Indian film director Ashutosh Gowariker in conversation. Ashutosh Gowariker, born on February 15, 1964 is an Indian film director, actor, writer and producer. He is known for directing the films Lagaan (2001), Swades (2004), Jodhaa Akbar (2008), What's Your Raashee (2009) and Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey (2010). He was nominated for an Academy Award and European Film Award, and has won a number of other awards, including a National Film Award, five Filmfare Awards, and seven international film festival awards. He also became a voting member for the Academy Awards in 2005.
Anchor: Irfan
00:08 Montage
00:25 Introduction, Born in Bombay in 1964, Studied at Mithibai College, Ketan Mehta's 'Holi', 'Circus', 'CID', 'Lagaan', 'Swades', 'Jodha Akbar', 'What's Your Rashee?, 'Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se', National Film Award, 5 Filmfare Awards, 7 International Film Festival Awards
02:09 Interview begins
02:21 No ambition to become a filmmaker, 1982-3 Mithibai College, B Sc, Selected in all auditions for Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, English plays, folk dance throughout college, began to like acting
04:25 Ketan Mehta, 'Holi'
06:17 Supportive family, Exposure to performing arts helped him as a director, Mother classical singer
07:19 Wanted important roles as an actor, narration and storytelling intrigued him, Observe the director, Aamir Khan, 'Holi', Shahrukh Khan, 'Circus', 'Chamatkar', 'Kabhi Haa Kabhi Naa', Deepak Tijori, 'Pehla Nasha', 'Baazi'
09:54 Break
10:16 Interview resumes
11:09 Where does the inspiration come for a film?, Theme first, 'Lagaan', Village, Different people come together to fight their problems together, Cricket, English, When I research into details I get a clear indication of portrayal
15:40 Kolhapur, vacations, Connection with the village, Film a document of its time
17:49 Do big-budget films ensure bigger success?, Chanakya, 'Jodha Akbar', Religious tolerance, Big budget production request, Show first in Showbiz
20:35 Break
21:03 Interview resumes
21:31 A combination of realism and entertainment along with the message in my cinema, V Shantaram, Bimal Roy, Satyajit Ray, Manmohan Desai, Prakash Mehra, A combination of both streams, Film should be simple and easy to understand, Balance between subtlety and melodrama
23:51 Very good independent cinema in the 1970s, Mrinal Sen, Shyam Benegal, No distribution of these films, Both distribution and exhibition are better now, Multiplexes
25:52 NFDC promoting good films through Film Bazaar
26:44 Can't take financial help from Film Bazaar for a film like 'Jodha Akbar', Film Bazaar primarily for smaller and independent films, 'Gandhi'
27:29 Just completed a story for a big scale film