“Film writing must tap into authentic human experiences to have a universal connect,” says Jackky Bhagnani
The actor and producer says powerful writing is just as crucial as stellar performances for the creation of compelling cinema
Actor and producer Jackky Bhagnani, who has studied at Lee Strasberg’s Theatre and Film Institute, often draws from his own experiences to analyse the current state of Indian cinema. He says, “Lee Strasberg’s teaching method encourages aspiring actors to tap into their own lived experiences and emotions to create authenticity in their performances. This training not only sensitised me to the importance of channelling personal experiences as an actor but also to the role that good writing plays in creating a powerful experience for the audiences.”
Referring to recent OTT sensations like ‘Baby Reindeer’ and ‘Adolescence’, he says, “These shows amalgamate compelling storytelling about the human condition, primal emotions and stunning performances. They take the audience beyond entertainment and spark conversations about gender, culture and make us look within and introspect. That is what cinema needs to do as well. We are in the throes of a huge cultural and social transition and our stories need to reflect that. People may enjoy watching larger-than-life heroes but they also want to see themselves in the stories that are being told.”
As an actor and as an avid movie watcher, he believes good writing and histrionics go hand-in-hand. As he says, “No actor, no matter how accomplished he or she may be, can do much if their role is not written well. Today particularly, when audiences have become more discerning, compelling storytelling is more important than ever. Mere star power cannot serve as a primary draw for people.”
He points out that there is a marked dearth of good screenplays in cinema today and says, “Screen writing is an art and today not enough emphasis is placed upon it. Sourcing good stories is also very important and I feel film writing must tap into authentic human experiences to have a universal connect. The regional industries are getting this right to some extent and you see well-etched characters and also compelling performances.”
He concedes that today, the challenges before the industry are varied considering its audiences are very diverse. As he says, “We are competing with international content that the urban segment consumes and also struggling to connect with rural sensibilities and audiences in Tier-2 and Tier 3. To get a story out there which checks all the boxes is not easy but I think, well-written, meaningful narratives coupled with good acting never fail to resonate. We are past the era of celebrity driven films. Today, the audience will spend money on a theatrical release only if we offer them something truly unique. Content fatigue is a real phenomenon and we need to experiment with genres, themes, out- of- the -box ideas and develop the confidence to invest in a good idea regardless of what is trending. Trends come and go but good stories live forever. This is why so many films from the past are now being re-released and doing so well.”
As a producer he is also aware of the importance of factors like marketing, production costs and sensible budgets in making or breaking a film. He says, “At Puja Films, we want to strategically balance economic considerations and creativity to tell non-formulaic stories that connect with audiences on a deeper level. Good storytelling is something that has been a part of Hindi cinema since its inception and we just need to embrace this legacy as we move forward towards the future.”
