Over the past decade, Gujarati cinema has undergone considerable evolution. It has developed in all areas of filmmaking. A Gujarati film has become the first to achieve a box office collection of ₹100 crore. A stir is created in the industry with this historic achievement. This milestone represents more than just box office success. It signifies a fundamental change in the perception of Gujarati cinema as a financially viable option for creative individuals to pursue their talent, which was previously thought to be unattainable by the industry. The dedication and labour of numerous artists working within Cinema has shown that a regional movie has the ability to compete with mainstream films in terms of both revenue and quality.
With the combined efforts of skilled filmmakers and commercial facilities, the Gujarati Film Industry is forming a collaborative community filled with daring and inventive storytellers and filmmakers, creating a successful ecosystem for creative Arts. Gujprenuer recently engaged in a conversation with Deeksha Joshi, a talented actress from the Gujarati Film Industry, to learn about the changes and growth of Gujarati Cinema, and what she believes to be the major driving factors of that growth going forward.
Evolution of Gujarati Cinema
The ability of the filmmakers to have a business mentality toward filmmaking has changed. How they view their project development, funding, and distribution processes, resulting in a more well-rounded environment for regional filmmakers to work within. This change in mindset has played a major role in building the current momentum for the film industry. “There is definitely a difference in the way directors work. Some create culturally significant stories, while others are grander in their vision,” she stated excitedly.
Deeksha pointed out that while the majority of directors have a “visual” component, which captures the audience’s imagination and enables them to experience another mundo (an elevated version of their own world), few directors focus on making family-friendly comedies and entertaining blockbusters. She also believes that the variety among these styles has caused the exponential growth of Gujarati cinema, similar to how successful businesses provide a variety of products and services to generate multiple market segments.
As a result of the creative freedom given by directors, there is a much wider range of genres being explored today within cinema. For example, in addition to psychological thrillers, fantasy films are being made; stories based on real events are being told as biographical films and have included many elements from period dramas. When asked whether she believes there has ever been such a rapid period of progress before in the film industry, from when the industry originally began until now, she said, ‘Audiences began to recognise that they could truly enjoy Gujarati films and recommend them to other people as well, instead of making assumptions.
Role of Technology, OTT, and Accessibility
When discussing how technology plays a part in the industry’s growth, Deeksha mentioned that the rise of OTT platforms has given opportunities for multiple people to collaborate digitally, thus expanding their reach to audiences. For example, streaming services allow Gujarati movies to be distributed to an international audience rather than just limiting the distribution and availability of films to a local or regional area, as was done with traditional theatrical distribution in some areas.
In addition, the number of digital content creators working with traditional filmmakers has increased dramatically in the past few years. With so many different types of storytelling available now- including series, short films, and interactive videos- social media creators are able to experiment with many different ideas and develop their own creative content, which will create more growth and innovation in the film industry.
Recognition of Gujarati Cinema and Next Steps
Deeksha has expressed her belief that while it is true that recognition has increased, celebrating Gujarati artists has become more common now. She believes that increased recognition is not the ultimate goal of Gujarati Cinema; the long-term goal of Gujarati Cinema is to build an audience at an international level, and it is now in a position to reach those goals through the use of digital technology and the internet.
Connecting with and helping film directors from the upcoming generation will effectively open doors to the future of Gujarati film. “There is great promise for the future of Gujarati cinema,” said Deeksha. The upcoming generation of directors will be able to share their original stories, connecting the audience with real experiences in many different geographical locations. These directors will reach audiences around the world. The next generation of Gujarati filmmakers will provide authenticity in their regional storytelling, allowing the Gujarati film industry to have worldwide success.
Deeksha states that this generation of Gujarati filmmakers and actors/musicians are beginning to gain a foothold in the global market by being a part of international Film Festivals, Streaming Platforms, and Cultural Exchange Programs. She adds that a young group of creative Gujaratis who are also very entrepreneurial in nature have taken control of their own destinies rather than waiting for the chance to do so.
The Global Storytelling of Culturally Diverse Movie Production
Deeksha stated that cultural roots play an important role in connecting through storytelling as they speak to both cultural and universal audiences. She believes that producing the link between these two via cinematic productions is most beneficial when a filmmaker understands, appreciates, and truly depicts their culture in a caring way. Deeksha has indicated that she is primarily a performer in the genres of comedy and realism. All her performances relate in a real way to how people interact on a daily basis, as well as how people experience their lives day-to-day. All her future aspirations are aimed at delivering a film centered around mythology, or within the context of the mythological themes. The actor also wants to perform in films based on true stories, so that she can revive true stories that have been lost to time. She admires filmmakers who develop psychological thrillers based on fantasy elements that expand the definition of regional cinema.
Looking ahead with Optimism
Our future looks bright! Overall, the conversations we had about Gujarati cinema resulted in a strong agreement on the positive outlook of filmmakers. Today’s filmmakers are defining their own style in making global films that do not require the support of foreign viewers to find success. There is a great deal of optimism regarding the future of creative industries, as many artists are eager to continue challenging themselves and expanding their skill set, finding creative sources of inspiration, and creating new opportunities to showcase their work.
An important aspect of the modern development of the Gujarati film industry is the flexibility it provides for new creative visions. It has the capacity to assimilate new concepts, innovations, and ideas, while continuing to grow from the culture of Gujarat and providing the foundation for future success for Gujarati cinema. It is through this continual evolution and innovation that the culture of Gujarati Cinema will continue to grow and thrive, and the commercial success of Gujarati cinema in the future will be enhanced as well.
