Even if legendary filmmaker Ramesh Sippy were asked several
questions about filmmaking, for him, it would all boil down to passion for
cinema! He attributes the success of his landmark film ‘Sholay’ to this factor.
“Every single person on the sets, from the technicians to the artistes, was as
committed to and involved in the film as I was. ‘Sholay’ would never have been
made without passion,” maintains Sippy. In a career that has spanned five
decades, it is this passion that drove his other blockbuster successes like
‘Seeta aur Geeta’ or the TV serial ‘Bunidyaad’.
Exhorting new and aspiring filmmakers to make this their mantra at his master class ‘Making your first film’, Sippy says, “Passion for cinema should be your first and last step. Never give it up.” But he cautions them to be prepared to work, for the task ahead is by no means an easy one. “A film looks nice on screen, but a lot goes into attempting to make one,” he reiterates. In the words of Spielberg, he urges youngsters to follow the path to their dreams, to make them a reality as time has just begun for them.
A good idea and implementing it come next. “Have a good idea. Many directors have come up with good ideas and then collaborated with writers for a good script. Secondly, ascertain how it could be put forth. Getting budgets and stars has always been a problem. Then you need somebody to take your idea to those who want to be a part of it or it is up to you to find something that will hook them,” he maintains. Ultimately, the success of this depends on one’s personality. “How you are able to reach out to them and convince them that you have something new by tickling their imagination is important. There is something about talent; everyone can spot it,” “he says, citing the example of how he roped in Shammi Kapoor to play a different role in ‘Andaaz’.
New age technology is an asset to the new filmmaker. “Make a small film initially, but let it be one that people notice. Small films have gone viral on the internet and have been hugely successful. Secondly get together a good team of writers, cameraman and make the idea into a film,” he says. While acknowledging the new crop of brilliant young filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap and Anurag Basu, he points out that every generation faces it own set of disadvantages like time schedules, but cross cinema has opened up for them a whole new mid-world as well.
In the words of Clint Eastwood, he advises youngster to improvise, adapt and overcome to make a success.