‘Big-budget film without good story won’t work now’

MANOJ SHARMA,

Film director Manoj Sharma feels that currently, in cinema, there is a wide gap in terms of filmmaking — it’s either realistic films that are working, or big-budget fantasy films. “The scenario has changed completely. On one hand, we have sensible and realistic cinema like Badhaai Ho (2018), and on the other we have larger-than-life films like KGF (2018), Pushpa: The Rise (2021) and RRR... which are backed by good storylines. Both work in their space and are doing well. Middle path wali masala films ka zamana khatm ho gaya! However, if we make big-budget commercial films with big stars sans a good story then, too, it won’t work. Audience has become very sensible; you can’t fool them with showbiz.”

However, Sharma, who is known for films such as Swaha: Life Beyond Superstition (2010) and Prakash Electronic (2017), feels that this trend, too, will change. “I have been part of 18 films so far and have witnessed the changing taste of the audience. Pehle jaisa nahin chalega ki maa ne awaaz di aur beta darwaza tod kar kahin se bhi aa gaya. Now, we have to justify it in a realistic space. Today, everyone wants to make films like Pushpa, but trust me this trend will change in the next two-three years!”

Meanwhile, he shares about his next release, Dehati Disco. The dance-based film features choreographer-filmmakers Ganesh Acharya and Remo D’Souza, actors Manoj Joshi, Ravi Kishan, among others. “This film can be my turning point as a director as iss picture mein mitti ki khuhboo hai,” he tells us. In fact, most of his films are shot in smaller cities, as he feels “the audiences connect with it”.

His upcoming projects include the film O2, about a hospital during the second wave of the pandemic, and the horror-comedy Khali Bali, with actors Dharmendra, Rajniesh Duggal, Vijay Raaz and Madhu, which was shot more than two years back.

Audience has become very sensible; you can’t fool them with showbiz.