Mumbai, March 31: US-based Indian filmmaker Mira Nair, who has just been honoured as the Person of the Year 2007 by a leading ethnic Indian paper in the US, says the West is now ready to embrace a well-structured Indian film.
“Yes, the West, like any market, is ready to accept a well-made film that sweeps you away,” Nair, whose “The Namesake” made a good impact abroad, told the media in an interview.
“However, I think the song-and-dance drama will always be our beloved cinema, not so much the Western mainstream’s cup of tea,” she added. The filmmaker was honoured Friday night by the paper India Abroad.
“The Namesake” was based on Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel by the same name and its DVD was released in the US in November 2007.
“And ‘The Namesake’ was all over TV and Radio being touted as the great family classic. I’ve hardly ever met a person who has seen the film only once. At least two-three times is the average.”
According to her, “The Namesake”, starring Tabu and Irrfan Khan, is a universal film. “The Ganguli family’s journey in the film is our collective journey, as also the story between parents and children”.
The maker of films like “Salaam Bombay” and “Monsoon Wedding” is now gearing up to shoot her next movie “Amelia” with leading Hollywood actress Hillary Swank.
Bureau Report
