Indian audience is still big on 'family’ in films

The success of the recent few films, be it Zoya Akhtar's Dil Dhadakne Do, Aanand L Rai's Tanu Weds Manu Returns or Shoojit Sircar's Piku, demonstrates that while we may feel that we have become more urban, independent and nuclear as individuals and families, at our core, we as an Indian audience, are still drawn to family values and relationships when it comes to our cinema.

I recall during Steven Spielberg's last visit to India, a group of the top directors from Bollywood met him, when one of them asked the most simple, but to my mind, the toughest question, "Mr. Spielberg, what kind of films could we make that would also appeal to the world audience??" And much as expected from a legend like Mr. Spielberg, he answered in his simple and easy style, "Make simple stories about relationships that touch hearts." Mr. Spielberg was obviously right.