Director Sudhir Mishra was felicitated by the French Government this week with the insignia of Arts et Lettres. The filmmaker, who directed Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi in association with Joel Farges and Elise Jalladeau of France, was feated for his prolific career in films and invaluable contribution to the development of Indo-French relationships in the field of cinema.
East v/s West
Mishra who is in the midst of post-production of his next Yeh Saali Zindagi, was ecstatic at the news. “It’s great when your work is acknowledged. This award is really special and means a lot to me,” he exults, and extends a thank you to the western press for their high regard for him.
"Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about Indian media. They go by box-office collections only," he rues. The director recalls the time when the French government was celebrating 100 years of cinema in 1994. "They screened my film, Dharavi, among the top 100 movies there," Mishra recounts.
Seven years after Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi, Mishra plans to collaborate with Jalladeau and Farges again. “They couldn’t come to India on the France National Day when I was given the award. But they called to congratulate me and we’ve discussed the idea of making another movie together,” he informs.
{{/usCountry}}Seven years after Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi, Mishra plans to collaborate with Jalladeau and Farges again. “They couldn’t come to India on the France National Day when I was given the award. But they called to congratulate me and we’ve discussed the idea of making another movie together,” he informs.
{{/usCountry}}A collaboration, he points out, is easier said than done because the systems of filmmaking are very different in France and India. “Sometimes money is the problem. Cinema is an art form in France and a money-making business here,” Mishra states. “I’m trying to come up with something that suits both countries.”