#WhyIFFI: Flashes of Inspiration from IFFI 2

“The object of international film festivals is to provide a forum for the participating countries to present films of artistical and cultural value and of high technical standard. Such a presentation not only helps the progress of the film industry in general but also promotes cultural exchange and generates new ideas. It also helps in bringing nearer the various participating nations and their film industry.”

“The first Festival organised by India after Independence was held in the month of January 1952. Twenty-one countries participated in the festival and it was gratifying to note that the festival helped in a very beneficial exchange of ideas and aesthetic standards. It has a very useful impact on the production of films in our country. Since that period, a number of Indian films have participated in foreign festivals and many have won recognition in some of these international festivals.”

“Since this Festival, something like it, met some years ago, India has made great progress in the film field. I am informed that she is the second largest feature-film-producing country in the world. Some of our leaders on the screen have won world fame and some of our films have obtained world recognition. Yet, we can’t feel that we are happy. We have to take so many improvements and this Festival which is organised will be able to enable our people to exchange ideas and thoughts with others who have come from distant countries where the level of film production is much higher than it happens to be here.”

“Generally, a film is intended to help the entertainment of the audience, the education of the audience and also elevation of the spirit. Man has a vital, an intellectual and a spiritual side. All these sides should be fulfilled or satisfied if a proper film is made.”

“There is a tendency now-a-days to put the profit motive higher than artistic excellence, I do hope that our film producers will not succumb to that temptation. I know, we have to look to profit, we have to take sone kind of consideration we should have for what a film is able to earn, yet our idea should be not to cater to the taste of the public but to improve their tastes.

I have an impression that our own artistes, directors and producers are quite competent, extremely skilled. They are spontaneous, unsophisticated, unspoiled by success, well, may be quite as good as any artiste in the world. All that is necessary for us to guard against is any kind of lowering of tastes. That is a thing which we have to protect ourselves against and I think that, in the days to come, India will have a greater future in the film field.

It is essential for all those connected with the film production, whether they are directors, producers or actors and actresses that they should resolve that they will not use their knowledge, their skill, their imaginative power, their artistic ability for any ends other than justice, freedom, peace and dignity; and they will not merely cater to the ruthless intent of certain individuals, who, in their anxiety to make profits, tend to corrupt human nature, degrade human beings and lower their tastes: that is a danger which we should like to avoid. I have no doubt that when we see the actual films, we will be able to profit by our witnessing them and know what great standards have been achieved in other countries., and it will be possible for us to acquire certain lessons and we will ourselves profit by this Festival.”

“It is a happy thing to note that at a time when the political climate is depressing, when dark clouds are gathering, when great powers are accusing each other of pushing the world to the brink of a thermo-nuclear war, when to achieve victory in such a war we are trying to darken the sky, poison the air and pollute the earth, here are representatives from the great countries of the world meeting together not for the purpose of any kind of warlike measure but for the purpose of promoting mutual understanding among the nations. Fear is the most portent source of danger and if fear is to be replaced by confidence and trust, we would have made an effective contribution to the film, to the world understanding and world peace itself. Films can be employed for the purpose of national integration in our country and for the purpose of world solidarity. Both these ends can be achieved.”

“It must truly be a Festival, a thing which gives us a feast for eyes and music for the year and it must be able to combine all the different arts that go to the making of a film. There are several things: dance, drama, dialogue, music, theatre, design: all these things are essential ingredients in the production of any great film and I have no doubt our people will profit a great deal from participating in this Festival. I once again wish you the best of luck.”