Definitely overexposure to song-n-dance bollywood is to blame. Also the kids are used to quality animation and scripting from Hollywood and unfortunately Bollywood standards have risen to that mark yet.
I donot think that children today are turning away from films etc made for them , alarming popularity of mythological animations , children's channels , comics , even books like harry potter and the old classics of ray etc are testimony to that , they need COLORFUL entertainment as a child's mind is always restless , Bachna Ae Haseeno is extremely eye candy ( the reason why I , 27 have not seen the film) while Tahaan is looking too drab ( the reason why i am waiting to catch it on TV) , children donot want mallika they do want malgudi only if PRESENTED their way
The problem is not with kids,problem is with our school system and parenting. We Indians are not at all emotionally intelligence. We lack emotional intelligence. since childhood we are taught to think about ourselves and nothing else. We are not encouraged to be socially aware. we always blame the politicians for all the problems. Our education system just concentrates on scoring high marks. We should have a system where school kids are made aware of social things right from childhood..
OTHER THINGS IS THAT RAJA,IF U GUYS ARE SO MUCH INTERESTED IN KIDS BEING AWARE,WHY IS UR WEBSITE CONCTANTLY PROMOTIONG CRAPPY BOLLYWOOD?
problem is not with kids but with us and those making "child movies".we go by adult impression of what child "should" see .in absence of what child really wants they are attracted to what is available.
The future generation will be as good or bad as our generation .I remember 35 years ago the clamour in print media of how "bombay cinema ' is spoiling the kids .
When u watch Pixar movies, Miyajaki fables or even Majidi's works u realise that Indian children films r far behind. They always tread kids as fools....
Add to that stupid children reality shows as well as bollywood adulation by the media...
I agree that Tahaan is a great movie. But the fact is it is not marketed well by Santosh Sivan. I like to blame the entire Indian Media for not giving importance to arts and crafts. Instead they are giving importance to circus bafoons Amitab, rajini, srk, etc. Remember the crap film Sivaji-The Boss on NDTV two years ago.
Re: Lessons from Tahaan
by sandeep das on Sep 13, 2008 02:57 PM
I would for a start question why a name like Tahaan? Maybe if I saw the film the title would be clear but what about those who may have been tempted to see it if it had some significance for them. As it is, the title sounds Urdu which is hardly spoken or understood these days. A bye line may have helped.
This article is more than a little hypocritical and self congratulatory. The writer had gone to watch a movie with great cinematography and a children's theme. He expects that children should also appreciate the movie as much as he does. Why so? We too have been children and we too in our childhood appreciated goofy films with lots of action in preference to arty movies with lots of sentiment or a "message". One only has to look at what kids take along to vacations (video games, ipods, cool mobile phones etc.) to realize where their real interests lie. Some years ago the english movie Home Alone was a big hit. The movie had a children's theme but no real message just lots of goofy action. Do not talk down to kids. Appreciate them for what they are. The children movies of today are made for sentimental adult audiences. Let kids be kids.
Re: The children's cinema stalemate
by Joel on Sep 21, 2008 06:31 AM
Its not abt children appreciating or not appreciating this particular movie based on their opinions.
The movie is just plainly abt kids lives in kashmir wher its totally diffrnt b.c of its society. In kashmir and also in places, ther is a fear of being alive the next day b.c of circumstances in the community. The movie is just based on an individual and wht kind of life does he lead in tht kind of society. Thts pretty much it.
Kids find this all to boring since they ar not used to seeing these kinds of films. "Tahan" has nothin to do w/being an "art" film nor does it preach a message, nor is it abt sentiments for a certain group of people.
"home alone" to is directly for kid audiences, not much of a big story either. Evn "finding nemo" brings out the same ideas on families sticking out for each other. So does "lilo and stitch". Seems like kid's can't diffrentiate whthr these few movies have same story, no message, bt its made for them. Ther is an intention on the directors and producers part to make these kinds of movies based on same ideas again and again.
Movies like "tahan" has no intention to make movies based on kids nor for kids. Its an individual's story and thts abt it. On othr hand, kids generalize too much on wht is fit for them and wht kinds of movies ar "for" them.
Re: The children's cinema stalemate
by golu shree on Sep 13, 2008 03:58 PM
Well said Nirpinder.I do agree with you.Movies should enterntain.Clean entertainment is desired.Good message if can be passed on would definitely be a bonus.I would like kids to watch movies like "lagaan","Jo Jeeta wohi Sikander" which are entertaining for all ages.Let them enjoy and revolutionalise themselves to adjust to the present world.We need not compare our childhood with theirs.
