Finding Self in the World of Cinema

As the Arbhaat Short Film Club’s second season began, many cinematic minds came together to discuss the nuances of the medium

Apoorva Tapas

(From (L-R) Shrihari Sathe,Kiran Yadnyopavit,Avinash Arun,
Gajendra Ahire and Samar Nakhate) 

When you find yourself in a strange new world, you look at the people, the places, the pace and the exchanges. They may be beautiful, horrifying or downright repulsive, but what keeps you from shutting out this reality is the energy coursing through it. You believe what the world tells you because it’s so passionate to exist. That’s what good cinema does to you. Such was the feeling when the lights came on after the first short film “You” by István Szabó was screened at the inauguration of the second season of the Arbhaat Short Film Club at National Film Archive of India (NFAI) on the evening of April 3.

An initiative by Arbhaat Nirmitee to bring the best short films from all over the world to audiences entered into its second year. Present on this occasion were eminent Marathi filmmakers Umesh Kulkarni (who has founded the club along with Girish Kulkarni), Gajendra Ahire, Kiran Yadnyopavit and promising new filmmakers Shrihari Sathe and Avinash Arun.

Three more shorts, “The Killers” by Andrei Tarkovsky, Marika Beiku, Aleksandr Gordon, “Talking Heads” by Krzysztof Kieslowski and “The School for Postmen” by Jacques Tati were screened. Within a span of a few minutes, tension, wonder and amusement entered the senses and fled as the lights went back up.  

The second season was officially inaugurated with the first clap given by Avinash Arun. He has directed the acclaimed film ‘Killa’ which won the Crystal Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. Kulkarni then opened the floor to a stimulating discussion between these cinematic minds. 

A story has its roots in experience and wonder. This was the common thread that ran through the entire discussion.  Ahire, a prolific filmmaker, began by sharing an anecdote about finding inspiration for stories. “There should be no stories in films,” he exclaims as a shocked audience looks on, “Choose something simple: an idea or an object, anything that catches your fancy; start detailing it and take it forward. Break away from the mould of the typical narrative,” he says.

Narrating his experience of ‘finding’ the story of his upcoming film ‘Postcard’ he exclaims how it just struck him while he was location hunting for another story! “Search for something new every time; go with the flow and what you feel at the moment and see where it takes you.” Arun echoes his sentiments. His film is also based entirely on his experiences and nostalgia.

Discussion Session at NFAI

Providing a more global perspective, Sathe who has worked on short films in numerous countries and is all set to release his first Marathi film Ek Hazarachi Note says, “Language is secondary. What’s most important is what you are saying through the film. The one thing that is common throughout the world is passion and willingness to tell stories.”  

However, creativity sustains you only up to a point. That’s when commerce rears its head and the grey area of money and marketing comes out to play. Ahire elaborates, “You can ride out your first film with only passion and content but beyond that you need the producers. Once you foray into the technical aspects of filmmaking you cannot settle for a low quality. You need money." Seconding Ahire, Yadnyopavit puts it in perspective by stating that the fine line between creativity and being sellable is important, it should be maintained without surrendering to a formulaic commercial treatment.

That being said, one must also look at the consumption. Despite much commentary about change in Marathi cinema, the fact remains that the same typecast films stocked with a masala and star power continue to grab commerce. In Ahire’s words they’re simply packaged differently; good films are still standing in the corner.

This is where the responsibility of art moves from the makers to the audience. As Nakhate urges, “Choose films from the buffet of cinema with an open mind and heart. Become sensitive; the relationship between makers and consumers must deepen.” Participation in art - be it creation or consumption - must be an outward journey.

At the end, Nakhate’s quote, “People get the cinema they deserve,” lingered on the mind as many of the film lovers woke up in a new world that says good art deserves to be spread.

(Arbhaat Shot Film Club screens short films on every first Thursday of the Month)

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