IN LOVE WITH ROMANCE

Concept and Written by Sunder Kumar
sunder@indolink.com
Public opinion places Yash Chopra as the director whose next work
is most eagerly awaited. Based on responses to question of five
favorite contemporary directors, the top five are:

1. Yash Chopra
2. Hrishikesh Mukherjee
3. Mani Ratnam
4. Subhash Ghai
5. Gulzar

Again, not surprisingly, Yash Chopra was named by over 90% of
respondents in their top 5; and in the top 2 by over 60% of these. Even
accounting for the influence of recent Dil To Pagal Hai (despite vastly
mixed responses), and the previous article "In Love with Romance" where
this user opinion was sought, the margin separating him from the others
makes him a clear #1 from the opinion poll.

Most noteworthy and possibly surprising director in the top 5 is
Hrishikesh Mukherjee at #2. With no film in last many years (a decade or
more perhaps), this raises the expectations for his comeback with the
comedy Jhooth Bole Kauva Kaate (Anil, Juhi, Anupam, et al). This is
significant recognition for the longevity of his works - be it comedy
(GolMaal, Naram Garam, Chupke Chupke etc.); powerful thought-provoking
cinema (Abhimaan, Mili, Anand, Namak Haraam, Bemisaal, Jurmana) or
semi-serious entertainers (Buddha Mil Gaya, Anari, Annadata etc.). He
was named in the top 5 by over 60% respondents, and in their top 2 by
two-thirds of these.

Mani Ratnam at #3 (with a national reputation created from dubbed movies
alone), will be seen in an original Hindi movie with DIL SE (said to be
a young love story starring Shahrukh and Manisha set in a contemporary
social environment, with music by recent regular A R Rahman). Expectations
are expectedly high! More than half the respondents named him in the top
5, but only a third of those put him at the top; with the remaining slotting
him below #3.

He was closely followed by Subhash Ghai (with just under 50% respondents
naming him in the top 5). However, two decades of blockbusters did not
get him any top position - possibly suggesting a bias in the demographics
of the respondents. At #5 is Gulzar, with approximately equal responses as
Subhash Ghai.

Following these five are - Aditya Chopra and Vinod Chopra, with about
30-40% respondents in their favor. Aditya Chopra stands out with the
fewer votes in his favor, but most of those at the top of their lists.
With only one film, and partial credit for dialogues and script of Dil
To Pagal Hai, Aditya Chopra is building a tall wall of expectations that
he will be expected to scale with every movie. Vinod Chopra has been
through a similar wall after Parinda and Khamosh, before the relatively
damp squib 1942-A love Story. Now with Kareeb on the floors, he would be
trying to claw back towards the top.

A few percentage slots below (around 25-30%) are Mansoor Khan, Rajkumar
Santoshi, Sooraj Barjatya, and David Dhawan. The others who were named
are Ramesh Sippy, Mahesh Bhatt, Shyam Benegal, Kundan Shah, Indra Kumar,
Govind Nihalani, J P Dutta, Rakesh Roshan, Pankaj Parashar, and Ramgopal
Verma (despite DAUD). Outside the top 5, those who were named at the top
of individual lists include new wave directors - Mansoor Khan, Sooraj
Barjatya and Aditya Chopra, and the old horse Ramesh Sippy (no notable
films among many since Saagar).

Among the 21 directors in this list, the old guard continues to reign
with the top 5 positions held by those around for over a decade and half
(Yash Chopra since 1960, Hrishikesh Mukherjees from the 50s, Subhash Ghai
since 1979, Mani Ratnam made his first Tamil hit in early 80s, and Gulzar
has been seen, heard, and appreciated since the 60s). Markedly, the next
five positions are held by those who started in the last decade (Aditya
Chopra, Vinod Chopra, Sooraj Barjatya, David Dhawan, and Rajkumar
Santoshi). Some catching up for them - as the old guard appears intent to
continue their run - and going youthful with a vengeance (Yash in DTPH,
Ghai in Pardes, and Mani Ratnam with Dil Se)

With all these directors lining up their films, we can hope to see more
interesting movies in the time to come, as well as count on new directors
announcing themselves in the remaining of this decade. I would like to
express my sincere gratitude for those who responded with their five
favorites - and wish them and all other readers a most enjoyable time
with cinema and Planet Bollywood.