Farhan Akhtar: It’s great the world is opening up to watching content in the languages it was produced or made in

Farhan Akhtar has been backing projects not only for the theatres but also for OTT platforms.

Farhan Akhtar/Instagram

In the past two and a half years, viewers have become more open to the idea of watching shows and movies with subtitles and dubbing in languages from all over the world as long as they are captivated by the content. The linguistic barrier has significantly lessened. However, not everyone finds it simple to follow subtitles. Additionally, translating text into another language has its own set of difficulties. Different dialogues have different effects and different themes, and occasionally even different emotions, which can weaken the overall impact.

Farhan Akhtar, who has supported work that has circulated throughout the world via OTT platforms, recently spoke at length with The Times of India at an event.

He said that everyone has an emotional bond with their native tongue as better syntax, subtleties, and humour are understood. In the language of the content, a single word may occasionally be able to better express reasons, intents, or sentiments. But Akhtar believes one needs to put on a new hat and think a little bit differently when they decide to communicate with people outside. Even though Alexander the Great and the Romans never spoke English, it doesn't bother them when they watch a movie in English about them. Consuming it all in English seems entirely natural and normal. Personally, they need to overcome this obstacle.

One doesn't have to do it, but if they do, they will figure out how to do it well, with some integrity and feeling in the language of their choice, as long as their writing and substance allow it. Therefore, in his opinion, this is not a big problem.

Farhan continued that he thinks it's amazing that the globe is opening up to seeing stuff that is useful to everyone in the languages it was produced or made in. But regardless of one's language ability, The Avengers were able to connect with the general public in this way. Whether or not the viewer knew any English was irrelevant. There was something that forced one to read the content regardless. For them as content producers, generating that experience is crucial and language follows considerably later.

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