FICCI Frames 18, VI: Master Class by master director R. Balki

Ace ad film maker turned ace feature film director, R. Balki, chatted with senior TV journalist Anuradha Sengupta in a Master Class on the broad convention theme of Re-Imagining India’s Media & Entertainment Sector, at FICCI Frames 18, on the second working day of the three-day international convention. Balki has made two of his most successful films with India’s longest reigning superstar, Amitabh Bachchan, in the lead role, beginning with Cheeni Kum (less sugar). His latest is an Akshaye Kumar-Radhika Apte starrer, called Padman. Recently released, the film has been labelled a hit.

Balki frankly admitted that he is a bigger fan of Amitabh Bachchan, than of anyone else.

“Engage and entertain audiences, and never try to preach. If you have a message, make sure it is delivered in an entertaining matter,” he said.

He added that content-oriented films now have many more screens available to them, in the shape of multiplexes, and therefore, more exposure. This has helped their cause. Watch the session on this You Tube video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioMcAlpr1bU

Filmography

2018 Padman

2016 Ki & Ka

2015 Shamitabh

2009 Paa

2007 Cheeni Kum

2014 English Vinglish (producer/Sreedevi’s come-back film/directed by wife Gauri Shinde)

2016 Dear Zindagi (producer/Sreedevi’s come-back film/directed by wife Gauri Shinde)