MMS scandals: new age cinema?

Showing MMS scandals on the big screen seems like a sure shot attempt at grabbing eyeballs. Films based on MMS scandals seem to be like a growing trend with an increasing number of filmmakers exploring that area. With the success of Dev D, that probably initiated the MMS scandals on celluloid, filmmakers are now taking a cue from real life controversies based on such issues and delving further.

What followed was Love, Sex Aur Dhoka, and more recently, the issue was depicted in Luv ka The End and Ragini MMS. So can we safely say that Bollywood is ready to cash in on this new age dilemma?

Says filmamker Prawaal Raman,whose film 404 is too based on today’s youth. “Small cameras are new inventions, so not many films are based on it. But voyeuristic nature exists in almost all of us, at various ages as social animals. Voyeurism is what is being sold through such films. And it’s usually sensational and scandalous. For filmmakers, the right ingredients are all there — it makes for great marketing and publicity of the film. It also carries the advantage of riding on any scandal it’s usually based on. It’s actually reflects our society where one could encroach upon ones privacy and celebrate that with pride.”

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh feels that the controversy attached to such scandals adds to the inquisitiveness for the film. “Today, cinema is getting real and therefore capturing MMS scandals is only natural. It is young in treatment and they don’t need high budgets. Movies based on these scandals have so far done good business and it will encourage more directors to explore it. Besides, since the content is based on real life controversies, there is a certain amount of curiosity associated with it, which works in the favour of the film,” he says.

Industrywallahs feel the same. They say it is evident that audiences like cinema which has a realistic touch to it and based on controversies and taboo subjects. All we can say is that an evolving audience seems to want evolved and broad minded content these days.