Mumbai: Filmmaker Karan Johar feels that small budget independent cinema will help the film industry to tide over the recession while mainstream commercial cinema will have to reassess its content in such difficult times.

"We have to empower the screen writers to improve content in mainstream commercial cinema," Karan said while speaking at a seminar the next big thing...in film and television at the 10th FICCI-FRAMES conference here.

The filmmaker said he is looking forward for films with relaxed budget, working with newcomers and fresh ideas.

"The next home production Wake Up Sid directed by Ayan Mukherji starring Ranbir Kapoor and Konkana Sen Sharma, is a step in that direction," he said.

Apart from Karan, noted filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and Ronnie Screwvala, Chairman and CEO of UTV group participated in the discussion.

They were of the view that rise of niche channels and research-driven ideas were some of the next big things that will have to be on offer to the cinema and TV viewers as the industry braces itself to the new challenges thrown up by the ongoing recession and upsurge of technology.

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