royal patronage

His films like 'The Chess Players' and 'The Home and the World' explore the complex relationships between aristocratic patrons, artists, and political power in colonial and pre-colonial India.

His lavish historical dramas such as 'The Leopard' and 'Ludwig' deeply examine how royal and aristocratic patronage shapes society, culture, and individual destinies across generations.

His controversial films like 'Teorema' and adaptations of classical works interrogate power hierarchies and the patronage relationships between the elite and marginalized communities.