From as early as the last few decades, India has been reminiscent of filmmakers who have harked back to the Era of definitive film making amidst the shallow fraudulent concepts and DKNY threads all over. With glimpses of a Ray or a Bimal Roy in their films, some directors have been essentially the heroes, the victors who have crusaded and steered their films towards a positive direction since times immemorial. Looking back at the past records, sky rocketing expectations could always be detrimental to a person’s long standing career graph.
History has it that a host of Indian directors, who have been instrumental in providing the backbone to a failing Indian industry, have slowly started losing their sheen today. With their films being marketed with restlessness and not being accepted well, we take a look at 10 beautiful film makers who are slowly losing their foothold and how!
Ram Gopal Verma
Ram Gopal Verma
A blabbering loud mouth of sorts, Ram Gopal Verma had shown spark with films like Rangeela, Satya, Bhoot and the Sarkaar series but his repetitive blood and gore formula served a total backseat after a certain point in his career. Too much of intricacies in horror flicks and gibberish gangster bloodshed, Ramu’s films tend to lose pace today, compared to the striking changes that other new film makers have reverberated the industry with. While his last venture Attacks of 26/11 was poorly received mainly due to its incoherent plot, his penultimate pet project, Department failed to bombard him with praises, although backed by a power packed ensemble cast.
David Dhawan
David Dhawan
The ultimate Czar or the Comedy King, who ruled and revolutionized Indian slapstick comedy like no other, David Dhawan was the industry’s best director in the early 1990s and the 2000s when his films flourished like none other. Be it his Govinda-ic tryst with Ankhein,Coolie no. 1 and Hero no.1 or his coalition with Dabangg hero in Biwi no. 1, Mujhse Shaadi Karoge and Partner, David Dhawan’s films have always provided the perfect base for all the hasi and taali all over. But with his recent directorial flicks Do Knot Disturb and Rascals going bland on screen, David somehow was almost giving way to directors like Rohit Shetty who modernized the comic genre in their own ways. But a successful Chashme Baddoor today has helped Dhawan reinvent his comic genes with flourish yet again.
Subash Ghai
Subhash Ghai
One of the most noted Indian filmmakers, Subhash Ghai has an interesting array of films and super successes that confines within the brackets to show how powerful his mettle as a director is. Gifting the industry with an iconic Karz, or making the nation drool to the Khalnayak, Subhash Ghai brought Pardes into Indian origins with utmost aplomb. But the veteran film maker could not recreate the same magic with Yuvraaj or Black And White, both of which had a disastrous run at the box office. But a masterpiece set in the words of Kaanchi might just bring about the resurgence of the Ghai storm back in B’wood!!
Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Shifting interest from comedy film makers to one who is a brand in himself: Sanjay Leela Bhansali has clearly honed his craft as he makes artistic films with vivid fervor, one that is testament to the lost glory of Indian cinema. While his Hum Dil De Chuke Sanaam, Devdas and Black lighted up the Indian hearts evoking utmost emotions, there have been too many misses off late. His candidly delicious Saawariya failed to strike the concord while a hugely riveting Guzaarish could not get audiences to the theatres, in spite of a boastful Hrithik Roshan-Aishwarya Rai Bachchan pairing. With Ram Leela coming up next, we hope Sanjay gets back to what he does best!
Madhur Bhandarkar
Madhur Bhandarkar
A realistic film maker of sorts, Madhur’s films have always delved into the crude realities of the Indian monopolistic societies. Form unraveling the nitty gritties of the glitterati and showbiz to exposing the nuances of the lives of a bar dancer and a corporate woman, Madhur’s sensibility is reflected viz-a-viz his films. But his Jail or Heroine could not match up to the level of curiosity it created and was shunned by critics and audiences too.
Prakash Jha
Prakash Jha
Another realistic film maker, whose films loosely delve on the realms of political sabotages and envisages, Prakash Jha makes films for a niche audiences. Though a successful Gangajaal was always under his able name, films with a stellar ensemble cast like Aarakshan and the much awaited Chakravyuh failed to charm the masses the way a Raajneeti wooed them! And with Satyagraha coming up this August end; one expects Jha to strike the right cord. Drumrolls!
Priyadarshan
Priyadarshan
Another stalwart when it comes to madcap comic capers is definitely Priyadarshan who has made half the nation insane with his crazy antics and his superlative fun quotient prevalent in all his movies. While his cinematic ‘Hera Pheri’ created a lot of Hulchul amongst the masses who were madly uproaring with total Hungama, in came a phase when the single man standing paved way for some better film makers. While none of his recent films in the last three years raked up enough moolah at the box office, his dismal run at the ticket counters continue to upset the critics and media at large. A little less of Tezz and Aakrosh could have definitely helped him go the Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal way but his thoughts of being too Rangrezz proved distracting for viewers too.
Vishal Bhardwaj
Vishal Bhardwaj
Another film maker who had redefined the term ‘classic’ with his glorious filmography, Vishal Bharadwaj is known for his tenacity and strength. From Makdee to Omkara and Maqbool, Vishal ranks top for his overtly critical appreciation and adulation that come in as responses for all his flicks. But off late, Vishal’s earthy magic has not triggered quite a few sparks. With 7 Khoon Maaf being a washout and Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola notching up average responses, even Vishals’ caliber will be put into test with his next directorial flick!
Mani Ratnam
Mani Ratnam
A creative genius of sorts, Mani Ratnam is known for his impeccable vision and fluidity of films. A maker whose CV boasts of a Roja, a Bombay and a hugely successful Yuva, lost touch with base as he embarked on a decrepit voyage merely titled ‘Raavan’. A strong plot and some nice performances could not save this film from sinking without a trace as critics and audience panned it in equal manner. But the master of comeback is definitely waiting for the right tide to hit the shore, at the soonest!
Ashutosh Gowariker
Ashutosh Gowariker
An intelligent director of sorts, who catapulted to super shot fame with a film like Lagaan and reached an ultimate crescendo with Swades and Jodha Akbar’s languid screenplay, Ashutosh Gowariker was a man of virtues. But his world came to a shattering pause with his super hyped films like Whats Your Rashee and the iconic Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se facing the public wrath, much due to its stretchedness and half-baked plots.
