Ramu & Ashu on BBC

By IndiaFM News Bureau -

June 27, 2005 - 12:00 AM IST

The guests on BBC's Business Bite talk show were filmmaker Ashutosh Gowarikar and Ram Gopal Verma, CEO of The Factory. Over lunch, host Ronnie Screwvala spoke with the about evolving corporate structure of Bollywood, the advent of the multiplex revolution, and the new 90-minute format, creating an entirely new genre of films. During the chat, both the filmmakers were asked to compare Hollywood and Bollywood, both the directors had very strong opinions to share. Bollywood does not compare to the standards of Hollywood. It is a lie that we keep telling ourselves. Lagaan happens once in a blue moon. If we consider the quantity of films being made, the quality is low. I think it will take a long time for Bollywood to even benchmark Hollywood, Ram Gopal Verma commented. We should take Hollywood as a platform on which to distribute Indian films worldwide. We should use Hollywood for its expertise of having a worldview. We should not hide the fact that Hollywood is there said Ashutosh. Discussing the business structure of Bollywood, Verma said Entertainment is a product now. I think the moment you supply in such large numbers - you need a science to it. So independent producers take time to set up a project. I think it's very old fashioned. I also feel that with the new generation of film industry professionals there is now a certain amount of maturity to understand corporate structure. Earlier when you talked about corporate structure it would be considered taboo because there were too many being asked about the completion of bonds and all sorts of things the creative people don't want to get into. But they are willing to accept a structure now, said Gowarikar about the changing approach of Bollywood.