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NEW SUBJECTS
Another perceptible change observed in the last decade relates to the subjects which films tackle. With the multiplex culture setting in, filmmakers are willing to experiment with newer and hitherto untried topics. You cannot imagine that a No One Killed Jessica would’ve been made and marketed like a commercial film, by any producer a decade ago. Films like Bheja Fry, Khosla Ka Ghosla! and Tere Bin Laden may probably have been made in the nineties, but they, perhaps, would not have got the success they got in this decade. Since multiplexes are small-capacity cinemas, such films become commercially viable propositions even if a mere 200 people watch them in a show. Earlier, the cinemas used to have seating capacities of 800 to 1,000, even more. For such films to prove plus propositions, it was imperative that at least
400 to 600 people saw them in every show. But now, lesser people paying more (as admission rates in multiplexes are much higher than in single-screen cinemas) makes these hat ke films commercially viable, provided, of course, they find acceptance, like any other commercial film.
SHORT IS SWEET
In the last decade, our films have also become shorter. Gone are the days when films had to be of a running time of nearly or more than three hours. Today, a lot of films have a running time of 2 hours or just a little more. Sometimes, films don’t even have a duration of two hours. Shorter the film, more the number of shows a multiplex can screen it in. Coupled with the fact that multiplexes have multiple screens, the shorter length of the films is also responsible for films showing in up to 20 or even 24 shows daily in a multiplex! Compare this with the trademark 4 shows daily till a decade ago and you will agree that the film world has changed dramatically in the last decade. Because of the shorter duration, the number of songs in our films has also reduced. Filmmakers like Ram Gopal Varma actually don’t mind making songless films also.
Read more: Bollywood losses a whooping Rs 475 crore in 2010!
TECHNOLOGY & FILMS
In the last decade, we have also seen the quality of sound, visual effects and computer graphics in our films improve a hell of a lot. Ten years ago, even Shankar may not have been able to make a Robot but today, he has done it. Remember the sound effects in Bhoot? Try recalling a film with matching sound in the seventies, eighties or even nineties. Difficult, isn’t it? Today, our films are comparable to those made in Hollywood, as far as technique is concerned. A lot has changed in the decade gone by. And a lot is still changing. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that in the film industry, the only constant has been CHANGE. For, if filmmakers don’t keep innovating and improving, they will be left behind in the box-office race!
Read Komal Nahta’s take on Bollywood stars, films and box-office.
