Varun Grover on the Changing Landscape of Content Creation: “Writer is a Baap”

Varun Grover, a celebrated stand-up comedian, lyricist, writer, and director, recently opened up about the shifting dynamics of content creation, shedding light on how the industry is increasingly focusing on stories and storytelling. Speaking during the promotion of his latest project, Superboys of Malegaon, Grover reflected on the evolution of the film industry, its structures, and how modern platforms are allowing fresh narratives to flourish.

 

Grover shared his thoughts on the traditional film industry's longstanding system, comparing it to a massive dinosaur. He explained, "Take an industry, there is a system, like ours is a 100-year-old film industry, it’s like there is a big dinosaur, under which we all are buried, and slowly we try and make it out underneath it, and slowly things change." The metaphor of being buried beneath the weight of the industry emphasizes the slow pace of change, but Grover pointed out that things are shifting gradually.

 

One of the most significant changes, according to Grover, is the growing importance of writers. Reflecting on the golden era of Indian cinema when the writing was central to the storytelling process, Grover said, "Writer is a Baap," a phrase that highlights the immense power writers held in those days, especially referring to legends like Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar. He acknowledged their profound influence during their era, noting, "they had an era where this actually happened." However, Grover also recognized that this golden period had long passed, and the current environment had shifted.

 

He elaborated on the impact of new platforms and digital channels in giving rise to fresh voices and storytelling formats. "After that, I don’t think that era has come back, but there is a shift, thanks to so many platforms, channels, and so many avenues of making a film," he said. Grover highlighted how the availability of various outlets, such as short films being showcased at international film festivals, has reignited the importance of telling compelling stories. "There is more focus on stories and storytelling right now," he added, underscoring the growing trend of prioritizing narrative over all else.

 

Grover’s own project, Superboys of Malegaon, is a testament to the current focus on authentic and original storytelling. Written by Grover and directed by Reema Kagti, the film follows the life of Nasir Shaikh and other amateur filmmakers from Malegaon, a small industrial town in India. The film is inspired by the 2008 documentary Supermen of Malegaon, and it showcases the resourcefulness of these filmmakers as they create magic with limited resources. Starring Adarsh Gourav, Vineet Kumar Singh, Shashank Arora, Anuj Singh Duhan, and Riddhi Kumar, Superboys of Malegaon taps into the heart of grassroots filmmaking and captures the essence of community-driven creativity.

 

 

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