Veteran filmmaker Sudhir Mishra has always balanced parallel and commercial cinema with ease. From films like Iss Tarah Ki Subah Nahin, Chameli, and Calcutta Mail to even still connecting with young audience through his OTT projects such as Hostages, Tanaav, and Crime Beat, he has constantly evolved with time. In a throwback interview, Sudhir Mishra spoke openly about the state of cinema today – and he didn’t just question filmmakers, he also questioned the audience.
For years, people have blamed directors and producers for not making meaningful or female-oriented films. But he asked a simple question: When such films are made, do people actually go to theatres to watch them?
He began strongly, saying:
“Male driven industry hai, male driven society hai, male audience hai. Yeh newsy pana hai, sabko zimmedhari leni padegi iski. Ki aapko lagta hai ki koi aurat ki kahani hai bhayaan karne layak hi nahi hai ki agar vo 30 saal ke upar ho gayi toh, isse toh ghatiya baat kya ho sakti hai? Yeh jaakna padega aur industry ko apne apne girema mein, aur audience ko bhi apne girema mein.” (It is a male-driven industry, male-driven society, and male audience. Everyone must take responsibility. If you think a woman’s story is not worth telling just because she is over 30 what could be worse than that? The industry and the audience both need to look within themselves.)
Sudhir Mishra: “Audience Bhi Bachke Nahi Reh Sakti”
He didn’t stop there. He clearly stated that viewers cannot always escape responsibility.
“Audience bhi bachke nahi reh sakti, hamesha zimmedhari se bhaagti rehti hai. Audience ki bhi ek tarah se zimmedhari hai. Agar vo filmein dekhein uss tarah ke auraton ke baare mein toh uss tarah ki filmein bhi banengi. Par society bhi apna palla jhaad leti hai…” (The audience cannot keep running away from responsibility. If they watch films about such women more such films will be made. Society also avoids accountability.)
He pointed out that earlier people complained that such films were not made. Now they are made and released, yet the theatres remain empty in the first week.
The Theatre Question
Sudhir Mishra gave a sharp comparison, “Abh toh sab tarah ki filmein banti hai aur release bhi hoti hai, toh pehle week mein aate kyu nahi hai? Aana chahiye sab logon ko.. jis tarah se Yash Chopra ke film mein aate hai toh iss tarah ki filmein aur banengi.”
And added, “Apne kamre mein baithke free mein picture dekhne ka mann hai unko… ‘Ache filmein banao free mein ticket bhej dena toh hum aa jayenge’ aur ghatiya kaam dekhne ke liye hum ₹500 rupya de denge. Agar aisa mahol hoga toh ghatiya hi filmein banengi.” (People want to watch good films for free at home but will spend money on bad films. If this continues, only bad films will be made.)
Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra also spoke about how, in the 70s-80s bad films were sometimes made in the name of art cinema. He shared how he continues to strive for keep his filmmaking style honest and relevant even today, among many other topics he spoke on. To know more in detail, watch the full interview below:
His message was simple — cinema reflects society. If audiences support meaningful films in theatres, more will be produced. Responsibility doesn’t lie with filmmakers alone. It is shared.
