Do directors 'unravel' with each film?

desigal90 thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#1
I've noticed this pattern.
It seems to me, most directors actually produce their best films at the beginning of their careers...and then tend to go downhill.

At the top of my head I can think of:

Imtiaz Ali - Socha Na Tha and Jab We Met remain his most loved creations. The same director sorta unraveled afterwards with Love Aaj Kal and Rockstar.

Vishal Bharadwaj - Blue Umbrella and Omkara were his best classics. He peaked with Kaminey and since then has been giving misses. His most recent MKBKMD and SKM didnt quite hit the mark, even with critics.

Madhur Bhanadarkar - Literally got worse with each film. His best was Chandni Bar, then Page 3, then Corporate, Fashion, Jail, and his recent Heroine was the worst.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali - Best was Khamoshi and Hum Saath Saath Hain. Devdas was impressive, and since then, Black, Saawarya, Guzaarish, fizzz.

Karan Johar - Totally charming Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, then K3G was even more massive, and then after that, didnt quite have the same magic with Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, My Name is Khan or Student of the Year.

Sriram Raghavan - Quite a solid director when it came to thrillers. Ek Hasina Thi was spinechilling, followed up with the complex Johnny Gadaar. But seems to have lost his command somewhere with Agent Vinod.

And edited to add (courtesy Koiza)
Yash Chopra - The man who mesmerized us with classics like Silsila, left us with a shriveled up JTHJ.

Do you also think that directors tend to make their best work when they start out and then lose their vision or are there examples of directors who got better with each film?
Edited by desigal90 - 12 years ago

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desigal90 thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#2
And if this pattern is correct...I wonder why.
I think maybe, their first films always have the most powerful scripts. Think about it...that script must have been the driving force behind them striving to direct their first film, right?
Whereas now that they're in the field, they have this pressure to come up with a new story to write, direct, etc.
I think.
SingularlyGood thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#3
Not necessarily though.

Anurag Basu directed the horrific movie Kites and followed it up with Barfi.

Sujoy Ghosh made Aladdin and came up with Kahaani later on.

I guess it varies from case to case.
-koiza- thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#4

So true!

all of these became so worse with each movie!

you forgot to add Late Yash Chopra- the same man who gave us silsila tortured us with JTHJ

desigal90 thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#5
Good examples!
I was thinking of those.
But then...wasnt Anurag good to begin with?
Remember, he also made Life in a Metro, which was strong.
So its not like he got better with time. Seems like he's just flactuating. And Kites wasnt his script, right?

Sujoy though is intriguing. That's a good one.
SingularlyGood thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#6
The biggest example to bolster your case would be Ramgopal Verma. The man who made Satya and Rangeela also made RGV ki Aag.. What a spiral downwards!
Edited by SingularlyGood - 12 years ago
desigal90 thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#7

Originally posted by: SingularlyGood

The biggest example to bolster your case would be Ramgopal Verma. The man who made Satya and Rangeela also made RGV ki Aag.. What a spiral downwards!


I was about to add him, but looking at his filmography I realized he actually kept up good filmmaking for quite a bit, with dips here and there. Look.

And then he did make Sarkar after RGV Ki Aaj, lol

LEO88 thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#8
thats why u cant trust any director
-koiza- thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#9

RGV is the most deserving to be here actually! what an epic disaster he made of himself- from rangeela to RGV ki aag- terrible!

even bhatts don't you think? but not really

like vikram bhatt has had patterns- he gave AMALL followed by Raaz and now recently gave disastrous ishq followed by raaz-3!


desigal90 thumbnail
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Posted: 12 years ago
#10
Koiza, I added Yash ji to the list.
What about Subhash Ghai? Though these film makers we can say lost their touch because of changing times.
I mean they used to be makers of a particular era of films, right?
Ghai's films had a certain touch to them that worked in the 90s. I dont think those kinda films would work now.

So that's why maybe I didnt add filmmakers who worked over a long period of time. Their age might against the fresh style of film-making.

I was thinking more of directors who are relatively NEW, and started relatively recently you know.
Edited by desigal90 - 12 years ago

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