One of Hindi cinema’s leading directors,
Rajkumar Hirani
, who is known for some unforgettable films like the
Munna Bhai franchise
,
3 Idiots
, PK and Sanju, is part of the esteemed
Advisory Council
of
The Times of India Film Awards
(TOIFA) OTT Edition 2023. The event will be held on July 27 in Mumbai. The director spoke to us about what makes
TOIFA
different and why
credibility
matters for an event like this.
‘The realisation that credibility matters is a good start’
Hirani rarely attends award shows, and talking about what convinced him to become a part of TOIFA’s Advisory Council, he says, “I feel there is an effort being made to create a credible awards show, and that effort counts.”
Hirani says, “Coming from someone as big as The Times of India, to realise that awards have lost credibility and there’s a need to reinstate that means a lot. It’s a good sign that we are moving in that direction and if someone is making that effort, it should be supported.”
‘The checks and balances that TOIFA has makes the process credible’
Hirani acknowledges that there’s a clutter of award shows out there, and the fact that different award shows have different opinions on winning criteria as it’s all subjective. He says, “There was a time when there was only one award show, and everyone looked forward to it. One must remember that films are not a sport where seven people run and whoever crosses the line first is the obvious winner. People will have different opinions on winning criteria as it’s subjective and juries are involved, so no process will satisfy everyone. It’s just that we need to make it as credible as possible by making it layered. TOIFA allows the Producers Guild of India (the TOIFA Academy) to vote, there’s a Screening Jury, an Advisory Council and also People’s Choice Awards where the audience has voted – these checks and balances make the process credible and leave less room for any bias.
‘Love of the audience and recognition from your peers matters the most’
Hirani believes that credible awards matter. He explains, “Getting an award is a big thing, especially when you are starting off. Awards reward your efforts. Cinema is such that the love of the audience and recognition from your peers and industry matters the most. When you work for 18 hours a day, whether you are an actor or a filmmaker, what really drives you is your passion and the recognition you get, and money is a byproduct. Someone liking or identifying with what you make ranks above money. When that work gets recognised, it makes you incredibly happy, which is why awards matter when they are credible. Those that are not credible will be forgotten and not valued as much.”
