting that India is ‘too poor and uneducated’, needing to be ‘fed spoonfuls’. In response to this mindset, Abhay critiqued this perspective, stating that if such views continue, India will remain stagnant. He highlighted that films play a crucial role in shaping culture.

During a chat with Filmfare, Abhay Deol expressed his discontentment regarding the one-dimensional characters prevalent in Indian films during the 80s and 90s. Having been raised on international cinema, he found it intriguing that foreign films tended to portray more nuanced, multi-faceted characters, whereas Indian films typically adhered to the conventional hero-heroine mold.

He questioned why Indian films didn’t explore characters’ backgrounds and cultures as deeply. While he acknowledged that the industry has evolved over time, he reflected on the lack of depth in films from that era.

As an ardent admirer, let me share a revelation from the illustrious Bun Tikki actor: He once recounted a statement implying that Indian audiences required being ‘fed with a spoon’ due to the notion that our country was both financially and intellectually impoverished. His words echoed, “It was suggested that our nation is poor and uneducated, so we must spoon-feed them.

Abhay was suggested to provide entertainment movies to help lift their spirits from difficult lives, but he didn’t agree with this perspective. He emphasized that if the audience is consistently given such escapism, no real change will occur, since films significantly influence society and culture. Essentially, he stated, “If we keep treating them like that, nothing will ever change because movies help shape our culture.

The actor credited the trailblazing work of actors such as Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, who sparked a transformation within Indian cinema. He highlighted how he adopted their path with movies like DevD, Manorama Six Feet Under, and Oye Lucky Lucky Oye in his unique style. Abhay underlined that his main concern was artistic struggles rather than getting entangled in rivalry.

In terms of his career, Abhay Deol is set to feature in a movie titled “Bun Tikki,” where he’ll work alongside veterans Zeenat Aman and Shabana Azmi who haven’t collaborated for four decades. This film is helmed by Faraz Arif Ansari and jointly produced by Manish Malhotra’s Stage 5 Production and Jio Studios.

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2024-11-12 14:39