Filmmakers Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Bejoy Nambiar voiced their concern over the diminishing state of “middle-of-the-road” cinema, saying audience support and dedicated screen space will ensure its survival.

Speaking at the Red Lorry Film Festival during a session titled ‘Directors Panel: India vs the World Where Do We Stand’ on March 14 in Mumbai, the directors said they aim to continue making the kind of unique films that they are making, a PTI report from Mumbai stated yesterday.

“Just go on to social media and start saying #wewantmiddlecinemaback. I think all of us have the power in our hands to encourage cinema that makes us like us. So, if any of our cinema is coming out, it needs word of mouth as that is such an integral part; no amount of marketing can beat that,” Tiwari, best known for films like ‘Nil Battey Sannata’, ‘Bareilly Ki Barfi’, and ‘Panga’, said.

Nambiar said that not every director aims to make blockbusters like Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Animal’ and there are filmmakers like him, who are focused on narrating diverse and niche stories.

Another key issue, Nambiar and Iyer Tiwari spoke about, is affordable movie ticket pricing.

“In our State (Maharashtra) we’ve dangerous ticket prices, like they (exhibitors) need to think of offers, like Tuesday offer (one plus one free movie ticket). Having some kind of stabilised ticket prices (is what we need), otherwise a watchman will not pay Rs. 1000 or 2,000 to watch a film.

“So, we need to work towards it; the government needs to help us. It’s a collective thing that needs to be figured out,” Nambiar said.