If Rajkapoor have lived for some more time he may have become the President of Russia: Nikita Mikhalkov

Addressing media person at IFFI 2015 at Goa, Nikita Mikhalkov, the doyen of Russian cinema said, "I have grown up watching Indian cinema. Love and tenderness shown in the films of Raj Kapoor had influenced me since my childhood." While humming the famous song 'Awara', from Raj Kapoor's film, he expressed that it is the best way he could explain his love for Indian movies. He said that Indian cinema is an entirely different planet for him and has impacted his work significantly.

Oscar winning Russian filmmaker, actor and head of Russian Cinematographer's Union will be given the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to world cinema at the 46th International Film Festival of India. The festival has a special Tribute section which opened today with one of his master piece Burnt by the Sun.

Replying a question about the violence in today world, he got emotional and said "Today, the world is dying of its own greed and has stopped thinking that it is a creation of the God. People value money more than emotions and this is leading to violence and aggression". Speaking about his Lifetime Achievement Award for 2015, he thanked Directorate of Film Festival for the award and said he feels proud being included in the list of distinguished personalities who have previously received this prestigious award.

Talking about his films, Mr. Mikhalkov stated "A film becomes an international film when it is truly national and cultural oriented. My films portray a wide spectrum of love. They are always truthful and have all kind of emotions. My films are comment on the life of particular time, not on any political system. I do not like to follow strict set of format of film making as movies should have the freedom to breath."

Mikhalkov moved in his films from the Revolution through the Classical heritage and the post-war period towards the portrayal of the present. With an incomparable body of work, Mikhalkov went on to represent Soviet Cinema internationally. Dark Eyes (1987) was his Italian production, while in 1991 he directed the French-Soviet co-production Urga, which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and was nominated for an Oscar, in 1993. In 1994, Burnt by the Sun, won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1995. Finally, The Barber of Siberia, 1998 the most expensive Russian Film, with a 45 million dollar budget, opened at the Cannes Film Festival in 1999-an honour rarely accorded to a Russian director.

Greatly popular for his portrayal of the memorable Sergei in Burnt by the Sun, Mikhalkov has continued his acting career, appearing in such films as The Call, Song to Manchuk, The Red Tent, Flights of Fancy, Station for Two, Cruel Romance, and many of his own films, including At Home Among Strangers, A Slave of Love, An Unfinished Piece for Player Piano and Burnt by the Sun. He has built up a reputation as an actor's director.

The 46th edition of IFFI is showcasing a Special Tribute section of his masterpiece films.

Source : Equity Bulls

Keywords