Independent Cinema: A New Dimension in the world of Cinema

Written By Sorosij Das

Cinema has been entertaining the human race for generations. Whether it has been the Silent Era or today’s Modern film industry, people prefer to watch films whenever they are at leisure. Earlier, making a film was difficult due to inadequate equipments and huge capital investment. Therefore, people belonging only to the ‘privileged’ class used to make films on subjects based on their vested interests. However, as technological advancements improved, new equipments evolved that turned film making convenient. Gradually, different genres of films also evolved based on different cinematic movements that brought a variety in film viewing. Despite film production turned out to be convenient by technology, it was still unaffordable by many. Therefore, filmmakers who were keenly interested yet couldn’t afford started producing films on their own outside the commercial film industry. Thus, a new dimension to world of cinema was introduced, known as the Independent Cinema.

Independent Cinema can be considered as films that are made without any aid from the commercial film industry. These films are produced by aspiring filmmakers who get the platform to express their story freely without any compulsion of the norms and principles from the mainstream cinema. The films lack renowned star casts, lavishing costumes, catchy musical tracks and exorbitant locations. Rather, it includes feature films, short films and documentaries that posses the ability to create awareness and educate the mass at large. These films are used as tools to highlight aspects of different sections of the society at the grass root level. The films are indigenous and unique in its own way due to its content and cinematography that gives the essence of reality rather than fictional imaginary. Unlike mainstream cinema, these films are often produced with a restricted budget due to which widespread distribution turns out to be difficult. However, independent cinemas are generally screened at film festivals that are hosted at different local, national or international platforms. These festivals give filmmakers a platform to exhibit their work to a diverse audience, thereby helping them achieve recognition and acknowledgment. Later, these films are released at a greater spectrum by the commercial film industry.

However, the onset of New Media (the Internet) has helped film distribution by several folds. Today, a filmmaker need not worry about promotional events, film festivals and distribution costs. In fact, one can simply shoot his/her film, edit it and upload it at any online platform which will reach thousands of users within a short time span. OTT platforms such as YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Voot, Hotstar and so on have completed changed the system of film distribution which thereby have helped several filmmakers to exhibit their works at a greater platform with minimal costs.

Independent cinema has uprooted the myth that films can only be produced in studios. It has given a platform to numerous filmmakers to produce films out of the mainstream industry that addresses real life issues such as uplifting of women and children, health care, education, socioeconomic conditions of the society and many more. These films tend to create a deeper impact in the psyche of the audience and turn out to be extremely helpful to create awareness, especially among the rural areas. At times, Independent Cinema turns out to be a tough competitor to Mainstream Cinema.