The veteran producer claims that he misses both the substance and the entertainment value of classic hits.
If you ask any cinephile to construct a list of ten “must-see” Hindi films, they will undoubtedly lead you down memory lane. There’s a reason why our all-time favorite movies list is so nostalgic. The films that characterize Hindi cinema’s history are from a time when filmmaking was passionate and driven by visionaries. From Bimal Roy, Guru Dutt, and Sohrab Modi to V Shantaram, K Asif, Raj Kapoor, and a long list of others, these filmmakers have left an incomparable legacy. Anand Pandit, a renowned producer, misses the depth and resonance of classic Hindi cinema, as well as the entertainment value of films like Manmohan Desai’s ‘Coolie’ and Ramesh Sippy’s ‘Sholay.’
Pandit recalls how, from the 1950s onwards, Hindi cinema transcended geographical boundaries, carving a space for itself even in distant lands such as Russia, where Raj Kapoor’s ‘Awara’ became a tremendous superhit. “When the objective is to generate excellence as well as universality, a ‘Sholay’ is born,” he continues. This film featured the perfect blend of outstanding writing by Salim-Javed, ground-breaking photography and sound effects, and the star power of stalwarts like Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan, and, of course, Amjad Khan in a breakout performance. Who can forget the enthralling score by RD Burman?
Shyam Benegal, Mrinal Sen, Goutam Ghose, Govind Nihalani, Basu Bhattacharya, and even Satyajit Ray improved Hindi cinema with films like Nishant, Paar, Vijeta, Anubhav, and Shatranj Ke Khiladi, he says. “I miss a feeling of direction, honesty, and profundity in today’s cinema,” he says. Whether expressing the difficulties and struggles of ordinary life or constructing a spectacular spectacle, a passion for the story being told is required. I also miss the passionate talks that were a part of our lives, as well as the tunes that became our soundtrack. We still hum songs from the 1990s and earlier decades, and most reality shows rely on the nostalgia that Lata Ji, Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh, Kishore Kumar, and others continue to evoke.”
“To make modern masterpieces, we need more movies that are content-oriented, have cohesive, well-knit scripts instead of being designed to enter the 100 or 1000 crore club by whatever means,” he argues. Yes, modern films have improved in terms of technology and visual appeal, but we must also reintroduce the direct-from-the-heart manner of filmmaking that we once adored.”
Pandit is currently working on films in regional languages and Hindi and is excited for the release of ‘Thank God,’ directed by Indra Kumar.