If I have to choose between writing or singing something that I like and something that can inspire, I will choose the latter,” said screenwriter and lyricist Prasoon Joshi during his masterclass at the 52nd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. He added, “When I wrote Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, I often thought to myself if this piece of work could inspire more people in this country. Self-expression should in some manner attach itself with the larger good.”

Lauding the film festival for handpicking budding artistes through the 75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow competition, launched as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav this year, Prasoon said, “Cinema has to have magic, but making cinema should not be magic. It is a serious craft. We have to make it by design and not by default. Tukka or chance has to be reduced. When a child in a family says that he wants to become a singer, filmmaker or lyricist, the family should be able to take them as seriously as they would take him if he said he wanted to be an engineer or a doctor. That will happen when we start working towards serious exposure and learning.”

He added, “We also have to focus on getting more authentic with our stories. Many people have told me that they have made films about villagers and farmers without interacting with them. Unless more and more filmmakers come from various parts of our country, different milieus, different language sects, we won’t see diversity. Filmmaking is a business that generates employment. It should not be seen as akin to gambling. One should be assured of their craft.”

As the head of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Prasoon has overseen the certification of over 25,000 films nationally in his tenure. Given that his run has been more or less dispute-free, he was asked about his approach to the job. “There is a certifying process, and it is complex because our country is one of the most complex in the world with its cultural diversity in place. My approach was to open a discussion to find solutions, understand and accommodate different points of view. While talking about commerce and share of wallet, you cannot ignore the share of voice,” he said.