SCIFI GRIPS FILMMAKERS’ IMAGINATION
Bollywood and regional language filmmakers have fired the booster rockets in their exploration of the scifi genre, as newer revenue channels make these ventures viable
Mainstream cinema in India has often been criticised for being stuck in that rut of overly mushy, melodramatic plots. But of late — as films on varied subjects are doing better than potboilers — sci-fi (science fiction) has emerged as an exciting category.
Such films have to be mounted on a large scale, with loads of special effects, maybe the reason why they’re sort of unexplored. While we had brushes with sci-fi subjects in Koi… Mil Gaya (2003) and PK (2014) — both were about aliens coming to Earth — fullfledged sci-fi films have been almost non-existent.
That’s changing. A slew of Hindi and regional sci-fi films are in the making. There’s 2.0 (starring Akshay Kumar and Rajinikanth), the sequel to Enthiran (2010), whose lead character is a robot. It’s set for release on April 14. Cargo (starring Vikrant Massey and Shweta Tripathi) is another sci-fi film. The Tamil film, Tik Tik Tik is said to be India’s first space film. Sushant Singh Rajput will portray the role of an astronaut in Chanda Mama Door Ke, shooting for which is, apparently, on hold.
Anubhav Sinha, who made the 2011 film Ra.One, about video game characters coming alive, says, “Filmmakers are getting comfortable with technology, and there’s a degree of confidence about what one can create.”
Trade expert Atul Mohan jokes, “We have explored everything, ab Mars aur Moon pe jaake film banani padhegi.”
Even actors want to push themselves. About his role of the villain in 2.0, Akshay had said, “I’ve never done a role like this, and never seen anyone doing a character like this.” There’s also buzz about Shah Rukh Khan stepping into the role of astronaut Rakesh Sharma in his biopic.
Explaining the economics, trade analyst Komal Nahta says that “satellite and digital (mediums) have opened up huge avenues”, making sci-fi films a safer bet for producers.
Filmmakers are getting comfortable with technology, and there’s a degree of confidence about what one can visualise and create
ANUBHAV SINHA
FILMMAKER