I see the flaws in my films too easily: Benegal

CINEMASCOPE: Benegal says a filmmaker must invite viewers, not scare them away.

          

Featured Blog

Rajdeep Sardesai

Maharaj or Dada, Ganguly's legacy lives on

Featured Slideshows

Anuradha SenGupta: The brothers in Nishant?

Shyam Benegal: They are the kind of people. They enjoy power because it is sanctified by tradition. But they are villains in terms of social norms. But I am not painting them myself. There is a human aspect to everybody.

Anuradha SenGupta: What stops you from playing God?

Shyam Benegal: Because I am not good. Most filmmakers can because you are in a position to play God. But in life, you cannot be so judgmental about everybody and everything. Sometimes justice and law are not always on the same side. And you will not be able to look at all that if you were to be totally judgmental.

Anuradha SenGupta: Out of the body of work which you have for us, which films do you think are more emotional in their appeal?

Shyam Benegal: For audience, Ankur continues to have that kind of a charge.

Anuradha SenGupta: No, I am saying for Shyam Benegal.

Shyam Benegal: I see the flaws in my films too easily but I can tell you that there are some films that I can see and some films I cannot see in their entirety. Like I can see a film like Bhoomika, Mandi and enjoy it. I can also see films like Mammo but there are some films which I cant sit through. I won’t name them. I have made them and I have made many mistakes in them.

Anuradha SenGupta: There is a strong intellectual base to everything that you are doing. What is the emotion that gets you personally?

Shyam Benegal: Most important thing is compassion for me. Because there is no other greater binding force than compassion. And if I can get in the right situation and get my audience involved in a compassionate way. I see that as an achievement.

Anuradha SenGupta: Thank you. We look forward to your next film.