Veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, in a recent Malayalam television interview, spoke about the new generation of film critics flourishing on social media networks. “Social media is being used in the worst possible way,” said Adoor.
“People who have plenty of time to spare, who have read barely anything in depth, who know nothing about life, are using internet to do what they think is film criticism,” he said. They should understand that there is a difference between opinions, appreciations, and critique pieces, he added.
The interview, aired on Kairali channel, was hosted by senior journalist John Brittas.
Watch the first part of the interview here. (Courtesy: Kairali TV)
“Once I read a piece criticising my films. In it, the author slammed Satyajit Ray for never making a Hindi film. The writer said Ray’s films were pointless. Everyone has an opinion – especially about a medium like cinema. Some people assume their opinions are critique pieces. No. They are not. Film criticism is a job that needs a lot of knowledge in cinema. A film critic should be more learnt about cinema than a filmmaker himself,” said the auteur.
Read: ADOOR GOPALAKRISHNAN INTERVIEW: “I SHOOT EVERY FILM LIKE IT IS MY FIRST”
Adoor, one of the anchors of India’s new wave cinema movement, feels there is little substance in the art cinema category in Malayalam. “Most of the cinema that comes with the tag ‘Art Cinema’ are sub-standard works made by filmmakers who know nothing about the medium. They make films with hardly any preparation, without making any effort to learn the techniques of filmmaking. I feel sorry for them. They should do some introspection,” he added.
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A number of the so-called new generation films in Malayalam are old-fashioned films, he said. “I don’t deny that there are good directors in the younger generation. But a number of new films do not qualify to be called ‘new generation’. They use old techniques of film making, and add some tricks to entice the youth.”
Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s latest film, Pinneyum, was released in theatres on August 18.
Read: PINNEYUM REVIEW: WHEN THE MASTER RETURNS
Feature Image Courtesy: The Hindu