R Balki: Terms like ‘meaningful messaging’ scare me

ISLAMABAD, MARCH 05 (ONLINE): R Balki: Terms like ‘meaningful messaging’ scare me. If you want to look for meaning in life, go to a meditation app. Why watch a film?I am not here to change the world with my films, says the acclaimed director.
R Balki: Terms like ‘meaningful messaging’ scare me. If you want to look for meaning in life, go to a meditation app.

Why watch a film?
The Fifth anniversary of the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) in Mumbai was graced by the presence of notable dignitaries, including the Consul General of the Republic of Belarus, Aliksandr Matsukou, and Consul of Belarus, Anton Pashkov. The day saw an array of events including a guided tour for visually impaired students from The Happy Home & School for the Blind as well an enriching masterclass by acclaimed director R Balki, in conversation with D Ramakrishnan (GM NFDC).

Following the insightful conversation, cinema enthusiasts enjoyed the screening of R Balki’s ‘Ghoomer’.
The highlight of the event was Balki’s unabashed take on content clutter, not undermining one’s talent and his penchant for addressing social issues without resorting to social messaging. Over the course of the two-hour session the Cheeni Kum director shared some wonderful insights, funny anecdotes and inspiring words for aspiring actors and filmmakers. Excerpts…

‘You can’t learn the art of scripting’
I don’t think there is a better film school than going to the set and working with several filmmakers. You learn about life. I was fortunate that I was able to get these experiences, so I didn’t feel the need to do a film school. It’s not that I did it without knowledge, I gained the knowledge. If you can go to a film school, you might probably learn things faster than I did but what you can’t learn is the art of scripting. Scripting doesn’t happen by going to a scripting school because there are a hundredh ways in which you can communicate a story.