In a candid critique at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2023, veteran documentary filmmaker Arvind Sinha voices concerns about the involvement of Bollywood in such festivals and the allocation of taxpayers’ money.
Sinha, heading the non-feature film section of Indian Panorama at IFFI, expressed his views on the increasing presence of Bollywood in film festivals. He contends that public funds should prioritize independent filmmakers who require government support and a platform to showcase their work.
“What is to be promoted (through IFFI) is good cinema. Bollywood has its own money, finance, muscle power, through all these things they are getting into these spaces,” stated Sinha during a press interaction.
The renowned documentary filmmaker specifically mentioned filmmaker Karan Johar, emphasizing that individuals with substantial financial resources like Johar may not need support from public funds.
“They (IFFI organizers) have to support the documentary filmmakers, feature filmmakers who need support. There are no rajas-maharajas to support the artists; the government should support any work of art,” he added.
Sinha questioned the purpose of allocating festival spaces to those who already possess significant resources, highlighting that film festivals should primarily be platforms for promoting good cinema.
The 54th IFFI, inaugurated on Monday in Panaji, Goa, witnessed a notable Bollywood presence, including actors like Karan Johar, Sara Ali Khan, Pankaj Tripathi, and others. The festival featured performances by Shahid Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit and recognized Dixit with the Special Recognition for Contribution to Bharatiya Cinema Award.
Filmmakers unveiled the first look of their upcoming film “Ae Watan Mere Watan” during the event, contributing to the discussions on the festival’s direction.
Speaking about the entries for the Indian Panorama section, Sinha acknowledged an increase in the number of films but expressed concern about the quality not keeping pace with the quantity. The Indian Panorama segment includes 25 feature films and 20 non-feature films.
As the festival unfolds, debates about the balance between Bollywood representation and supporting emerging filmmakers continue, prompting a reflection on the essence of film festivals and the use of public funds.
By PTI
