---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After 20 years and 250 mainstream films…"
description: "\"After 20 years and 250 mainstream films, I thought I should have in my library at least 50 films, films that will be talked about when I am no more.\" —..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c3/prosenjit-chatterjee-6085_cinema_after-20-years-and-250-mainstream-films_1334123.jpg"
---

#  After 20 years and 250 mainstream films, I thought I…

![“After 20 years and 250 mainstream films, I thought I should have in my library at least 50 films, films that will be talked about when I am no more.” quote by Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c3/prosenjit-chatterjee-6085_cinema_after-20-years-and-250-mainstream-films_1334123.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c3/prosenjit-chatterjee-6085_cinema_after-20-years-and-250-mainstream-films_1334123.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c3/prosenjit-chatterjee-6085_cinema_after-20-years-and-250-mainstream-films_1334123.jpg)

> “After 20 years and 250 mainstream films, I thought I should have in my library at least 50 films, films that will be talked about when I am no more.”

[Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

After a long career, the desire is to own a curated set of enduring films that will be remembered after one's passing.

**In simple terms:** He wants a lasting, meaningful film library.

Key Takeaway

Collect works that stand the test of time.

Themes

legacy cinema curation memory personal fulfillment

Mood

nostalgic aspirational reflective

Type

cultural personal

When to use this quote

- home library
- film festivals
- academic courses
- family sharing

Key Concepts

film studies cultural heritage personal legacy

Questions to Reflect On

- What films define your legacy?
- How do you choose enduring works?

A Different Perspective

Collecting many films may not guarantee lasting impact; quality matters more.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library/)

## Related quotes

> [My logic says that you can make 50 films and still be a bad director, or make one film and be really good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arshad-warsi/my-logic-says-that-you-can-make-50-films-and-still-be-a-bad-director/)

[Arshad Warsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arshad-warsi/)

> [I believe that even if you do 50 films, you will be remembered for the best five.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakshit-shetty/i-believe-that-even-if-you-do-50-films-you-will-be-remembered-for-the/)

[Rakshit Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakshit-shetty/)

> [So, 50 films, 3 National Awards, 74 plays and serials later, here I am playing Professor Das in JL50,' who understands time travel. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-kapur/so-50-films-3-national-awards-74-plays-and-serials-later-here-i-am/)

[Pankaj Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-kapur/)

> [I have picked 'mainstream' films only because there is a story, and there are lovely people attached to it. That's a conscious decision always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkummar-rao/i-have-picked-mainstream-films-only-because-there-is-a-story-and/)

[Rajkummar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkummar-rao/)

> [I go to watch the so-called mainstream films for different reasons. I certainly like those films if they are giving me something new to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran-rao/i-go-to-watch-the-so-called-mainstream-films-for-different-reasons-i/)

[Kiran Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran-rao/)

> [I feel lucky that films like 'Singh is King,' 'Ek Tha Tiger' came my way. They were mainstream films that were different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranvir-shorey/i-feel-lucky-that-films-like-singh-is-king-ek-tha-tiger-came-my-way/)

[Ranvir Shorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranvir-shorey/)

> [Film festivals give less of a platform to mainstream films because they already have a market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vetrimaaran/film-festivals-give-less-of-a-platform-to-mainstream-films-because/)

[Vetrimaaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vetrimaaran/)

> [I like to take risks and do weird things and stuff that's not normal compared to other Hollywood movies. Not stuff that's totally avant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-like-to-take-risks-and-do-weird-things-and-stuff-that-s-not-normal/)

[Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/)

> [Maybe I should be making more mainstream films if I want to get some money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-martin/maybe-i-should-be-making-more-mainstream-films-if-i-want-to-get-some/)

[Stacy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-martin/)

> [Of course, there's always one theater that shows some kind of European film. Now, fortunately, you have DVDs, so it's possible to get anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/of-course-there-s-always-one-theater-that-shows-some-kind-of-european/)

[Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/)

> [I have been offered roles in mainstream films which have not been interesting to me. They have been too insignificant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasika-dugal/i-have-been-offered-roles-in-mainstream-films-which-have-not-been/)

[Rasika Dugal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasika-dugal/)

> [Making independent films is liberating. It eliminates self-censorship, which mainstream films are infected with due to commercial priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arfi-lamba/making-independent-films-is-liberating-it-eliminates-self-censorship/)

[Arfi Lamba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arfi-lamba/)

> [My job is to act, whether in indie or mainstream films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-martin/my-job-is-to-act-whether-in-indie-or-mainstream-films/)

[Coco Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-martin/)

> [It is not easy to get parts in mainstream films for most people of color. Hollywood and British writers are not writing parts for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-andrews/it-is-not-easy-to-get-parts-in-mainstream-films-for-most-people-of/)

[Naveen Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-andrews/)

> [But I don't want to be stamped a serious actress. I am a very goofy person, too. I want to do mainstream films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayani-gupta/but-i-don-t-want-to-be-stamped-a-serious-actress-i-am-a-very-goofy/)

[Sayani Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayani-gupta/)

## More by Prosenjit Chatterjee

> [I see a lot of similarity between Bengali and Malayalam films regarding the basic emotions, the craftsmanship, art and performance. I also feel both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/i-see-a-lot-of-similarity-between-bengali-and-malayalam-films/)

[Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/)

> [There's a wow factor associated with my name. It could be due to my work as well as my behaviour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/there-s-a-wow-factor-associated-with-my-name-it-could-be-due-to-my/)

[Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/)

> [I respect Malayalam films the same way I respect Bengali films. I think Malayalam films have not compromised on the essence and have kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/i-respect-malayalam-films-the-same-way-i-respect-bengali-films-i/)

[Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/)

> [I've learnt so much from Mithunda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/i-ve-learnt-so-much-from-mithunda/)

[Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/)

> [There used to be times when I used to be bothered about box office, director, producer, the actress... If those ticks were marked, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/there-used-to-be-times-when-i-used-to-be-bothered-about-box-office/)

[Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/)

> [Everywhere I go today, people talk about Bengali cinema. I completely refuse to accept that Bengali filmmakers are not making good films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/everywhere-i-go-today-people-talk-about-bengali-cinema-i-completely/)

[Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/)

> [Everyone has their own way of telling stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/everyone-has-their-own-way-of-telling-stories/)

[Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/)

> [I wanted to be a hero, then I wanted to be an actor. But always I wanted to be respected as a good human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/i-wanted-to-be-a-hero-then-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-but-always-i/)

[Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/)

> [I do not want to be a part of Hindi cinema's rat race. But yes, if I get offers and characters which I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/i-do-not-want-to-be-a-part-of-hindi-cinema-s-rat-race-but-yes-if-i/)

[Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/)

> [I am not cut out for politics. I don't even dream of joining politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/i-am-not-cut-out-for-politics-i-don-t-even-dream-of-joining-politics/)

[Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/)

> [I think, it's important to understand how to release a film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/i-think-it-s-important-to-understand-how-to-release-a-film/)

[Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/)

> [Technology is a very important part of cinema.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/technology-is-a-very-important-part-of-cinema/)

[Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/)

> [I was never serious about Bollywood films, but when I was offered a film like 'Shanghai,' I took it because it is a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/i-was-never-serious-about-bollywood-films-but-when-i-was-offered-a/)

[Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/)

> [It is challenging when you are dealing with people's emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/it-is-challenging-when-you-are-dealing-with-people-s-emotions/)

[Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/)

> [We should celebrate love on all the 365 days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/we-should-celebrate-love-on-all-the-365-days/)

[Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/)

[Explore all 100 Prosenjit Chatterjee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/)

## More Cinema quotes

> [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/)

[Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/)

> [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/)

[Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/)

> [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/)

[Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/)

> [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/)

[Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/)

> [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/)

[Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/)

> [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/)

[Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/)

> [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/)

[Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/)

> [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/)

[Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/)

> [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/)

[Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/)

> [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/)

[Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/)

> [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/)

[Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/)

> [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/)

[Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/)

> ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/)

[Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/)

> [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/)

Jessica Yu

> [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/)

[Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/)

[Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "After 20 years and 250 mainstream films, I thought I should have in my library at least 50 films, films that will be talked about when I am no more.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Prosenjit Chatterjee"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/after-20-years-and-250-mainstream-films-i-thought-i-should-have-in-my/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cinema"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/after-20-years-and-250-mainstream-films-i-thought-i-should-have-in-my/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c3/prosenjit-chatterjee-6085_cinema_after-20-years-and-250-mainstream-films_1334123.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c3/prosenjit-chatterjee-6085_cinema_after-20-years-and-250-mainstream-films_1334123.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c3/prosenjit-chatterjee-6085_cinema_after-20-years-and-250-mainstream-films_1334123.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“After 20 years and 250 mainstream films, I thought I should have in my library at least 50 films, films that…” — Prosenjit Chatterjee",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Prosenjit Chatterjee",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "After 20 years and 250 mainstream...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/after-20-years-and-250-mainstream-films-i-thought-i-should-have-in-my/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/after-20-years-and-250-mainstream-films-i-thought-i-should-have-in-my/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
