Filmmaker Reema Kagti has recently spoken out about the apparent contradiction in audience behavior: while many decry nepotism in the film industry, they often fail to watch movies featuring lesser-known actors. During the promotion of her latest project, 'Shape of Momo', the director shared her perspective on the need for genuine patronage rather than just verbal encouragement for original content.
Reema Kagti on the Concept of 'Support'
In an interview with the Hindustan Times, Reema Kagti revealed that one of the key reasons she decided to back 'Shape of Momo' was its authentic portrayal of people from Northeast India through a native lens. She remarked, "Being from the North East, it’s refreshing to know there is good stuff coming out of there. It’s an area that is misrepresented and under-represented, and you rarely get to see accents, faces, features, and cultural habits that are so familiar to me but are unfamiliar in popular culture. I was sold on the idea."
Kagti, who has directed acclaimed films like 'Talaash' and 'Superboys of Malegaon', argued that Indian filmmakers are producing quality cinema, but audiences need to recognize and support these efforts. She said, "I hear a lot of people complaining, ‘Why aren’t we making these films?’ But then, when you ask them what the last film you supported was, it was 20 years ago."
In the same conversation, Kagti expressed her discomfort with the word 'support'. She elaborated, "When I made Superboys of Malegaon, a lot of people said, ‘Why aren’t people coming and supporting it?’ But I don’t need your support. I need your patronage. There is a big difference between the two. Throughout history, art has always survived through patronage. And that comes from people who love it, appreciate it, and see the beauty in it. This is a wake-up call for the audience, journalists, and anybody who is creating something original."
Reema Kagti Shares Her Views on Nepotism
The filmmaker emphasized that both the industry and the audience need to introspect. She stated, "There is some soul-searching needed from both sides. For instance, there is so much outrage over nepotism. But at the same time, you will go and watch two known people’s films over two unknown people’s films. So you must question yourself, too."
More About 'Shape of Momo'
'Shape of Momo', directed by Tribeny Rai and backed by Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, and Payal Kapadia, is currently running in theatres across India. The film aims to bring authentic stories from the Northeast to the mainstream.
