Renowned filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia has weighed in on the surge of politically motivated films in India, particularly dismissing films like 'The Kashmir Files' as artistically bankrupt. Dhulia expressed his concerns about the aesthetic quality of agenda-driven Indian cinema and drew comparisons to internationally acclaimed directors Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese.
In an interview with the Red Mike YouTube channel, Tigmanshu Dhulia highlighted the inadequacy of politically motivated Indian films, stating, "Those films are terrible. Who even watches them? I don't even talk about these films; they're all terrible," specifically referring to 'The Kashmir Files.' He criticized their cinematic merit and questioned their viewership and impact.Comparing the approach of Hollywood directors, Tigmanshu Dhulia pointed out Spielberg's adherence to the Hollywood rulebook but remarked that he lacks a distinctive directorial identity. On the contrary, he praised Martin Scorsese for his unique directorial signature, attributing it to Scorsese's strong ideologies as a filmmaker. Dhulia emphasized the importance of filmmakers having a clear ideology to create impactful cinema.
Discussing the broader topic of politically motivated films in India, He acknowledged that some directors might genuinely believe in their films' messages but lack the artistic skills necessary to produce quality cinema. He criticized the use of political ideologies as propaganda in Indian cinema and described such films as aesthetically poor and badly made, regardless of the underlying ideologies.
Drawing an unexpected parallel, Dhulia brought up the Nazi propaganda film 'Triumph of the Will,' acknowledging it as a piece of propaganda that pushed the boundaries of the cinematic art form. While not endorsing its content, he contrasted it with Indian propaganda films, suggesting that the latter are often poorly made due to misguided intentions focused on financial gain rather than artistic integrity.