''Gap Between Mainstream, Festival Genre Films Reducing'', Says Shoojit Sircar

The disparity between films in the mainstream genre and those meant for screenings in the festival circuit is coming down, feels director Shoojit Sircar. To a question, Sircar told reporters at the just-concluded 24th Kolkata International Film Festival that there was an inconsistency between films meant for the two genres, but it is reducing as the song and dance routine in Bollywood films is now a "thing of the past".

"I think going by my recent experiences, the disparity (between the two genres) has come down to a great extent. You consider films like 'Masaan' (2015) or 'The Lunchbox' (2013).

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"The films belong to both the mainstream and festival categories... They (Bollywood) are more concentrating on story telling. The gap is hence reducing," he said here.

On the prospects of him directing a Bengali film, Sircar, who had produced 'Aparajita Tumi' (2012) and 'Open Tee Bioscope' (2015), said,

"Once I feel like, I will take up a directorial project in Bangla... I will direct a Bengali film for sure one day. But, I am still picking up the pieces here." 

Asked about the fate of his proposed project starring Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, the director only said that scripting is underway.

On his equation with Big B, whom he had cast in acclaimed films like 'Piku' (2015) and 'Pink' (2016), Sircar said, "Mr. Bachchan is like a child who gets excited on getting a good toy (role). He is always excited about his role." 

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Referring to comments by a section of the audience that his last directorial 'October' was slow and melancholic, he said, "I do films as I like. Whoever will accept me or not, it is up to them. October is a very special film as the story came from an intensely personal experience. And I enjoyed making the film.