Estranged neighbours: ‘Art can bring Indians, Pakistanis closer’

Indian filmmaker suggests film students seek inspiration for their work in poetry.

LAHORE:

Films and fine art can help strengthen ties between peoples of India and Pakistan by projecting common elements in their cultures, Indian filmmaker Muzaffar Ali said on Friday.

He was speaking to students of Theatre, Film and Television Department of Beaconhouse National University’s School of Media and Mass Communication (SMC). Ali is visiting Lahore to attend events organised in connection with Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s birth centenary.

He said Faiz’s poetry had been a great inspiration for him. He also recited some verses by Faiz.

He said students should avoid depending altogether on modern techniques and instead seek inspiration in the works of great poets. He suggested students to read Rumi’s work in particular. “Societies can overcome differences among themselves if more people read and learn about Rumi’s works,” he said.

He said capturing Sufi practices on camera without losing the mystical ambience was challenge he wished to take up in future.

Ali said as Bollywood became its representative face, Indian cinema had traded substance with popularity.

Responding to a query about Islam and cinema, he said portraying the spirit of the religion would be a challenge for film and television professionals in the 21st century.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Hisham Amiruddin, a first year student of Film and Theatre at BNU, said the sitting had been very informative. He said meeting people like Muzaffar Ali were important as it allowed learning from their personal experiences. BNU Vice Chancellor Sartaj Aziz, SMC Dean Dr Mehdi Hassan, Dr Asghar Nadeem Syed and Muneeza Hashmi were also present.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mehdi Hassan said lack of good scripts and poor direction had led to the decline of Pakistani cinema. He also stressed the importance of art and culture in promoting a friendly relationship between India and Pakistan.

Faiz Foundation is screening four films by Muzaffar Ali from Friday (yesterday) to Sunday at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Auditorium. These films are Anjuman, Aagman, Gaman and Sheeshon ka Maseeha.

Besides pursuing a career in cinema, Ali is a poet, a musician, a painter and a fashion designer. He started his career in cinema with Gaman.

His biggest success at the mainstream cinema has been Umrao Jaan. He won Filmfare Award for Best Director for the film in 1981.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2011.