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Letters

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The year 2024 was a disappointing one for Bollywood, the Hindi film factory in Mumbai. No Hindi movie was a superhit or took in record profits. The industry is truly worried.
The reasons for Bollywood’s gloomy year are very clear though. First, there have been few well-written scripts, reflecting the national mood, that could be converted into good films. In the 1970s and 1980s, screenwriters like the duo Salim-Javed (Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar) assessed the issues faced by people and wrote scripts for blockbusters. Thus the angry young man was born, a persona that was owned by actor Amitabh Bachchan.
Unfortunately, many films these days just focus on music and dance, neglecting the storyline. Otherwise, they are murder mysteries or revolve around crime and revenge.
Second, Bollywood films are too reliant on stars. Some of the top actors charge around 1 billion Indian rupees (US$12 million) per movie. When the costs of making a film spiral, producers cannot recover their expenses. Many stars are focused on building armies of followers on social media, rather than polishing their acting skills.
Over in Hollywood, even a celebrated actor like Marlon Brando had to audition for his role in The Godfather. In his autobiography, Sonny Boy, released last October, actor Al Pacino describes his devotion to practice and rehearsal, which he has persisted with even after becoming a global star.
I have yet to read about an Indian film star taking refresher acting classes. Once an actor becomes a star, he seems to survive through repetition and mannerisms.
Third, over-the-top platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have invaded Indian homes. A person can see any number of films, at their pace and discretion, for a reasonable price. Inflation has eroded incomes. Given transport and refreshment costs, it is more expensive to go to the cinema than to watch a film at home.
Bollywood movies would perform better if they could focus on stories which reflect the problems and angst of the common man. Audiences have matured. They no longer seek escapist fare, but entertainment with some realism.
Rajendra Aneja, Mumbai
Let’s make a splash with a reservoir resort
I have a suggestion for Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po as he prepares to deliver the budget for 2025-26. He should allocate funds for building a huge resort that includes horse care, recreational riding, water sports, yachting and a spa.
A water sports centre could be established at High Island Reservoir, Plover Cove Reservoir or Cheung Sha on Lantau Island to provide activities such as diving, windsurfing and canoeing. These projects will have a minimal impact on the ocean and water quality while attracting tourists.
For example, a swimming carnival is held yearly at Taiwan’s Sun Moon Lake, even though it is a source of drinking water. Last year, more 22,000 people from 38 countries took part. North America’s Great Lakes also offer a variety of water sports and numerous excursion fleets, and are a major water supply.
A sailing resort could be set up next to the water sports centre, providing sufficient berths to attract yachts from the region and Southeast Asia, helping Hong Kong become an international yachting tourism base. The resort could also train captains and crew members and provide yacht repair and maintenance services. Real estate developers would definitely be interested in investing in such a project, so there is no need to worry about funding. This resort could also have a wellness element, featuring an international spa brand.
Hundreds of horses in Hong Kong are retired every year. If they are shipped overseas for their retirement, the transport, quarantine, stable and veterinary costs per horse can be formidable, and must be borne by the horse owner.
The millions that would have to be spent on this could be used to set up horse conservation and leisure riding centres to give retired horses a new purpose and train talent in the field.
Imagine a tourist arriving at this well-rounded leisure centre: they could come to Hong Kong by yacht, and have the yacht repaired or maintained. They could visit the horse conservation centre to experience the joy of horse riding, do some diving, learn to drive a speedboat and wrap up the trip with a world-class spa session.
Got Chong Key, Causeway Bay
River revamp project could have been implemented better
The revitalised Tsui Ping River in Kwun Tong reopened last month, after a HK$1.34 billion (US$172.3 million) project to transform it with a smart water gate, new walkways and structures to remove pollution and odour. But after the reopening, residents found the water to be cloudy, and the authorities were reported as confirming that 16 stormwater drains had been wrongly connected in the past, of which 15 had been rectified as of last week.
Not to nitpick, but this is disappointing. If a trend can be extrapolated from this tiny clue, I must wonder if there are enough professionals implementing these projects. The government should import more talent.
Randy Lee, Ma On Shan


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Opinion

Readers discuss changing taste in Indian cinema, an idea for a Hong Kong resort, and a river revamp project


Readers discuss changing taste in Indian cinema, an idea for a Hong Kong resort, and a river revamp project.


Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong environmental issues

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Readers discuss changing taste in Indian cinema, an idea for a Hong Kong resort, and a river revamp project

Readers discuss changing taste in Indian cinema, an idea for a Hong Kong resort, and a river revamp project