Anurag Kashyap warns Bollywood risks decline as Salman Khan fuels Snapchat-ification

This report delves into Anurag Kashyap's stark warning about Bollywood's future, highlighting how films like Sikandar exemplify the industry's shift towards shallow storytelling driven by star culture and social media trends. It explores the impact of this Snapchat-ification on cinematic quality and audience expectations.

Sources:
The Indian Express
Updated 41m ago
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Sources: The Indian Express
Anurag Kashyap has voiced serious concerns about Bollywood's future, warning that the industry risks decline as it embraces a "Snapchat-ification" of storytelling, a trend reportedly fueled by superstar Salman Khan. Kashyap criticizes this shift towards fragmented, shallow narratives that undermine cinematic depth.

He points to recent films like "Sikandar," which he describes as a "mutilation of the very idea of cinema," citing its "ineptly edited, lazily written, and lethargically acted brand of storytelling." The film's structure, composed of "around 500 equally nonsensical plots," unfolds in "10-minute bursts of maniacal disregard for the tenets of moviemaking," reflecting a broader industry trend towards rapid, disjointed content.

Kashyap's critique aligns with concerns about the evolving nature of Indian cinema, where the emphasis on quick, snackable content risks sacrificing narrative coherence and artistic integrity. This shift, he suggests, is influenced by changing audience consumption patterns and endorsements from influential figures like Salman Khan.

"Sikandar mutilates the very idea of cinema with its ineptly edited, lazily written, and lethargically acted brand of storytelling," Kashyap remarked, underscoring the dangers of prioritizing style over substance.

The filmmaker's warnings highlight a critical moment for Bollywood, urging a reevaluation of storytelling approaches to preserve the industry's creative richness and cultural impact.

As Indian cinema continues to evolve, the balance between innovation and tradition remains a pivotal challenge, with Kashyap advocating for narratives that respect cinematic craftsmanship rather than succumbing to fleeting digital trends.
Sources: The Indian Express
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap warns Bollywood faces decline as superstar Salman Khan promotes a Snapchat-style, fragmented storytelling approach, risking cinema's depth and quality. Kashyap criticizes recent films like 'Sikandar' for poor editing and lazy writing, highlighting concerns over the industry's evolving narrative standards.
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Key Facts
  • Sikandar is heavily criticized for its inept editing, lazy writing, and lethargic acting, which severely undermines the cinematic experience.The Indian Express
  • The film consists of around 500 nonsensical plots that are introduced and executed in 10-minute bursts, showing a maniacal disregard for traditional moviemaking principles.The Indian Express
  • During a crucial 45-minute segment of the film, the characters behave awkwardly, like they’re on a first date, which detracts from the narrative's seriousness.The Indian Express
  • Anurag Kashyap warns that Bollywood is at risk of decline, linking this to stars like Salman Khan promoting superficial trends such as Snapchat-ification.
Key Stats at a Glance
Number of nonsensical plots in Sikandar
500 plots
The Indian Express
Duration of each plot burst in Sikandar
10 minutes
The Indian Express
Duration of awkward character behavior segment in Sikandar
45 minutes
The Indian Express
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