The article, reproduced hereinbelow, has been written by Oriya film actor Kaibalya Mohanty. What caught our attention is the honest concern for Bollywood — besides the inherent flaws in its working — that comes across in every word of the well-meaning article. In fact, that’s the reason why Kaibalya Mohanty’s thoughts are being presented here. Kaibalya has acted in such films as Kalira Atita, Biju Babu, Nimki and 2 Chocolate. Besides being a film and stage actor, this MBA graduate is also a singer and a producer of short films. He is currently busy writing a script for a film.
WHY ‘DHADAK 2’ MADE ME THINK…
Is there a dearth of writers in this country? From Dhadak 2 to Sitaare Zameen Par to even masterpieces like Andhadhun and 3 Idiots — almost every so-called “big” film is an adaptation. And yet, we wonder why our films are tanking and producers are bleeding money.
The truth is simple — we have never empowered good writers. We’ve strangled their chances before they could even breathe. Talented writers are stuck doing petty channel jobs or some random naukri because they know the bitter truth: mainstream Bollywood will never let them in. The gate is shut, and the guards are the same mediocre minds feeding us recycled garbage.
After watching film after film lately, I’m convinced of two things:
The people who have “made it” in Bollywood have taken the audience for granted.
They will never change — because they think, we’re fools who will clap at anything.
If Malayalam cinema can churn out original stories consistently, what excuse does Bollywood have? None! Zero!! It’s not about talent — it’s about intent. And here, the intent is dead. The industry thrives on remakes, lazy writing, and hollow star power.
Worse, there’s a complete mockery of the audience. Every flaw, every loophole, every forced twist screams one thing — they don’t care. And why should they? There’s a whole circus running. From Dinesh Vijan doing block bookings to others manipulating numbers, everyone’s playing their part — performers in their own show, and yes, the jokers of their own ring.
When I watched Dhadak 2 the other day, I wasn’t angry because it was bad — frankly, it’s not a terrible film. I was angry because it could have been so much better. If only they had given opportunities to the right people at the right time. But they never will. Because Bollywood isn’t in the business of nurturing talent — it’s in the business of recycling mediocrity.