New Delhi, Nov 21: The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) hosted a deeply reflective “In Conversation session titled Cinema and Culture: Reflections from Two Eras,” featuring filmmaker Muzaffar Ali and his son, director Shaad Ali.
The session traced artistic journeys across generations, touching upon memory, migration, music, and a special focus on Kashmir, which Muzaffar Ali described as a living culture that must shape its own cinematic expression.
Kashmir is not just a backdrop
One of the most powerful moments of the conversation came when Muzaffar Ali spoke about Kashmir. Reflecting on his unfinished film Zooni, he said that Kashmir is not just a backdrop but a living cultural entity that deserves authentic representation on screen. He emphasised: “Films for Kashmir must be born in Kashmir. You don’t need to invite talent—you need to grow it there.” “Kashmir must tell its own stories.”
He urged young filmmakers from the region to craft stories rooted in local memory, history, and sensibility.
A dialogue across generations
The session opened with filmmaker Ravi Kottarakara felicitating the father–son duo and recognising their meaningful contributions to Indian cinema. Shaad Ali moderated the conversation with warmth, guiding his father through decades of experiences and the lessons that shaped his craft. When asked about his first childhood dream, Muzaffar Ali spoke of early bonds with poetry, sketches and art classes, long before cinema entered his life. Kolkata, he said, became the place where film and art converged, allowing imagination to grow beyond conventional storytelling. “Filmmaking is about what your chemistry, botany, and geology is,” he reflected.
From Gaman to Umrao Jaan – Cinema with roots
Muzaffar Ali recounted witnessing the struggle of migrant workers, an experience that became the emotional foundation of Gaman, his film on displacement. Though the film won the Silver Peacock at IFFI, he said awards never made him complacent, only aware that new battles awaited. The conversation then moved to craft and music. He said that his cinematic approach always remained rooted, from Gaman to Umrao Jaan. Music, he noted, grows from poetry and requires humility. “Poetry makes you dream—and the poet must dream with us.”
Zooni – A Dream Interrupted, a legacy revived
Discussing his unfinished film Zooni, he called it “a dream beyond many dreams”. Despite logistical and seasonal challenges halting production, Shaad Ali revealed that restoration work on Zooni has begun, describing the process as both healing and illuminating. A video titled Zooni: Lost and Found was screened, capturing their quest to resurrect the film. In reply to a question about whether Kashmir can be portrayed beyond song backdrops, Muzaffar Ali reaffirmed his vision: Zooni was meant to reflect real culture, not just scenery.
Closing Reflections
As the session concluded, the audience witnessed more than a conversation—it was an inheritance of cinema, memory, struggle, and hope. The dialogue revealed how artistry is passed not just through films, but through values, resilience, and cultural consciousness.
About IFFI
Founded in 1952, the International Film Festival of India is South Asia’s oldest and largest film festival. Jointly organised by NFDC under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Government of Goa, IFFI has evolved into a global platform celebrating cinematic heritage and bold new voices. The 56th edition, held from November 20–28 in Goa, showcases masterclasses, restored classics, international competitions, cultural showcases and the vibrant WAVES Film Bazaar—set against Goa’s scenic coastline.
