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India isn't like a Salman Khan movie, says Naseeruddin Shah

India isn't like a Salman Khan movie, says Naseeruddin Shah

The veteran actor believes that cinema serves as a record of time and should be treated as such
29 Oct, 2018

Naseeruddin Shah doesn't seem like a Salman Khan fan - or maybe it's just his films.

In his latest interview the actor says cinema is a record of a time and people and films should reflect that rather than showing song and dance.

“I feel that cinema can’t change society or bring a revolution. I’m also not sure of cinema as a medium of education. Documentaries can be educative, not feature films. People see them and forget. The only serious function films can serve is to act as a record of their times,” said the actor.

Shah says it's his 'responsibility' to do films like A Wednesday and his recent short film, Rogan Josh. “I consider it my responsibility to take part in such films. All my serious works are a representative of their times. Cinema will survive. These films would be seen 200 years later.”

He added, “People should know what the India of 2018 was like. They shouldn’t end up seeing only Salman Khan films 200 years later. India is not like that. Cinema is for posterity.”

The 68-year-old explained that when he was approached to feature in Rogan Josh, a story about a veteran chef who works at Taj Hotels, he was instantly on board.

“If there’s a young man trying to make a song and dance film, I wouldn’t give him a second. But here was a young man trying to make a film on a subject he believes should be made. I am totally for first timers. I always hear them seriously. I have done so many films with first timers and I’ve never regretted it.”

What Shah loves about working in short films is that “there’s no pressure of producers sitting on these filmmakers head and telling them who the hero should be and what kind of songs (should be used). They have the freedom to make the kind of film they want to make without the worry of the box office.”

Comments

Omar Oct 29, 2018 12:39pm
Movies are for entertainment, they are not National geographic channel. So it will involve song and dance to entertain masses. If he doesnt like his song and dance sequence he has option to skip it.
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RAW IS WAR Oct 29, 2018 02:32pm
I you have only luck and no Talent - you are Jitendra. If you have luck and talent- Amitabh Bachhan. Only talent and no luck- Naseeruddin shah.
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Khalid Oct 29, 2018 03:00pm
To Omar. Where do the contents of National Geographic comes from? Without thoughtful producers there won’t much to watch on NG channels
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Anand Oct 29, 2018 03:04pm
Naseeruddin ! A demi-god amongst mere mortals !
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LAHORI KID Oct 29, 2018 04:11pm
Yes it’s not, it’s more like Amitab’s DON.
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Suraj71 Oct 29, 2018 06:00pm
Salman is a kid in front of this gem of acting.. What an actor he is!!
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Nimbus Oct 29, 2018 06:16pm
My whole family loves you and the late samita patel wonderful movies you have stared in no song and dance just reality.
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Ubuntu Oct 29, 2018 06:28pm
Acting credential of Nasaruddin Shah are are far better than that of Salman Khan.
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Jamil Soomro, New York City Oct 29, 2018 07:45pm
Naseeruddin Shah's Urdu diction and accent is very good like that of the great Dilip Kumar.
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Faisal Oct 29, 2018 08:12pm
@Omar Movies dont have to be 100% just for entertainment. They can educate us and make us think while being entertaining.
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ahmed Oct 29, 2018 08:37pm
Great thoughts, Naseeruddin Shah. You are ahead of many in films. Serious works deserve serious people with intellect. Thank you.
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Changez Khan Oct 29, 2018 08:46pm
May be Naseeruddin Shah doesn't know the current younger generation is not into seeing desi movies, their interest is something other than sitting 2-3 hours in movie theaters. It is the older generation who has movie theaters filled. The failure of so many current movies is the proof. The desi movies future is dark.
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gp65 Oct 29, 2018 09:19pm
"He added, “People should know what the India of 2018 was like. They shouldn’t end up seeing only Salman Khan films 200 years later. India is not like that. Cinema is for posterity.”" Sui Dhaga, 102 Not Out, Toilet Ekk Prem Katha, Shubh Mangalam Savadhan, Bareilly ki Barfi, Dangal, Secret Superstar, Dear Zindagi, Dum Laga ke Haisha, Hindi Medium, Tumhari Sulu are all examples of movies which give a glimpse of the present day India. Having said that, recording the times is not the only purpose of movies. Entertaining people, telling a story, introducing people to history are all perfectly good reasons to make a movie.
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Parveen Oct 29, 2018 11:05pm
Only fools think movies are a reflection of history. Movies are made to entertain and make a profit. To see the reality, you watch documentaries. In 200 years from now, people will be watching YouTube videos or reading social media posts being made today to get an idea of today's society, not watch Bollywood movies.
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jaan marri Oct 29, 2018 11:12pm
the eternal pessimist
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N abidai Oct 30, 2018 06:11am
India is not Karan Johar films either,or many hit BW films! Reality is very different! So true!
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Joe Oct 30, 2018 09:47am
Naseer was Ok actor, never really like him
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syed s ahmed Oct 30, 2018 12:42pm
He'll Mr. Boring.
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Amy Oct 30, 2018 03:04pm
He did not say what films are ABOUT or WHAT ENTERTAINMENT is. He said function of cinema ( beyond your time!!!!! Please note that ) should be record of Time. He is not talking an entertainin seeker to tell what entertainment should be like. If he wants to survive as part of cinema beyond 200 years or more. He is right!!
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Shdhsn Nov 01, 2018 11:12am
Naseer is a good actor, but to convey his message, he should have refrained from using Salman Khan's name. All other actors SRK or Aamir, AK etc have same type of songs and dances. He himself has worked in commercial and Art movies and both types have different demands to satisfied audience.
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