The Editors Guild of India (EGI) hosted the Rajendra Mathur Memorial Lecture 2026, bringing together journalists, media professionals and scholars to honour the legacy of Rajendra Mathur, former Chief Editor of Navbharat Times, and examine the changing relationship between media, society and cinema.
Eminent writer, director and actor Tigmanshu Dhulia delivered the keynote address on “State of the Media and the Film Industry.” EGI President Sanjay Kapoor, General Secretary Raghavan Srinivasan, and senior journalist and Editorial Director of Satya Hindi, Ashutosh, who moderated the session, were also present.
In his opening remarks, Kapoor spoke about the growing public demand for objectivity and credibility in the media. Referring to public sentiment and protests at Jantar Mantar, he said, “We saw how efforts were being made to revive the media… and how the media’s identity in the public eye has become associated with the term Godi Media.”
Ashutosh paid tribute to Mathur, describing him as “the Kabir of Indian journalism” for his fearless commitment to truth and democratic discourse. Reflecting on the changing media landscape, he said, “If the country rests on two pillars anywhere, it relies less on politicians and more on the Judiciary and Journalism.”
Commenting on the present condition of these institutions, Ashutosh added: “State of the Media and the Film Industry—turn that around: ‘Media of the State and Industry of Films,’ and you will get your answer.”
Addressing the central theme, Dhulia examined the impact of corporatisation, commercialism and censorship on filmmaking and journalism. He argued that corporate culture has increasingly reduced creative decisions to questions of numbers and commercial returns.
“When corporate culture came into films, they viewed everything purely as numbers… Stories in films have vanished. Firstly, storytellers have vanished, and those who want to tell stories aren’t allowed to make them,” Dhulia said.
He also warned that extreme capitalism can undermine individual expression, saying, “This kind of political system destroys your individuality.” Reflecting on the broader social impact of media, he remarked, “India didn’t just deteriorate on its own; ‘Godi Media’ spoiled the people of India, and a society filled with anger has formed before us.”
Dhulia highlighted Hindi cinema’s historic role in creating a shared cultural space through accessible Hindustani, blending Hindi and Urdu vocabulary for audiences across the country.
Responding to a question on Islamophobia in the Mumbai film industry, he said, “Islamophobia spread across the whole society; the film industry isn’t isolated on Mount Everest.” On whether fear of FIRs and legal action affects contemporary scriptwriting, he said, “If I got an opportunity right now and instinctively thought, ‘Hey, let me write this dialogue,’ I would have to think twice.”
On political propaganda in cinema, Dhulia maintained that ideology cannot substitute for strong filmmaking. “Pictures don’t run on ideology; they run on craft, and content is essential,” he said.
He also stressed the need for institutional support for risk-taking filmmakers, citing the Film Finance Corporation and its role in supporting challenging cinema, including Govind Nihalani’s Party. He pointed to Iranian cinema as another example of artistic traditions surviving despite stringent censorship.
