Films can dissipate differences at political level: S A filmmaker

New Delhi, Nov 3 (UNI) What is the common seed that runs through various countries in South Asia who have, over the years, been frequently marked by political strife and their relations determined by developments at the political level? Amid all the political divides in the South Asian subcontinent, it is the passion for art in general and cinema in particular that binds the millions of its residents.

This seemed to be the unanimous opinion of a host of filmmakers from various South Asian countries who gathered in the capital for the recently-concluded South Asian film festival, showcasing films running across a wide range of genres from various South Asian countries.

''Holding such events is a timely effort coming as it does at a time when the subcontinent is torn by numerous conflicts and strife.

In such a scenario, holding a festival of South Asian films, can help usher in an era of peace and harmony between nations as the numerous cultural interactions between artists from various countries at this forum would help them better understand each other's perspective and culture thus dissipating some of the bitterness at the political level,''Bangladesh filmmaker Tarique Masood said.

''In the current state of the subcontinent, people-to-people and artist-to-artist interactions are very much needed. For example, cultural exchanges between filmmakers and artists of different South Asian countries at such events help them better understand the diversities and differences and from that explore the various commonalities running across them,'' Masood said.

Describing the South Asian film festival in Delhi as a continuance of efforts to bring South Asians films on one platform, Masood said,''Already festivals like the South Asian festival of short films in Nepal and the Kara film festival in Karachi have been endeavouring to bring South Asian films and artists on one platform. Now, with a festival of South Asian films being held in India, the home to one of the world's largest film industry, the effort acquires an altogether new dimension. Infact, Delhi could, in years to come, become the epicenter for holding such an event.'' Says Bhutanese filmmaker Dorji Wangchuk,''interactions between artists of different countries at such events definitely, in the long run, helps to bridge differences at the political level. I have always maintained that we are artists and not politicians. So, rather than highlight the differences between our cultures, our efforts are always to focus on various commonalities running across them.'' According to Pakistani actress Sania Ansari, who was here for the screening of her film 'Javaid Shampoo' at the festival, there may be a lot of bitterness at the political level between nations but people-to-people and artist-to-artist exchanges can help dissipate it with time.

''It is just that one has to keep up with efforts (to promote exchanges) to put constant pressure at the political establishments to remove impediments between freee flow of artists and films between countries,''she said.

More UNI AR HS DB1040