Why couldn't EV & Vidya's films spark off change?

First Previous

Page

Next Last

Frequent Posters

charminggenie

@charminggenie

Stunner

+ 2

Posted: 12 years ago

#11

Well its about the commercial aspect of the business and the general audience acceptance. They need masala movies and flower pot roles barring (kahaani, Barfi et al) to make money. Women-oriented films don't enjoy the enthusiasm from the distributors.

EV and Kahaani were low budget movies which grew because of strong scripts and fantastic direction. The gender question kind of became irrelevant. The script was the king, hence they were the surprise superhits of last year.

Tabu is perhaps one of the greatest actresses of the last two decades yet she could never enjoy the commercial success, the times she gave a Maqbool like performance - the cinema was still regressive they will term it as arty and it couldnt even strike a cord with the urban audience. Now she is starring opposite Salman lets hope she shines through it, but kudos to the makers for casting her in a Salman starrer.

Mads- well she is stuck in a time rut, she needs an overhaul completely. For an actress of her stature she needs a strong author based role, like that DI or the movie with Juhi. Kajol I feel never does justice to her talent, she is non-ambitious as far as her career is concerned, she is one of the few who can still generate both critical and commercial success , I doubt she even wants to return. Preity is patch of a herself these days forget acting , she doesn't seem to be in control of many other things, Rani- is too ambitious but seems to be finding it difficult to accept that she cannot be a sex symbol or a flower pot actress now, she needs to once again bring her acting A game and capitalize on that.

Vidya has smartly branched out a new niche for herself, her knack of picking the right script and backed by a supportive Production house ensures that her films get enough eye-balls.

i think the onus is now on Kareena and Priyanka to chart stronger female oriented roles to usher the change. These two are commercial icons , tremendous popularity and acting chops. Their success can open the flood gates, we need a sole women driven movie to win 100Cr to get the attention of these commercial mongers.

Last year was great, path-breaking but its still too early to accept Indian audience responding well to a women oriented movie.

Quote

441597

Suspended

Posted: 12 years ago

#12

Skepblun: Asking that question will get you the "fast-fading youth of women" argument. There's truth to it though, a man aged 40+ can look young, can't say the same for a woman. Unfortunate, but truth it is. As for author-backed roles for women, the 'risk factor' argument has been put forward before. Not every woman-centric fare can be a 'Kahaani' made on shoestring budget.

Edited by krystal_watz - 12 years ago

Quote

Looks like you are new here. Register for free, learn and contribute.

charminggenie

@charminggenie

Stunner

+ 2

Posted: 12 years ago

#13

@Skep

Dont think its fair to single out Ekta, for a change, I prefer her movies atleast they are always interesting and there generally have strong characters.

LSD, Ragini MMS, Ek thi Dayaan, Once upon a time -( Kagana's role was much better ) atleast had a story devoid of bollywood cliches. Whether they were successful or not, she is experimenting and I agree with the strategy, she needs to make a sensationalized Dirty picture with a Vidya to grab the audience attention , it was a masala movie with a female lead which earned the commercial respect. This is what Ekta should keep doing, one such film an year and slowly we will have women-oriented movies gaining more prominence.

She shouldn't do an Aparna Sen or Mira Nair that is not needed. I would rather see Farah Khan make a masala movie with any of the bollywood beauties as the main lead, she has been around the industry much more and can do the formula well or rather atleast give few dialogues to the heroines.

Quote

441597

Suspended

Posted: 12 years ago

#14

Originally posted by: charminggenie
Well its about thecommercialaspect of the business and the general audienceacceptance. They need masala movies and flower pot roles barring (kahaani, Barfi et al) to make money. Women-oriented filmsdon'tenjoy theenthusiasmfrom the distributors.

EV and Kahaani were low budget movies which grew because of strong scripts and fantastic direction. The gender question kind of becameirrelevant. The script was the king, hence they were thesurprisesuperhits of last year.

Tabu is perhaps one of the greatest actresses of the last two decades yet she could never enjoy the commercial success, the times she gave a Maqbool like performance - the cinema was still regressive they will term it as arty and it couldnt even strike a cord with the urban audience. Now she is starring opposite Salman lets hope she shines through it, but kudos to the makers for casting her in a Salman starrer.

Mads- well she is stuck in a time rut, she needs an overhaul completely. For an actress of her stature she needs a strong author based role, like that DI or the movie with Juhi. Kajol I feel never does justice to her talent, she is non-ambitious as far as her career is concerned, she is one of the few who can still generate both critical andcommercialsuccess , I doubt she even wants to return. Preity is patch of a herself these days forget acting , shedoesn'tseem to be in control of many other things, Rani- is too ambitious but seems to be finding itdifficultto accept that she cannot be a sex symbol or a flower pot actress now, she needs to once again bring her acting A game andcapitalizeon that.

Vidya has smartly branched out a new niche for herself, her knack of picking the right script and backed by a supportive Production house ensures that her films get enough eye-balls.

i think the onus is now on Kareena and Priyanka to chart stronger female oriented roles to usher the change. These two arecommercialicons , tremendouspopularityand acting chops. Their success can open the flood gates, we need a sole women driven movie to win 100Cr to get the attention of thesecommercialmongers.

Last year was great, path-breaking but its still too early to accept Indian audience responding well to a women oriented movie.

You cracked it with this line. A woman-centric film can do well only when the script is engaging, i.e., where female-centricism does not matter. No woman will ever be able to deliver a Dabangg or Rowdy Rathore-style hit. Not now, not ten years down.

Quote

TheRager

@TheRager

Achiever

+ 4

Posted: 12 years ago

#15

Issue is with the actresses themselves I feel. Rani, Kajol and Ash wont do a non-commercial project. Madhuri is comfortable with what television gives her. Sridevi is busy grooming her daughter for stardom. PZ is a gone case. Tabu is non-ambitious. So there is only Vidya left now. Infact there are more chances for Sonam and DP to do heroine oriented films rather than the older actresses. You have to be really driven to get out of your comfort zone and do something. Only the younger lot have that drive.

Edited by MrsMalhotra - 12 years ago

Quote

*Aryan*

@*Aryan*

Explorer

Posted: 12 years ago

#16

Ameesha is being scrutinized for dressing sexily lately. Since she is on the wrong side of 30, she is expected to dress in a certain way.

No one has issues with SRK dancing shirtless with half naked women, even though he is over the age of 45.

Bollywood still has a long, long way to go.

Edited by *Aryan* - 12 years ago

Quote

441597

Suspended

Posted: 12 years ago

#17

^Amisha is scrutinized mainly for her bimb-astic statements rather than her dressing. Add her wailfaced non-acting to the mix. 😆

Quote

870349

Suspended

Posted: 12 years ago

#18

Who cares to watch such films 😆 😆

in reality how many women oriented films can there be

Make them

Prostitutes
Battered wife's
Homeless

All recycled plots 😆

Quote

671100

Suspended

Posted: 12 years ago

#19

Originally posted by: krystal_watz
^Amisha is scrutinized mainly for her bimb-astic statements rather than her dressing. Add her wailfaced non-acting to the mix. 😆

if she was successful, noone would have given a shit. its only she is unsuccessful she is mocked about.

Quote

return_to_hades

@return_to_hades

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 12 years ago

#20

Originally posted by: krystal_watz

You cracked it with this line. A woman-centric film can do well only when the script is engaging, i.e., where female-centricism does not matter. No woman will ever be able to deliver a Dabangg or Rowdy Rathore-style hit. Not now, not ten years down.

Ideally, script should be king for movies in general irrespective of gender.

I think however, cinema in general has some stereotypes about men and women. Women are not often well received as action heroes or screwball comics. To a certain extent even Hollywood was inflicted by this. But it is far stronger in Bollywood.Change will take time.

They should try remaking (copying) popular Hollywood women centric films. Btw, I heard rumors of a desi remake of Thelma & Louise a while back. Any word on that?

Edit: Found the old news from March -http://www.page3bollywood.com/gossips/37-celebrity-flicks/2735-priyanka-and-parineeti-to-star-in-remake-of-thelma-a-louise-titled-o-womaniya

Edited by return_to_hades - 12 years ago