JOIN USHindi-speaking cinema lovers can now enjoy regional movies without any language barrier, thanks to the presidential nod to a parliamentary panel recommendation that the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) either dub them or carry Hindi subtitles.
The decision has been termed as a ‘good move’ by many Bengalureans who feel that this will only help increase the reach of cinema as a medium.
Trina Gupta, a student of Christ University, says that she is a Bengali who has been living in Karnataka for 21 years now but has not learnt Kannada yet.
“Bengaluru is so accommodating and welcoming of all cultures that I have never faced any language problems here, be it in public transport, shops, restaurants or anywhere else.
Either Hindi or English has worked for me and the need to learn the local language did not arise. I do watch a lot of Kannada and Telugu films though, dubbed in Hindi, on TV.
Dubbing and use of subtitles lets you enjoy so many films and also opens up the
market for these films,” she says.
Though watching the original is definitely better in her opinion, in a city like Bengaluru which has mixed cultures, everyone should be able to enjoy all kinds of films without any problem.
“If people can pay to watch films in foreign languages with English subtitles, I see no issue in regional films being dubbed or carrying Hindi subtitles,” she adds.
Harshit Pai, another student, says, “Some of the Bollywood films, when screened in certain states, have English subtitles since the majority of viewers do not know Hindi. Similarly, regional films can accomodate Hindi for those who aren’t acquainted with the particular regional language.”
“The regional language has a different tonality to it and dubbing might take away slightly from the essence of the film. In that case, subtitles are a good option,” he adds.
Filmmaker Brinda Muralidhar sees cinema as a mass media with two aspects to it.
“First, there is the business aspect — the greater the number of people who watch a film, the better it is for the distributors, the producers and the actors. The second and the more important aspect is that a film is an experience, a form of entertainment and a means of exposure to something one is unaware of. It gives you a new perspective on things.
Dubbing and the use of subtitles can provide an enriching experience to a wider audience.
In a country which is largely divided linguistically and where we are always harping on ‘unity in diversity’, a move like this can help bind people together and help them understand each other’s cultures and lifestyles. A lot of good cinema that people miss out on can be consumed easily. I would say it is a good step, when considering the social and cultural aspect.”