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"Regional sentiment is running high"
How do you explain the resounding success of Mahaul Theek Hai? The subject of the film was universal, for who in Punjab, or for that matter in India, hasn’t had a brush with police’s autocratic ways. The audiences could instantaneously empathise with the theme. Hasn’t it prompted you to make another film? Had I been a full-time producer, I would have immediately announced another film. But I have other interests. Besides making programmes for television, my recent foray into Bollywood is keeping me very busy. Do you believe that Punjabi cinema has a future? At this moment the regional sentiment is running very high. The mushrooming of regional channels is an indicator of how regional aspirations can be encashed. However, Punjabis films are a different ball game for there are no returns. Do you agree that Punjabi film industry needs the presence of stars to pull it out of the crisis? May be. Only recently, I was talking to Bobby Deol about the plight of Punjabi films. Tomorrow if I were to make a Punjabi film, perhaps he would agree to play a part. But that by itself isn’t enough. Ultimately, the Punjabi film industry must throw up its own stars as has happened in the South, where even comedians bring in crowds. |
MENTION the name
and a smile begins to pay around one’s lips. Be it as a maker, actor or
activist, Bhatti hits out in a language he knows best. A master crafter,
Jaspal Bhatti has enough reasons today to smile about. Excerpts from an
interview: