It’s an interesting read—you’ve beautifully connected world cinema and how it’s evolving. The industry might be different, but the reason behind its challenges seems universal.
As you mentioned, cinema is an art form—and it's still thriving.
The way I see it, India underwent economic liberalisation in 1991, and now, cinema is going through its own phase of liberation.
Anyone with a phone today is a potential filmmaker, and any streaming platform is a potential channel to share that creation with the world.
I truly believe these are the best times. The best stories and films are yet to come—new eyes, fresh perspectives, and innovative formats will emerge.
And there will always be someone ready to watch. Some will enjoy, a few will be inspired, and others might evolve into something even more beautiful.
Thank you so much, sir. I am so grateful that you read through the article and engaged with it. I love your perspective on how cinema is liberalising, much like India's economy liberalised in 1991. I think even Anurag Kashyap agrees with you that the best stories and films are yet to come. I hope something good comes out of this churn. Fingers crossed.
Totally agree that the factory, as you put it, is in serious trouble. Whether it's dying remains to be seen. I do hope not. But I do believe that the essential problem lies in that same politicisation that has affected almost every sector and industry in the West. Disney is the exemplar in this respect. Not long ago they were cruising. Now, an obsession with virtue-signalling DEI is killing the behemoth where it stands. As indeed it kills everything it touches. I posit that the creative industries are particularly sensitive, and vulnerable to, this kind of politicisation. Good artistry simply cannot survive in such an environment of monitored speech and calculated representation. It is anathema. So, if we want film (in the factory) to survive, we need to extract the peculiar poison that is killing it. The same, of course, applies to the corporate world in general.
I completely agree with you. Speech must never be monitored, even with the best of intentions. In fact, there should probably be more of it. All kinds of speech must be met with counter speech but never censorship. I suppose the solution now is that audiences take back control of the medium, start rewarding and even crowdfunding good cinema and less known filmmakers who are willing to make good content on small and medium sized budgets. Thank you so much for reading the article and engaging with it.
Thanks Prachi. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I totally agree about audiences taking back control, and I think that is exactly what is happening - in film, as also in media more generally. Hence the growing popularity of Substack, for example! People are 'voting with their feet', as they say, and the mainstream had better shift direction quickly if it doesn't want to become obsolete.
I've never really looked at the industrial aspect like this, even though I've been noticing the shift. Such an interesting read Prachi 🍀. I also think the average consumer values fast, snappy entertainment over slower, more intricate narratives. Of course this doesn't apply to everyone, but it continues to feel like slowly sinking in a swamp.
Thanks so much for reading and engaging, my lovely. I agree, the average consumer does value fast, snappy entertainment. This is why I feel like there is an issue when people blame the film industry for the quality of films we're seeing right now. Most often, industries amplify what audiences reward. So in order for good cinema to thrive, those filmmakers need audiences to reward them. But the truth is, audiences have given their verdict. They don't like big budget, shallow films either. People aren't watching those movies, so the industry may do well to pivot and experiment on small budget stuff, but hey, film industries are giant machines that are slow to change, even if it means losing money.
It’s an interesting read—you’ve beautifully connected world cinema and how it’s evolving. The industry might be different, but the reason behind its challenges seems universal.
As you mentioned, cinema is an art form—and it's still thriving.
The way I see it, India underwent economic liberalisation in 1991, and now, cinema is going through its own phase of liberation.
Anyone with a phone today is a potential filmmaker, and any streaming platform is a potential channel to share that creation with the world.
I truly believe these are the best times. The best stories and films are yet to come—new eyes, fresh perspectives, and innovative formats will emerge.
And there will always be someone ready to watch. Some will enjoy, a few will be inspired, and others might evolve into something even more beautiful.
Kudos, Prachi!
Thank you so much, sir. I am so grateful that you read through the article and engaged with it. I love your perspective on how cinema is liberalising, much like India's economy liberalised in 1991. I think even Anurag Kashyap agrees with you that the best stories and films are yet to come. I hope something good comes out of this churn. Fingers crossed.
Maybe what we’re watching is the death of the factory, not the artform.
This statement is so comforting. Isn’t it)
Nice 👌🏼
Thank you so much for engaging with the article. Yes, one hopes it does help young filmmakers in the short and long term
Totally agree that the factory, as you put it, is in serious trouble. Whether it's dying remains to be seen. I do hope not. But I do believe that the essential problem lies in that same politicisation that has affected almost every sector and industry in the West. Disney is the exemplar in this respect. Not long ago they were cruising. Now, an obsession with virtue-signalling DEI is killing the behemoth where it stands. As indeed it kills everything it touches. I posit that the creative industries are particularly sensitive, and vulnerable to, this kind of politicisation. Good artistry simply cannot survive in such an environment of monitored speech and calculated representation. It is anathema. So, if we want film (in the factory) to survive, we need to extract the peculiar poison that is killing it. The same, of course, applies to the corporate world in general.
I completely agree with you. Speech must never be monitored, even with the best of intentions. In fact, there should probably be more of it. All kinds of speech must be met with counter speech but never censorship. I suppose the solution now is that audiences take back control of the medium, start rewarding and even crowdfunding good cinema and less known filmmakers who are willing to make good content on small and medium sized budgets. Thank you so much for reading the article and engaging with it.
Thanks Prachi. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I totally agree about audiences taking back control, and I think that is exactly what is happening - in film, as also in media more generally. Hence the growing popularity of Substack, for example! People are 'voting with their feet', as they say, and the mainstream had better shift direction quickly if it doesn't want to become obsolete.
I've never really looked at the industrial aspect like this, even though I've been noticing the shift. Such an interesting read Prachi 🍀. I also think the average consumer values fast, snappy entertainment over slower, more intricate narratives. Of course this doesn't apply to everyone, but it continues to feel like slowly sinking in a swamp.
Thanks so much for reading and engaging, my lovely. I agree, the average consumer does value fast, snappy entertainment. This is why I feel like there is an issue when people blame the film industry for the quality of films we're seeing right now. Most often, industries amplify what audiences reward. So in order for good cinema to thrive, those filmmakers need audiences to reward them. But the truth is, audiences have given their verdict. They don't like big budget, shallow films either. People aren't watching those movies, so the industry may do well to pivot and experiment on small budget stuff, but hey, film industries are giant machines that are slow to change, even if it means losing money.