Anurag Kashyap is one of India’s most celebrated filmmakers, known for his raw and unconventional storytelling in films like Gangs of Wasseypur, Dev.D, and Return of Hanuman. He has had a successful career in Bollywood but has expressed his growing disillusionment with the industry’s focus on formulaic content and commercial success. He has recently been focusing on the South Indian film industry. At present, he has acted in Tamil films such as Leo and Maharaja, as well as the Malayalam film Rifle Club. At present, he is also appearing in Tamil projects such as Viduthalai Part 2 and One 2 One.
Bollywood is fixated on the idea of blockbusters, money-making films,” Kashyap says. “I feel there is a degree of openness and experimentation in Malayalam cinema which Bollywood is unable to do because it is hell-bent on making money from the blockbusters.” Kashyap was addressing the International Film Festival of Kerala when he mentioned how the South Indian industry “localizes” global influences to create a distinct cinematic language.
He also spoke out against the industrialization of Hindi cinema, stating that it was now more concerned with the movie business than movie making. This profit-oriented emphasis has strangled creativity and innovative expression in Bollywood, according to Kashyap. By heading to the South, Kashyap hopes to regain his radical filmmaking roots while beginning a new chapter in his film career.
