If you love small, honest, thoughtful films, the kind that don’t have six-pack heroes flying over cars, then filmmaker Kiran Rao just spoke your language. At the 14th Dharamshala International Film Festival, the ‘Laapataa Ladies’ director sat down and shared what every indie filmmaker secretly worries about but rarely says in public.
Her honest confession? Making independent cinema in India today feels like walking uphill with a camera, a script, and a whole lot of hope.
Rao happily acknowledged that things ‘look’ better than before. With streaming platforms shining a spotlight on niche stories, experimental narratives, and new faces, the Indian audience has become more curious. “People are discovering new cinema sitting at home,” she noted. Viewers are now open to watching films beyond the usual masala formula. Good news, right?
But there’s a twist: Will the same audience actually step out and buy a ticket for these films?
That’s where Rao sounded like every indie filmmaker’s inner voice: “Will you really spend ₹150 to watch a ‘Homebound’ or ‘Sabar Bonda’? That’s the real question.” Ouch. Honest. Painful. Relatable.
Also Read: INTERVIEW: Kiran Rao on ‘Laapataa Ladies’ and sparking change through cinema
She even joked but with a pinch of seriousness that this question drives her mad. Because while filmmakers pour passion, sweat, and sleep into making indie stories, they do not always have a guaranteed audience waiting in theatres.
Rao has always been the champion of small-budget, big-heart cinema. From ‘Dhobi Ghat’ to supporting others’ films as an Executive Producer, she’s been holding the indie flag high for years. And yet, she admits the system still has cracks.
“There are opportunities today,” she said, “but a huge gap in distribution.”
Translation: Films are being made. But how do they reach theatres and real audiences?
She explained that theatres simply aren’t accessible to most indie films. Filmmakers love the big screen vibe. Viewers too are tired of watching cinema alone on laptops with their midnight noodles. But the reality? Unless you’re backed by big marketing money or star power, landing a theatre release is like winning a lottery without buying a ticket.