THE EFFERVESCENCE OF A DIRECTORIAL DEBUT

The title of my piece clearly reflects the analysis that the cinephile in me is doing.

The instigator to this thought process is my viewing of the film PK.

The newspaper reports are either taking of the controversies or the box office collections but after watching the film, my first response was

‘The effervescence of a directorial debut’

For those of you who are still wondering why I say this is because I hold Rajkumar Hirani in high esteem as a director. Before I say further, I must remind you with the fact that Rajkumar Hirani's first directorial venture was Munnabhai Mbbs (2003), which is considered a cult classic. The approach to a journey of a Mawali faking being a doctor and the peripheries of everything else so cleverly chalked out. I was floored by the construction and implementation of the thought.

PK did not create any of that feeling in me. The combination of a meticulous director and a perfectionist actor and the result that ensued lacked the innocence of that first time director to take all of us on a journey which can be absurd but can still create ripples in your soul.

Since I am talking about that sparkle in a first ever effort of cinematic storytelling, the names which immediately strike me are Vishal Bhardwaj .

His first directorial debut was children's film Makdee, which was critically acclaimed.

Another example could be Vikramaditya Motwane who released his debut feature film, titled Udaan (2010). The film was not immediately successful at the box office when released, but is regarded as a cult film.

I wonder how the craft of filmmaking affects a person who cracks the formula in the very first go. Does it wither away with time in some people or does it need a re-polish every few years. If one thinks from the point of view of these celebrated directors, maybe honest critics start dwindling away in their circuit as they rise up the ladder …almost like the Emperors new clothes story. But how can me a mere mortal know !

I can only comment humbly on the final product as a consumer!

PK also brought in my mind comparisons in how the subject was treated in the film Oh my God , which to me has been one of the most uncelebrated works in the recent years. The film subtly ruptures the entire fabric of religious fanaticism and the lack of vision in the legal system. And most importantly no inclusion of the favorite emotion that Indian directors play with ‘love’ no matter what genre they indulge in. Kudos to Umesh Shukla who directed the Indian drama film Oh My God.

I still am on the effervescence and shall wait for my thought to explode when I see another screening of a acclaimed director …till then,  let me sip my adrak chai!