Though he specialises in making commercial movies, Bollywood film-maker Satish Kaushik is extending support to independent film-makers who are demanding that the Information and Broadcasting Ministry allow them to screen their films in allocated cinema halls on a regular basis.
Speaking to The Hindu at a function in the Capital over the weekend, the film-maker said: “This year when celebrations are being held across the country to mark the centenary of Indian cinema, the Union Government needs to show its large-heartedness by paying attention to the reasonable demand of independent film-makers.”Referring to film-maker Onir’s fight for the rights of independent film-makers, Satish said: “I am one of the signatories to the petition which will be submitted to the Ministry. We should revive cinema halls like the Shakuntalam Theatre and run films at regular places like the Siri Fort Auditorium.”
Satish said some independent film-makers produce such outstanding movies, that they do the Indian film industry proud internationally. “They make such brilliant out-of-the-box kind of movies, that when they are screened in international film festivals, the audiences are compelled to give them a standing ovation.”
Satish, who grew up in a lower-middle class family in the Capital’s congested Karol Bagh area, said it is important to renovate theatres so that people can watch movies at affordable rates.
The film-maker is also against the National Film Development Corporation taking a selected bunch of film-makers on a junket to Cannes every year. “I do not know what criteria the NFDC adopts while selecting film-makers for this prestigious international film festival. It obviously has certain favourites whose names crop up every year.”
Satish is remaking a Bengali film on apparitions. “It is a film on ghosts but it has been made in a funny way. Sharman Joshi, Mahi Gill and Meera Chopra, sister of Priyanka Chopra, are in this film.”
Remembered for his role of ‘Calendar’ in Anil Kapoor starrer Mr. India , Satish says sometimes the actor in him wants to be seen on the screen but he has to resist this temptation.
“While making a film, I sometimes have this strong urge to act. But I desist because then direction will take a back seat. Over the years, I have realised that I cannot do multi-tasking. Concentrating only on direction has helped me evolve as a film-maker.”
