Will filmdom adopt MAMI?

The unprecedented success of the MAMI-organised 3rd International Film Festival in Mumbai was visible not only at its inaugural ceremony on November 23 at Shanmukhananda Hall but also on subsequent days at the YB Chavan Centre, Tata Theatre, Little Theatre and Gemini and Satyam cinemas. For the first time, the cine-going public has had an opportunity to see festival films. The recently-concluded Calcutta Film Festival and the one to be held at Thiruvanathapuram in January are also attracting the local film industries. If these three international film festivals have become the most talked about festivals in India, where does the Government sponsored International Film Festival of India (IFFI) stand? Will it become redundant or will it supplement these festivals? Will the festivals held in Mumbai, Calcutta and Thiruvanathapuram ever become the film industry’s own events? Or will they remain merely industry-supported? And will they ever be considered on par with Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Moscow or Karlovy Vary fetes?...

Malati Sahay, Director of the Directorate of Film festivals which conducts IFFI every year and who attended the MAMI festival was all praise for the festival. She welcomed the recent spurt in the film festival culture around the country.

“These festivals meet the aspirations of local film industries every year, whereas it takes almost ten years for IFFI to return to, say, Thiruvananthapuram or Bangalore. But I am unhappy with the comments made by some festival authorities, dubbing IFFI as a moving circus, since it is held in different film producing centres every year, apart from Delhi, which is not a film producing centre. We are supportive of festivals like MAMI, and in fact, we helped MAMI get film packages from Japan and Poland. Why run down one fest to support another? Instead we should each concentrate on making the best of our own fetes and even support each other,” she pointed out.

Pahlaj Nihalani, president of the Association of Motion Picture & TV Programme Producers, said that the fact that many film personalities like Yash Chopra and Subhash Ghai are associated with the MAMI festival it automatically becomes part of the industry’s many events. Even the Government of Maharashtra has supported the festival with funds and providing other facilities. “I am happy that somebody in the industry has taken the lead in conducting the festival. But it still hasn’t become the film industry’s own festival. MAMI has recognised some individuals, though it’s yet to recognise the four associations belonging to the producers.”

Shakti Samnata explained that MAMI festival was yet to become the film industry’s own festival. “It is good that some film industry people are associated with it. But lots of people in the film industry are not even aware of the festival or of its programmes. Neither the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association, nor the Film Producers Guild of India of which I am member has recieved any letter from the MAMI festival authorities stating that they are conducting the festival and that concerned people should be informed about it. If the associations had received these letters, they would have asked members to participate in them through their circulars. Now it is left to the individuals. I don’t think they have written letters to the workers Federation seeking their members participation. May be eventually everybody will come to know about it. When the government holds festivals, they write to us. MAMI is yet to do that,” he pointed out.

Madhusudan, president of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, confirmed that the Federation had not got any letter from MAMI seeking its active participation.

When asked to comment on the statements of Samanta, Madhusudan and Nihalani, Amit Khanna, one of the trustees of MAMI wondered why they were saying they were not aware of the festival. “Shakti Samanta was present at the inaugural ceremony and if he is interested he could have asked for further information. The MAMI fete is open to all. Those interested should participate.

As for Pahlaj Nihalani’s statement, he should know that I have been vice-president of the Association of Motion Picture & TV Programme Producers much before he became its president. He ought to know there is no need to write to the Association informing it of the festival,” remarked Khanna.

Shyam Benegal, chairman of MAMI, said that the film industry should not be complaining about the lack of invitations to the festivals. “500 invitations were sent to all the people in Mumbai’s film industry. MAMI is not a government festival that it should send official invitations to the trade bodies. “It is an independent film film festival run by film professionals including Yash Chopra, Amit Khanna, KIran Shantaram, Yash Johar, Ramesh Sippy and Shabana Azmi. The fact that Mukta Arts, Tips, Venus, Super Cassettes have supported it by being co-sponsors and the Government of Maharshtra has also supported the festival is enough to prove its credentials. I don’t think one should stand on formalities. Film industry leaders should realise this,” he added.

Mahesh Bhatt raised the basic issue of what MAMI is aiming at. “What do the festival authorities want to make a festival for. Do they want to provide a platform for parallel cinema and make it an academic one or do they want to make the festival cater to mainstream cinema? There has to be a clear cut idea behind the festival. Mumbai is the capital of the entertainment industry. This year the presence of mainstream people was visible at the inaugural show. When the government sponsored film festivals were held, mainstream cinema was also left out. Though the government was earning crores of rupees by way of entertainment from mainstream cinema, it had marginalised mainstream cinema. While the government wants the film industry’s glamour and glitter at the opening ceremony, it doesn’t want the film industry to have any say in the organisation or policy making of the festival. That is why I am asking what the MAMI festival wants from the film industry. Does it want to adopt the mainstream or provide a platform for parallel cinema? MAMI’s objectives and aims should be clear cut. Only then can the film industry consider adopting it. Nobody has time for festivals unless the festivals add value to them. Cannes is famous because of its market value which is why Hollywood has been lending its glamour and glitter to it. MAMI has to achieve either that objective of becoming an important place for marketing of films or provide a platform for art films. If few people from the film industry are supporting the festival, it means it is receiving marginal suport,” he pointed out.

PK Nair, former director of the National Film Archive, who is attending the festival in Mumbai, stated that film festivals should be held every year at the film production centres and not in Delhi which is not a festival place. The main purpose of the festival is that filmmakers be exposed to all kinds of films being made abroad and in India, and be able to interact not only with foreign filmmakers but also filmmakers from the different regions in India. “What has happened so far is that festivals organised either by the government or by the individual people have not been able to provide interaction. At the most, they have been able to provide exposure to world cinema to certain regions where the festivals are held, he said.

Ramesh Sippy, who was responsible in bringing Shah Rukh Khan and Raveena Tandon for the inaugural show, and is one of the active members of the MAMI festival committee, said it will take time for the entire film industry to take part in it. “Today, a handful of people are controlling the festival which is good for the festival, and will help make it successful. If too many people are added to the organising committee, it could well end up becoming a case of too many cooks spoils the broth. When the MAMI festival becomes prestigious, everybody will come forward to be associated with it. It is a matter of time. When it becomes a big TV event, the stars will also come. Since the government is in a mood of disinvestment, one of these days it may think in terms of disinvestment of the Directorte of Film Festivals. Then the film industry may take over the festivals. As it is, there are three important film festivals in India — in Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram and Calcutta. May be Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad may also think in terms of holding fetes of their own,” he said.

MSM Desai