Director Dibakar Banerjee, who had held a special screening of his film "Shanghai" for IAS officers in Mussoorie, says he preferred honest opinions of a few over hearty compliments by others.

"Whenever someone said, 'Wow, what a film you have made', I got scared because it sounds very empty. But when someone asks, 'Sir how did you got hold of the detailing on the tie or who told you about the gifts kept in a chief minister's room'," said the 42-year-old who showed the film to government officials on June 5.

"Someone also asked, 'Did you visit the particular state?' They felt that what we have shown is very similar to a particular state when we did not actually know about these things. One of them said he will not recommend the film to anyone, but some liked it.

"So, when you get honest reactions you feel the film is touching the hearts. But when someone says that, what a film, it shows that he has not understood the film at all," Banerjee added.

"Shanghai", a political-thriller, was premiered at the International Indian Film Academy awards (IIFA) Thursday and hit theatres in India Friday.