Interview with Priyadarshan On his evolution as a filmmaker, dreaming of Malayalam cinema and delivering hits in Bollywood

Priyadarshan received the Indian Cinema Award for Outstanding Contribution at the IIFA festival in Abu Dhabi. | Photo credit: IIFA Festival/Instagram

Veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan was recently honored with the Outstanding Contribution to Indian Film Award at the IIFA festival in Abu Dhabi. On the occasion, the directors were repeatedly asked questions ghost busting, His highly anticipated collaboration with Akshay Kumar.

“I am back with a big Bollywood project after a long time. Also, I am reuniting with Akshay Kumar for ages. It is going to be a special film, and I am positive about recreating the magic,” he told reporters.

Priyadarshan is also gearing up for his 100th film, and reports suggest that the director is collaborating with his best friend and superstar Mohanlal.

in conversation with Hindu At the event, the actor looks back on his career, talks about the evolution of the Malayalam film industry and discusses the challenges filmmakers of the past face today.

Excerpts from the interview:

The Malayalam film industry has crossed Rs 1,000 crore at the worldwide box office. Has Mollywood gone beyond the star system? What is the interpretation of this dream run from the industry?

Stardom is still there. Mammootty and Mohanlal still rule the industry. That said, newcomers are focusing on content over run-of-the-mill stories. Today’s filmmakers are making films in realistic situations. For example, how a love story is treated in a Malayalam film has changed today. Back then, a couple would separate because the parents had objections based on caste or class. Today, writers and filmmakers are exploring conflicts in relationships. They delve deep into the psyches of two people rather than focusing on the tested tropes of society opposing their love. That is modern cinema.

A new generation of filmmakers are taking the limelight in the Malayalam film industry. How are past filmmakers like you, Joshi and Fazil reacting to the rise of young directors?

I don’t want to name names, but many of my colleagues, who were much better at filmmaking than me, are no longer in the profession. Their inability to adapt is the main reason for their early exit from the film industry. They fail to accept that Malayalam cinema has changed. Second, they have struggled to keep up with changes in technology. Even if we don’t believe in a trend, we must acknowledge and adapt if necessary. We have a lot to learn from the younger generation. Filmmaker Peter Chan says he learned about the evolution of today’s films through his children. He is right. I have learned a lot from my children. I bounce ideas off them before I sit down to write a script.

Director Priyadarshan says that filmmakers of the past must use technology in innovative ways to survive in the film industry. | Photo credit: Srinivasan L

Humor is your strength. How has comedy changed over the years?

Since the days of Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy, the secret to good humor has remained the same. If you can make a child laugh, consider your job done. There is a child in everyone. I think filmmakers exploring the comedy genre are interested in double entenders. The problem with that approach is that you’re limiting your audience base. Parents hesitate to take their children to such movies. Not because of the OTT boom but because of profanity in films, the percentage of households going to theaters has declined. Many comedy films are only watched by people between the ages of 16 and 30. heart It was a huge success in Malayalam as it was a clean relationship drama that dealt with modern issues.

As a filmmaker from Kerala, you managed to make a mark in Bollywood. Why do you think other filmmakers from Malayalam have failed to make that transition?

When I used to watch Hindi movies, I used to wonder why our heroes don’t dress like them or why our films don’t look like them. If you compare the production value between the two industries, Bollywood had a slight edge. So when I did the remake Manichitrafrom By mistake, Ramji Rao is speaking from Hera Ferry, And Boeing Boeing from garam masala, All looked like Hindi movies. North Indian audiences don’t want to see the same kind of films again. They wanted to feel like they were watching a Hindi movie. Most Hindi remakes of regional films flop because the filmmakers do not understand this important fact. Our priority should be to cater to the Hindi audience.