Duologue with Barun Das S3: A nuanced exchange with Kiran Rao on cinema & identity

New Delhi: In a world where conversations often skim the surface, ‘Duologue With Barun Das Season 3’ offers depth and authenticity to the forefront. As Barun Das engages visionaries, industry leaders, and cultural icons in a series of candid and thought provoking discussions, it serves as a reminder of why insightful dialogue is not just fodder for the brain but also the need of the hour!

‘Duologue with Barun Das’ returned for Season 3 on February 22, 2025, exclusively on News9 and News9 Plus. Presented by Radico, with associate partners Tata AIG and Tata Capital, this edition promises to be a riveting watch, featuring not just an eclectic mix of guests but also an exchange that goes much beyond the mundane.

In yesterday’s episode, for instance, we have Das deeply engaged in a cerebral tête-à-tête with Kiran Rao, a filmmaker known for her discerning qualities and her clear-sighted vision for herself (and by extension her audiences’ as well).

When art meets science

Das starts on a very poetic note, citing a Rabindranath Tagore-inspired ode to womanhood, reciting verses from his ‘Urvashi’ — a poem that begins by describing ‘Urvashi’ as ‘neither mother, daughter nor wife.’ Drawing the same parallel with his guest tonight, Das tells Kiran Rao that she, too, is “not just a mother, daughter, or wife… you are a woman always at the top of things.” With this the stage is set for the duo to explore their ideas of ‘identity’, that of ‘storytelling’ and of course the ‘definition of being.’

Both Das and Rao begin with their thoughts on whether art meets science when it comes to the field of communication. A Jamia Mass Communication alumna, Rao argues for duality. “Communication is both,” she asserts, emphasising that storytelling today transcends professions. “Thanks to social media, everyone’s a storyteller — our lives are on perpetual display.” To which Das agrees and steers the dialogue towards another compelling topic, one that has been on the minds of movie makers and movie goers for a long time.

Myth or Fact: Bollywood’s complacency with OTT boom

Is it true then that “Bollywood is on a decent because the OTTs have arrived,” Das thinks aloud and Rao acknowledges the post-Covid challenges that have hampered B-wood. “During the lockdown, audiences explored global content, including Korean dramas, even manga, and international horror. And when things became better and audiences started coming back to the theatres, I think Bollywood did get a bit lazy… they assumed people will come to watch whatever,” she quipped.

Das added the need to “reorient” to a world where OTT platforms democratise access, and Indian cinema competes globally.

He draws an interesting analogy between the cinema-OTT dynamic to that of  “restaurants and home kitchens”—the former offers experiential storytelling, the latter convenience. “You go to the restaurants for the experience and exotic food… not healthy food that you get at home every day,” Das says,  and they both break into a titter.

Is it really that simple? Rao agrees emphatically to the likening but also adds a caveat — the ticket prices that are eroding the “communal ritual of watching films together with the family.” The duo indulged in reminiscing those days of the yore when films were meant to be collective or shared experiences, like gathering around a fire.

“We need affordable, ubiquitous theaters, like China’s model,” declares Rao, putting an end to the reverie.

Of redefining norms…

The dialogue turns to a sober tone as Das questions societal labels and shatters them with élan.

He starts off with a question that every man thinks about and every woman needs to ponder upon, “are women confused about their own identity?” Rao explains that the scenario is more intense than what we make of it. “Women’s identities (even now) are often defined by men. When do they get to choose?”

Touching upon topics related to marriage, companionship and divorce in their freewheeling chat, the duo reached a consensus that marriage also needs a revamp or at least a re-definition! “It is an “archaic” institution rooted in property rights, urging redefinition,” is what they arrive at together. This is also when Rao candidly opens up about her divorce from superstar Aamir Khan, and what is their relationship status now.

Known for bringing in mathematical insights into most of his conversations, Das, said he had an unique way of looking at the debate between ‘Perfectionism vs Collaboration. Aamir Khan has carried that badge for long (0f being a perfectionist) and so has Das (known to strive for perfection in his field of work). “Perfectionism is a virtue, it is not an accusation. The way I see it, if there is a scope to better things why wouldn’t one do it?,” he said, adding that there is a formula he had developed to distinguish ‘perfectionism from mere interference.’ “One will have to decide whether my incremental value should continue to be more than the incremental cost that I am incurring to add that value,” he enlightens.

Das concludes the duologue with a spiritual take — “Life only offers paths; and you stand at the cusp. Your journey, that bridges art, activism, and authenticity, embodies this philosophy.”

Catch this cerebral chat on ‘Duologue with Barun Das Season 3’ exclusively on News9 and News9 Plus. A must-watch for cinephiles and thinkers alike!