Exclusive: Imtiaz Ali on Politics in Cinema

Acclaimed Hindi filmmaker Imtiaz Ali was in Hyderabad to screen his new film Main Vaapas Aavunga. We at Gulte spoke to him exclusively about his film and asked an important question about the navigation of politics in Indian cinema.

In a detailed manner, Imtiaz said filmmakers can explore difficult and politically charged topics, but they should not start the film with the intention of attacking or harming anyone.

Imtiaz Ali explained that he never tries to prove that a particular political leader, community, or ideology is right or wrong. Instead, he focuses on human emotions and the impact of events on ordinary people.

However, Imtiaz Ali also added “After the film was released, many said I was anti-partition which is not the case. The theme related to India’s partition was organic and I did not approach the subject with the goal of blaming any community or political figures.

Main Vaapas Aavunga is set against the backdrop of the 1947 India-Pakistan Partition and is about a 95-year-old man who expresses a strong desire to return to Sargodha, his birthplace, which is now in Pakistan.

If you see most of Imtiaz Ali’s films, the focus is always on suffering, loss, and emotions rather than politics. Main Vaapas Aavunga is one such film and has Diljith Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Vedang Raina, and Alpha fame Sharvari in key roles.