KUDOS TO HINDI FILM INDUSTRY, SAYS RANI

Though it’s been a disruptive year, the film industry showed character and resilience, the actress tells international convention

“AS AN ARTISTE, I AM DEVOTED TO MY CRAFT. I HOPE I WILL CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO FILMS THAT WILL CAPTURE YOUR IMAGINATION, WHICH WILL STAY WITH YOU FOR MANY YEARS TO COME”

FICCI Frames, the international convention of the Indian film industry organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry, got off to a start today. Actor Rani Mukherjee, speaking at the inaugural session of the annual convention, commended the resilience of the Hindi film industry, which had stood the test of the pandemic years.

“The Pandemic forced us to adapt, re-invent, innovate and re-imagine the ways in which we can connect to the audiences,” she said. Noting that the audience had evolved and wanted something unique, she said, “Cinema with its timeless narratives has been a source of joy and inspiration and unity for millions around the globe. I am thrilled that the theatrical business is back. Mega entertainers like Jawan, Pathaan, Gaddar 2, Ponniyin Selvan 2, Animal, have created box office history in a single calendar year and pulled people and audiences into theatres.”

She congratulated the Bollywood industry for “turning the tide and showing the world that Hindi cinema cannot fall prey to social media trolling.”

The actor also noted that it has been a year when the underdog won, when those who question the status quo won. She added that films like 12th Fail, The Kerala Story and Kantara had busted the myth that content-driven films don’t do well in theatres, they’re only for the OTT. Remarking that Hindi cinema had seen an incredibly disruptive year, she said and artistes, directors, producers and the entire teams had been successful in bringing audiences back to the theatres.

Striking a personal note at the start, Rani Mukherjee expressed her pleasure at being at “this prestigious event which was started under the chairmanship by my late father-in-law Yash Chopra,” particularly “after 24 years of living his dreams.”