In the recent years, Bollywood has witnessed the rise of the new wave cinema and young talent like never before. Yet, statistics prove that veteran filmmakers, such as Yash Chopra and Karan Johar, continue to get people?s votes when it comes to creativity, strategy, star power and profitability. To find out more than what meets the eye, Screen recently conducted Screen Big Picture Survey 2011 ? the fourth edition of the exercise that aims to establish trends based on numbers, observe the film industry and, of course, debunk common myths.
The first Screen Big Picture Survey on ?The Changing Face of Bollywood? revealed Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif as the actors who best embodied the changes in the film industry. The following year, Screen?s poll on the impact of multiplexes on cinema reiterated Khan?s and Kaif?s dominion. Last year?s survey ironically brought to notice that veteran Amitabh Bachchan remained the most popular actor across the new media.
This year?s Screen survey studies the evolution of the studio model in the industry with Bollywood having moved away from operating as a mom-and-pop shop. While standalone production houses do exist and even thrive in the industry, they are gradually assuming the role of content providers for bigger players. So can the indigenous production houses co-exist with foreign studios? The survey conducted by Screen among 514 members of the film industry threw up interesting facts.
While Yash Chopra received 26% votes to become the most influential filmmaker, Karan Johar followed at 21% votes. Chopra, with his characteristic humility, says, ?I have always received much love and affection from the fraternity. Filmmaking is a team effort, and Adi (Chopra) and I are fortunate to always have the best creative and technical talent work with us.?
Vinod Chopra Films with its Munnabhai franchise and the record setting 3 Idiots, garnered 16% votes for creativity. In an unexpected revelation, Ram Gopal Varma Productions emerged as the largest contributor of talent to the industry.
Even though Chopra?s YRF emerged as the top studio, 66% people felt that corporatisation has helped the film industry because of marketing, vision, financial muscle and distribution network. UTV, however, beat YRF at 21 per cent votes for its marketing strategies.
Given the current trend of actors turning producers, 45% respondents felt it helped the business and Aamir Khan emerged as the most influential even though the same view doesn?t hold true for actresses turning producers.
When it comes to studios, 56 per cent people felt that homegrown studios could compete with Hollywood studios given their natural connect with the audience. However, 15% respondents stated that foreign studios had a better knowledge of global markets. Thirty-two per cent respondents assumed that foreign studios have deep pockets, while 42% people thought international distribution was their main strength. Their advantages notwithstanding, a whopping 73% people felt that the arrival of Hollywood studios is likely to result in more urbane and westernised content.