Indian Films - Winds of Change?

Onir Anirban and Sanjay Suri started addressing social issues in the film 'My Brother Nikhil' which was received well by audiences all over India and especially in the European nations. It also was a film that touched upon homosexuality. It is about time films in India meant more than just a source of entertainment.

Onir is a bright and talented director who really manages to bring out his characters in films and what a story he manages to tell. Sanjay has proved himself to be an outstanding actor. When both these youngsters get together to change the face of films that are made in Bollywood, it is indeed a change. Independent cinema in India has been barely recognised as much as the popular Bollywood except for the critics who welcome the finesse of films that stand out quitely behind the curtains of the glitter and glamour that Bollywood films usually are. But, there is a time for change perhaps! India and the world is ready as an audience to acknowledge this independent cinema as an integral stream of Bollywood and performing arts.

What lies ahead for these two crusaders? Well, Anticlock Films unfolds five short films, produced by Onir Onirban, Sanjay Suri and co-produced by numerous contributors from teh audiences and is directed by Onir. ABHIMANYU is the first of the five that are in the pipeline. Each of these five films tackles issues that is ignored by mainstream cinema in India. "Our idea is to release each film for educational/awareness/festival purposes and eventually compile all five short films into one release for general audiences." says Anticlock Films.

One may wonder what is unique about this? If one is to go by the overwhelming responses by the public to it, we have the common folks contrubuting to the financing of these films and becoming co-owners of the films. Facebook, Bolgspot, Twitter, You Tube...you got it! These are meduims used effectively to reach out to people all over the globe to assist and be a part of the film.

Onir leaves for Bangalore tomorrow for the shoot of ABHIMANYU. Initiating this project has been a life-changing experience for him and the adventure has just begun. "This has been a humbling experience and an experiment at an alternate way of making sensible mainstream cinema that strives to make a difference. cinema that is not bound by dictates of star system and project making. Cinema that represents collective befief and desire and effort. " is what he has to say about these films today.

I met Onir at Sanjay's place a couple of years ago. He and Sanjay (who is my cousin) had just completed 'My Brother Nikhil' and we got chatting. They both are making films that do have a reason for being there. Both of them are worthy of more recognition than what they get. It is reassuring to know they are making films that do leave a mark on the audience; doing their bit for humanity in their own way. Social issues in India are a hush. Incest, abuse, rapes...these are a few of the things our citizens like to sweep under the carpet and pretend it doesn't exist. It does exist and every sixth person one knows has actually, in his or her own lifetime been through it. Yes...these five films are something to definitely be a part of.  It is something to watch out for.

Abhimanyu and Omar has been nominated in the new category of Best Educational Movie,Triangle Media Group (UK)Global Award Nominations for 2009 on basics of script.

You can know more about the films at these sites:

Blog: http://iamabhimanyu.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/iamabhimanyu

Twitter: http://twitter.com/iamabhimanyu

YouTube: http://youtube.com/user/iamabhimanyu0