A pan-India filmmaker R. Balki, called Bollywood boring in his recent interview. It is Surprising as it came from a director who is known for making some great films like Pad Man, Paa, and Cheeni Kum. During a recent conversation, the veteran director discussed recent blockbusters, describing them as the “worst” and “damn boring” flicks.
R. Balki spoke at an event in Pune and presented his thoughts on the recently released hit movie. He stated that the “blockbusters” released in the last 4-5 years have been the “worst films.” “I’m just saying, not only from an intellectual or an artistic point of view but also from the old entertainment, ‘masala, paisa vasool’ kind of a feel. Also, they’re damn boring,” he stated.
Balki went on to compare legendary Manmohan Desai films. He emphasized the retrospective of Amitabh Bachchan that Desai’s films such as Amar Akbar Anthony and Naseeb will provide. He stated his belief by conceding that these historical films were enjoyable to watch, something that is no longer true of modern blockbusters.
Despite a lack of enjoyment, the films have performed well at the box office, which Balki attributes to marketing. He noted that films have recently become more of a project, with the goal of recouping the investment.
The Paa director remarked that it is marketing that draws people into theaters to believe something is fantastic when it is not. “By the time people believe it’s bad, the film has made its money,” he said.
In addition, the filmmaker emphasized how the audience’s psychology contributes to the occurrence. He noted that after watching a film, people may not want to think that it is horrible and instead seek out one or two positive aspects of it.
Balki stated that if they admire something about the star, they will eventually declare that it was “Time pass” because no one would pay $500 and curse themselves.”You will want to say, ‘I was not that foolish. Oh, it was… it was fun. It was a little bit fun,’” he said.
R Balki’s most recent directorial effort was Ghoomer, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Saiyami Kher and released last year in 2023.