‘Mainstream Indian films can make the cut at international film fests’

Kolkata, Nov 11 (IANS) Chennai-based film curator Nirupama Santhosh, one of the producers behind the triple National Award winner Tamil film “Thanga Meengal” (Goldfish), Tuesday said mainstream Indian movies can also make the cut at international film festivals without compromising on content.

Debunking myths about the art of marketing films to reach a wider audience, she said: “Mainstream films can definitely reach out at international film festivals and this is something which I would recommend. They can make the cut… you need not make just arthouse films for festivals.”

“Without altering the content, if you can slightly trim the film in a crisp manner, then it has a very bright chance… that’s what we did and it proved to be very successful,” said Santhosh, who is in the city for the premiere of her film in the 20th Kolkata International Film Festival.

“Thanga Meengal”, which clinched three honours, including Best Tamil Film, at the 61st National Awards in May this year, narrates the relationship between a father and daughter and how the educational system of today makes a turn in their normal life.

Santhosh, owns ‘THE WORKSHOP’, a one-stop-place that offers sales, consulting, publicity, branding and representative services to the Indian film makers in the international marketplace.

She said it is a misconception, that song sequences or comic relief parts need to be scrapped from the film to tailor to a festival audience.

“It’s not as if people are averse to song sequences. If it does not hamper the film, it is fine. So there is no hard and fast rule, but you have to make sure what is made to cater to the audience in India need not necessarily appeal to the film festival audience,” she highlighted.

“We can trim, alter, delete or add… what we can do to give it to an audience who doesn’t speak that language… that is how it starts,” she said, adding Tamil cinema is experimenting a lot and films with strong content are coming out.

“I think women need to breakaway from stereotypes and do mainstream films as well,” she added.