{"id":107732,"date":"2025-11-22T20:59:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-22T15:29:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/?p=107732"},"modified":"2025-11-22T20:59:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-22T15:29:09","slug":"a-journey-of-dreams-discovery-and-legacy-muzaffar-ali-and-shaad-ali-reflect-on-two-eras-of-cinema","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/?p=107732","title":{"rendered":"A journey of dreams, discovery and legacy : Muzaffar Ali and Shaad Ali reflect on two eras of cinema"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Goa Khabar : The In Conversation session on \u2018Cinema and Culture: Reflections from Two Era,\u2019 at IFFI opened a window to Indian cinema across generations, where memory, dreams, and artistry intertwined in a father\u2013son dialogue. At the outset, noted filmmaker Ravi Kottarakara felicitated the duo and spoke warmly of their contributions, acknowledging the enduring impact of their work. Shaad Ali then moderated with warmth and insight, taking his father, the legendary Muzaffar Ali, down the memory lane through decades of his experiences, reflections, and lessons.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shaad Ali began with a deceptively simple question: What was the first profession you ever dreamt of, growing up? Muzaffar Ali\u2019s answer unfolded as a tapestry of childhood sketches, art-class prizes, and the ever-present pull of poetry. Films, he said, arrived later, offering catharsis and a space where imagination could roam freely, unshackled from the predictable imagery of mainstream storytelling. Calcutta, he recalled, opened a world where cinema and artistry intertwined, and where the unpredictable became possibility. \u201cFilmmaking is about what your chemistry, botany, geology is,\u201d he reflected, speaking to the elemental roots of creation.<\/p>\n

During his early years, Muzaffar Ali witnessed the plight and helplessness of people migrating, an experience that became the emotional core of Gaman, his film about the pain of displacement. Although the film won the Silver Peacock at IFFI, Muzaffar Ali said he never felt elevated by the achievement. Success, he explained, did not make him feel \u2018empowered\u2019, it only reminded him that new struggles and new challenges were always waiting ahead.<\/p>\n

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The conversation turned to craft and music. Shaad Ali observed the distinctive staging of Muzaffar Ali\u2019s early works, and the father explained how remaining rooted was central to his approach, from Gaman to Umrao Jaan. Music, he revealed, grew from poetry, philosophy, and surrender. The melodies of Umrao Jaan, he explained, were born from a poetic sensibility that demanded humility and collaboration. \u201cPoetry makes you dream, and the poet must dream with us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Then came Zooni, a dream that became a challenge. Planning a bilingual film in Kashmir brought logistical, cultural, and seasonal obstacles that ultimately halted production. Muzaffar Ali described the experience as \u201ca dream beyond many dreams\u201d and painful in its collapse. Yet, even in its unfinished state, its spirit endured. Kashmir, he reminded the audience, is more than a location; it is a living culture. \u201cFilms for Kashmir must be born in Kashmir,\u201d he said, urging young local talent to carry forward its legacy.<\/p>\n

Shaad Ali spoke about the ongoing restoration of Zooni, revisiting its negatives and soundtracks, and re-engaging with his father\u2019s cinematic vision. Through this journey, he reflected on how cinema can heal, not just entertain. A touching video titled Zooni: Lost and Found was played, capturing the father\u2013son journey of dreams, setbacks, and the hope of reimagining the film.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

During the Q&A session, a question was raised about reviving films that reflect Kashmir\u2019s real culture, rather than just serving as a backdrop for songs. Muzaffar Ali responded with conviction: Zooni was conceived as such a film. \u201cKashmir has everything,\u201d he said. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to invite talent, you need to grow it there.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the session concluded, it was clear that the audience had witnessed more than a conversation; they had glimpsed the inheritance of cinema itself, the dreams, struggles, and legacies that pass from one generation to the next, carried forward with care, devotion, and hope.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Goa Khabar : The In Conversation session on \u2018Cinema and Culture: Reflections from Two Era,\u2019 at IFFI opened a window to Indian cinema across generations, where memory, dreams, and artistry intertwined in a father\u2013son dialogue. At the outset, noted filmmaker Ravi Kottarakara felicitated the duo and spoke warmly of their contributions, acknowledging the enduring impact […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25169,"featured_media":107733,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,155],"tags":[3794],"class_list":["post-107732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-6","category-155","tag-featured"],"read":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/25169"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=107732"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107732\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":107734,"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107732\/revisions\/107734"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/107733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=107732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=107732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=107732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}