Consumerism in films impacting the youth, says Onir

PUNE: Noted filmmaker Onir on Thursday said the dynamics of consumerism in filmmaking can have a serious impact on the youth, hence it was important for the youth to be vocal about what they wanted to see.
The filmmaker was speaking during a panel discussion on 'Cinema and Youth,' organised by I2IT as part of its annual technology and management fest, 'Dhruv 2011'.
Other panelists, included actor Rajit Kapur, head of direction department at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Sandeep Chatterjee, Kathak exponent Rujuta Soman, film critic Maithili Rao and painter-poet Sanjay Khandekar.
"Today, most big-budget films are made by corporates who are more interested in the economics of movie-making. They are not passionate about film as an artistic medium. The kind of cinema we see today, is a result of sustaining a certain power structure put in place by them," said Onir whose forthcoming film, 'I Am,' could not get the backing of financiers.
"I was told by them we don't want to see serious stories. I personally think, there is a young audience that wants to participate in issues that are part of their lives," said Onir, who raised the money from the public.
Kapur expressed apprehension about the youth's perception of cinema and its grandeur. "I see a lot of young kids pressured by their parents to enter this line because they think it will give them fame and money. This is not right because one is consuming only the glamour aspect having aspirations that are not necessarily passion-based," said Kapur.
"Our lives, today, are being more or less ruled by images and how they impact the youth is my greatest concern. Are we seeing something new in terms of film visuals or is it something old fitted in a new garb and made believable in a new avatar?" asked Chatterjee.
According to Khandekar, "The whole aspect of appreciating artistic aesthetics has changed. Every artistic medium, today, has been reduced to the status of a product in consumerist society, because it is expected to be performance-oriented. It has given rise to an algorithmic culture wherein the predictability factor instrinsic to the arts, has been removed, leading to predictability."
Moreover, character depictions in films and serials is only breeding negativity, said Kapur. "Creating a balance is important," he said.