Shah Rukh Khan at KIFF: Contrary to the belief that social media will affect cinema negatively, I believe cinema has an important role to play now

In his keynote speech at the 28th Kolkata International Film Festival, Shah Rukh Khan elaborated on the importance of cinema in the time of social media. In his five-and-a-half-minute-long speech, the Bollywood Badshah explained how cinema, as an art form, can present a more inclusive world. 

After his lively banter with Rani Mukerji and pleasing the audience with his usual charm, Shah Rukh pointed out, “Cinema is perhaps the most important medium of modern times.” Elaborating on human beings' inclination to share their experience, he said, “ From its inception, humanity has built its civilisation on expressions and sharing of its journey – like cave paintings left behind for us to marvel at thousands of years later. Different forms of traditional theatre prevailed for centuries across the world.” 

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Pointing out the emerging significance of social media in narrating human emotions, Shah Rukh said, “Cinema, and, in fact, the advent of articulation on social media platforms, have now become the foremost expression of human's experiences and emotions. The collective narrative of our times is shared by social media. And contrary to the belief that the spread of social media will affect cinema negatively, I believe cinema has an even more important role to play now.” Shah Rukh also pointed out how social media is largely driven by negative news and narration. “Social media is often driven by a certain narrowness of views that limits human nature. I read somewhere that negativity increases social media consumption and thereby increases its commercial value as well. Such pursuits of the collective narrative making it divisive and destructive. Cinema exposes the vulnerability of human nature by telling stories in their simplest form – as they are lived. It allows us to know each other better. In a way, it is best placed to sustain a collective counternarrative that speaks to the larger nature of humankind – a narrative that brings to the fore the human capacity for compassion, unity, and brotherhood,” he said. 

While elaborating on how KIFF becomes an important platform for a more inclusive world. “Meeting the world at the world of cinema – the tagline of this year’s festival – is the call of the day. Not just meeting but using the power of cinema as a vehicle for people of different cultures, colours, cast, and religions to better understand each other. Through efforts like KIFF endeavours to build new platforms of understanding and break prejudices. So let us come together to build a better world for our future generations through the medium of cinema. And let KIFF and Kolkata be the place to start the journey for a new and more inclusive world,” Shah Rukh said.