Reema Kagti on nepotism debate: 'People outrage, but only watch films starring known faces'

Filmmaker Reema Kagti recently opened up about people calling out nepotism but, at the same time, called out the audience's tendencies to watch films with known actors. While promoting her film 'Shape of Momo', the director shared her views on how everyone who is making original content needs patronage and not support.In an interview with the Hindustan Times, Reema Kagti admitted that one of the reasons she decided to back 'Shape of Momo' is because it tells the story of the people of the Northeast with a native lens. She said, "Being from the North East, it’s refreshing to know there is good stuff coming out of there. It’s an area that is misrepresented and under-represented, and you rarely get to see accents, faces, features, and cultural habits that are so familiar to me but are unfamiliar in popular culture. I was sold on the idea."Reema, who has directed acclaimed films like 'Talaash' and 'Superboys of Malegaon', argued that Indian filmmakers are making good cinema, but the audiences need to recognise that as well. She said, "I hear a lot of people complaining, ‘Why aren’t we making these films?’ But then, when you ask them what the last film you supported was, it was 20 years ago."In the same conversation, Reema added that she has a problem with the word ‘support’, too. She said, "When I made 'Superboys of Malegaon', a lot of people said, ‘Why aren’t people coming and supporting it?’ But I don’t need your support. I need your patronage. There is a big difference between the two. Throughout history, art has always survived through patronage. And that comes from people who love it, appreciate it, and see the beauty in it. This is a wake-up call for the audience, journalists, and anybody who is creating something original."The filmmaker stated that both filmmakers and the audience need to reflect on how to change things. She said, "There is some soul-searching needed from both sides. For instance, there is so much outrage over nepotism. But at the same time, you will go and watch two known people’s films over two unknown people’s films. So you must question yourself, too."'Shape of Momo', directed by Tribeny Rai and backed by Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, and Payal Kapadia, is currently running in theatres across India.