[Tribute] Anurag Kashyap

When we were overwhelmed by the Rajs and Simrans and Radhes of homely Bollywood, you gave us reasons to believe. And when you finally released Black Friday after 3 years long tussle with bullying sensor board, we knew the destiny child of Indian concept cinema has arrived.

One fine day, you gave us the hip new Devdas and eccentrically bold Paro, who’s images are still etched to our hearts. Then you, along with Mr. Menon, dropped a political bomb with Gulal, I became an instant fan of bold, gut-wrenching, beautifully acted and reality soaked indie movies. And not many people loved Bombay Talkies, but that’s what you were. You made the cinema for art, not for silly money making.

You redefined storytelling with modern India’s biggest cult series, which turned the stars of the likes of gems who’d we never knew – Nawazuddin, Piyush Mishra, Tigmanshu Dhulia and even Rajkumar Rao. And you dared to make a psycho-thriller with Raman Raghav 2.0, which very few would have even dreamt of, and by God, what justice you had done there.
And with Sacred Games, you gave India the most needed crime series. I found 25 new reasons to love your work when I thought I couldn’t find more.

Dear Mr. Kashyap, I know you will keep surprising us, and I, like a deciple of old, will keep chasing your movies, every time. All love to you – a brutally honest storyteller, a very Indian bag of Coen Brothers, Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarrantino.