'The Kerala Story' filmmaker Sudipto Sen criticises Hollywood, says 'People are suffering in Africa because of Hollywood'

Sudipto Sen, best known for directing the controversial film 'The Kerala Story' and producing the upcoming project 'Charak', recently shared his thoughts on cinema, censorship and the global film industry.

During the discussion, the filmmaker also spoke candidly about his personal viewing preferences and the kind of storytelling that influences his work. Sen explained that his creative choices are shaped by the type of films he enjoys watching. Instead of large-scale commercial spectacles, he prefers stories rooted in realism and social context. This inclination, he said, naturally draws him towards European and West Asian cinema rather than mainstream American productions.During an interview with Moneycontrol, the filmmaker revealed that he gravitates more towards European and Iranian films because of their grounded storytelling approach. According to him, these cinematic traditions focus on human experiences and realistic narratives, which resonate with his own filmmaking sensibilities.“You watch crime thriller My family is not here My nearest family lives 3000 kms away from here but I like to watch realistic films that’s why I like European cinema more I don’t watch Hollywood I like European cinema a lot I like Iranian cinemas Western Asian cinemas European cinemas I watch them a lot.”

Sudipto's comments highlighted his belief that cinema should reflect real-life struggles and emotions rather than relying purely on spectacle-driven storytelling. Sen went on to make a strong statement about the American film industry, expressing his dislike for it in blunt terms. “I hate Hollywood from the bottom of my heart I hate Hollywood.”When asked to clarify his stance, he argued that the global influence of Hollywood historically shaped narratives that reinforced certain power dynamics across the world.

His criticism of Hollywood’s historical narratives

According to Sen, the early development of Hollywood played a role in promoting a worldview that centred Western dominance. He suggested that the industry often framed stories in a way that placed white protagonists at the centre while depicting others as antagonists. “I feel that this world which is suffering in Africa so much poverty so much starvation in countries like ours so much communal issues people fighting with each other from small to big behind all this is Hollywood.

”He further elaborated on his belief that Hollywood was established with the intention of influencing global narratives. “Hollywood was made for this purpose in early 20th century when Hollywood’s studio was being made it was made for this purpose that one day they will set the narrative of the world there will be a hero of white skin and there will be a black villain so the hero of white skin will go and kill the black.”To illustrate his argument, Sudipto referred to the film 'City of Joy', using it as an example while discussing how visual storytelling can influence perception.

“Do you know which company used to make films if a white hero in black area in Africa there was a film called City of Joy the hero was white skin and the people of Kolkata who were brown skin like me when they used to walk with them there was a halo around them.”The filmmaker also mentioned the role of technology and camera techniques in shaping visual narratives. “Kodak company later told that they made a special film for this purpose which will create a halo on a particular exposure.”

Concluding his perspective

Summing up his views, Sen reiterated that he believes the global dominance of Hollywood was designed to influence perceptions and narratives across developing nations. “So Hollywood’s world was made to rule third world country to rule second world country so I hate it.”His remarks have sparked conversation online, especially since Sen is known for addressing controversial subjects through films like 'The Kerala Story', 'Bastar: The Naxal Story', and his upcoming project 'Charak'.