The Iranian Love Affair with Bollywood

Cinema in India and Iran are a passion for people, reminiscent of the civilisational affinity with art in both the ancient lands. Indian movies and Bollywood command huge following among Iranians. My own favourite Shah Rukh Khan is the most popular Indian actor in Iran.

Even songs and dances of Indian films are well received in Iran. The use of colour and flowers in Indian films is admired in equal measure.

As the technological advancements have made their foray into filmmaking, Indian movies have become rich in story-telling. Their canvas has become vast and full of a myriad of hues. They leave a more lasting impression on cinebuffs and capture almost all facets of the changing landscape in India.

I was recently a part of an Indo-Iranian production Salam Mumbai. This movie depicts the romantic outcome of a student exchange programme between the two countries. The protagonists of the film, a doctor and a patient, come closer and fall in love. The Iranian learns to understand India and says salaam to Mumbai and Indian way of life as a tribute.

Unfortunately, I have not yet seen a film similar to it, but due to the presence of many Iranian students in India or vice versa, it is expected that other stories and incidents have happened in the two countries, and I hope that the most interesting ones will be turned into a film one day.

The innovations in the quality of Indian films has enabled an eminent place in the global arena specially at international film festivals. Indian actors too are thus sought after by overseas filmmakers to appear in their movies.

Every country has its rules and regulations regarding allowing freedom of expression on screen. Iran has its own framework. Indian filmmakers are no doubt at an advantage here and can explore more about life and its hidden depths in more carefree ways.

Cinema is actually a signature introduction of any country in distant parts of the world. Sometimes, we know about certain nations only by watching movies from that country, and that’s the core philosophy of organising film festivals.

When such festivals are organised in small towns in rural settings, they take cinema to the audience that is otherwise deprived of such vital experience. The Ayodhya Film Festival where I was part of the jury in the first week of December is one such great effort to take cinema to people’s doorstep.

Around 40 Indian and international films were screened at the festival in two days. The crowd, mostly the locals of the prominent town, was overwhelmed with what they saw on screen: entirely a new and mesmerising experience for them. It was like the world coming to them and their own India being presented to the world.

Watching films is a soothing and contemplative exercise. It forces people to think about life and its problems. They introspect and try to devise ways for solutions to these problems. If film festivals are organised with frequent routines almost everywhere, especially in places which are conflict-prone, it will be an effort to promote & advocate peace.