“Cinema Beyond Entertainment: Saeed Akhtar Mirza Advocates Social Consciousness in Filmmaking”
“Saeed Akhtar Mirza Speaks on Politics, Cinema, and the Power of Questioning at Bhopal Event”
Cinema and politics are deeply intertwined and will remain so, not just in India but across the world. Whether one agrees or not, this is an undeniable reality, as stated by the renowned filmmaker Saeed Akhtar Mirza, who is known for crafting a new wave of realistic Hindi cinema. He made these remarks during the concluding session of the two-day event “Frames of Thought: The Cinematic Genius of Saeed Akhtar Mirza,” organized under the “Cine Classic” series by The Film Club of Bhopal, while speaking on the topic “Politics and Cinema.”
Mirza emphasized that a filmmaker should be socially conscious before being politically inclined, so that the general public can develop a deeper understanding of their society beyond mere entertainment. He also expressed his opposition to any form of censorship.
Prior to Mirza’s talk, a documentary film made by Kireet Khurana & N. Padmakumar on him titled “Saeed Mirza: The Leftist Sufi” was screened, followed by an open Q&A session. The audience posed several questions, including one from a young viewer who asked, “If you were to make a film today, what would the issues be?” In response, Mirza said, “My concerns and issues remain the same, but if I were to make a film today, I would make it even better.”
Another audience member asked, “You are a leftist, yet your films do not explicitly showcase Marxism. Why is that?” To this, Mirza replied, “Being sensitive does not necessarily mean drawing inspiration from Marx. Our country has had many thinkers and philosophers, such as Gautam Buddha, Tukaram, and Nanak.”
Some young artists expressed their concerns and pessimism about the future, to which Mirza offered advice: “Never underestimate yourself, continue to question, and always remain hopeful.” The event, held at the Women’s Empowerment Forum conference hall in Shivaji Nagar, saw a large attendance of film enthusiasts, writers, and artists.
