Renowned filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra delivered a powerful message about the relationship between art and society during a session at the ongoing 56th International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Saturday. The acclaimed director emphasized that his films are not manufactured products but genuine expressions of the world around him.
Cinema as Social Reflection
Chopra firmly believes that an artist cannot remain separate from their times. "I react to times; an artist is not independent of the times he lives in," he stated during the IFFI session. Drawing parallels with legendary creators like Shakespeare and Van Gogh, he explained that his work serves as a mirror to society, representing what he experiences and feels.
The filmmaker expressed concern about contemporary filmmaking trends, revealing an interesting anecdote about actor Sanjay Dutt. "Unfortunately, now it's all about proposals sold to Netflix and Amazon," Chopra lamented. He noted that many modern filmmakers don't even write proper scripts anymore, focusing instead on commercial deals rather than substantial content.
The Inspiration Behind 12th Fail
Chopra's recent national award-winning film "12th Fail" emerged from his deep frustration with systemic corruption. The director confessed he was "sick and tired" of the dishonesty prevalent in society and saw the film as his attempt to promote honesty.
"When I made the film, I was like, 'If I can convert 1 percent population, 1 percent bureaucracy to 1 percent political system to honesty instead of dishonesty, I would have succeeded,'" the filmmaker shared. The movie, featuring Vikrant Massey in the lead role, tells the inspiring true story of Manoj Kumar Sharma, who overcame extreme poverty and educational challenges to become an IPS officer.
Standing by Artistic Vision in Parinda
Chopra revisited the making of his 1989 gangster classic "Parinda," revealing that distributors offered him a substantial sum of ₹11 lakhs to change the film's tragic ending. At a time when he struggled to afford dinner, this amount represented significant financial security.
"They said, 'Please don't kill Anil and Madhuri, kill Jackie, and we will give you Rs. 11 lakhs,'" Chopra recalled. However, he refused to compromise his artistic integrity because the film's central message was clear: "violence begets violence."
The director shared a memorable incident where his Punjab distributor called during interval, panicking because audiences were applauding the death of Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit's characters, thinking it was a dream sequence. Despite this reaction, Chopra stood by his creative decisions.
On a personal note, Chopra credited his wife, noted film critic Anupama Chopra, for bringing calmness to his life. "When I made Parinda, I was a very violent man myself," he admitted, acknowledging how his wife's influence has positively transformed him over their 30-year marriage.
