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New Delhi:
A war over words - that's what it is between Bollywood directors
and scriptwriters! Directors, tired of complaining about lack of
good scriptwriters, are readily picking up the pen to script their
own films, while scriptwriters crib about lack of opportunity and
inadequate pay.
Directors like Aditya Chopra, Prakash Jha, Karan Johar, Ashutosh
Gowariker, Imtiaz Ali and Farhan Akhtar are some of the directors
who prefer writing their own scripts.
Adman-turned-movie director Abhinay Deo, who has helmed films like
"Game" and the yet to release "Delhi Belly" - both based on
someone else's story, notes that the reason for directors to write
is "a dearth of good writers".
"The fact is that because of the dearth of writers, directors are
taking to writing, and that is not the healthiest of things for
the industry. But I won't deny there are some directors like
Ashutosh Gowariker, Rensil D'Silva, Mani Ratnam, who are fantastic
at writing," Deo told IANS.
If Deo blames the lack of writing talent in the country, other
directors feel they can do complete justice to their film only
when they write and direct it themselves.
"There are good scriptwriters in India...but they don't take time
and don't work hard," says acclaimed filmmaker Prakash Jha, known
for his realistic treatment in films like "Damul", "Gangaajal", "Apaharan"
and "Raajneeti".
"For the kind of cinema I make, for the kind of observations that
I have to make, the kind of people I meet, the way I store
knowledge and information, I think I'm the only guy who can write
my stories. If a writer's script comes to me, I will definitely
see it. But I am a little different in my style of filmmaking.
I've already started work on films that I might make seven years
later, so which writer will I be able to get?" he added.
Kunal Kohli, who often writes his scripts, yearns to direct
someone else's story, but so far he hasn't come across anything
intersting.
"Why do we directors have to write our own scripts? Adi (Aditya
Chopra), Karan (Johar), Imtiaz (Ali), Farhan (Akhtar), me - we all
write ourselves. Wish I could read many and choose one. I want a
ready script I can just shoot. Like the ones Salim-Javed used to
write. Perfect screenplays. Kahaan hai (Where are they)?" Kohli
once posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.
Even Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has felt a lack of
quality writing in the Hindi film industry in recent times.
"I personally feel that the same kind of writing is not happening
as it used to in the past. I just feel that content is not as
poetic or lyrical. Some of the language has the use of
expletives," Amitabh told IANS.
But scriptwriters have a different story to tell.
According to industry estimates, a new scriptwriter's pay would
start Rs.500,000 and for experienced writers, it can go up to Rs.4
million-Rs.5 million. But that's not comparable to the amount that
producers shell out for the shooting, the stars, or even the
publicity these days.
"Filmmakers often compare Indian writers with those in Hollywood.
But they need to understand that the ball game is different here.
The roles of scriptwriters are earmarked abroad. But in India,
roles are not clear, the pay scale is not up to the mark, and
credit becomes an issue sometimes...so it is unfair to compare,"
said Kanika Dhillon, who has contributed her writing talent to
films like "Billu" and Shah Rukh Khan's much-awaited "RA.One".
Even if writers have good ideas, it is a problem for newcomers to
reach producers, directors and actors.
Said Vikramaditya Motwane, who scripted "Udaan": "Once the script
was done, I had a tough time finding someone to produce the film.
Many producers came and went, but nobody was ready to commit to
the film."
Filmmaker Rajkumar Gupta, who has made films like "Aamir" and "No
One Killed Jessica", said: "Biggest hindrance for any scriptwriter
is to convince a director and an actor."
Dhillon feels "India does not lack writing talent. We lack the
right backing and support."
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