By Arvind Nair - Gulf Times - Doha,Qatar
Wednesday, October 4, 2006
Award-winning Indian film-maker Muzaffar Ali and his team have made a comprehensive presentation on his forthcoming film project to HH Sheikha Mozah Nasser al-Misnad.
"We will have a series of meetings", Muzaffar Ali said, when asked if Qatar would be supporting the ambitious project.
"She is a very intelligent person. She has got big ideas", the versatile film-maker said of Sheikha Mozah.
"She is very sharp, extremely brilliant, and well-informed. We are impressed", his delegation members Arun Anand and Rahul Sen, both globe-trotting consultants, told Gulf Times.
Her Highness and her team would study the project, an international film on the mystic poet Jalaluddin Rumi, before taking a decision on participating in the project, the renowned director said.
The presentation at the palace was made as part of efforts by Muzaffar Ali in seeking international support for his mega project, which is estimated to cost $22mn.
The visiting team, which also included Muzaffar’s wife, Meera Ali, an architect and designer, was accorded a reception by the Indian community at Grand Hotel on Monday night.
Addressing the select gathering, the much-acclaimed director said he was on a "sacred mission - of touching hearts. Film is a sacred medium. Unfortunately, many people don’t realise the sanctity of the medium".
Quoting Prophet Muhammad who said, "Mujhe Hind Ke Taraf Se Muhobhat Ke Khushboo Aa Rahi hai", Ali said, the message of love and co-existence should come from the soil of India.
"We have to rise above the narrow sectarian sentiments", said Ali, who came to the reception wearing a traditional Kerala-style, ‘mundu’ and ‘kurta’ (a flowing top). Ali belongs to Uttar Pradesh in north India.
Time was right for India to make an international cinema, said Ali, who has made five feature films, including the award-winning ‘Umrao Jaan’ and ‘Gaman’.
Answering a question from the audience, he said, "Bhakti and Sufism are the same thing. There is a Bhakt in every Sufi and a Sufi in every Bhakt".
Indian Ambassador Dr George Joseph remarked that the time was perfect to make a film on the ‘king of Sufis’. The Unesco has declared 2007, the 800th death anniversary of the mystic poet, as the Year of Rumi.
Earlier, ICC president Hasan Chougule introduced and welcomed the guests. C V Rappai, speaking on behalf of Pravasi, which has been conducting film festivals for the last 10 years in Doha, invited the film-maker to attend the next fete as a guest.
The event, which would be a pan-Asian festival, is likely to be held before the Asian Games in December.
The meeting was emceed by Mao Bera. A vote of thanks was proposed by Nadeem Mahir, of Urdu Anjuman.
Muzzafar, who has been working on this project for the last four years, already has a world class script. The original script has been jointly written by himself and Kabir Helminski. Revisions have been made by Shama Zaidi, Deepak Chopra and Meera Ali.
He has also put together a world class technical team, including award-winning cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, Oscar winning production designer Eugenio Zanetti, and acclaimed costume designer Mary MacFadden.
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