Storytelling and Nation Building Take Center Stage at International Film Festival of India
National Award-winning filmmaker Ram Madhvani and acclaimed producer Mahaveer Jain recently shared the stage at the 56th International Film Festival of India in Goa. Their discussion focused on how stories shape national identity and cultural values. The session was moderated by Divyansh Jain, currently the youngest producer and director in the Indian film industry.
India’s Rich Storytelling Tradition
Ram Madhvani described India as a civilization built on stories. He pointed to ancient epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata as more than just tales. These stories served as moral guides and reflections of society’s values. Madhvani emphasized that today’s creators inherit this important legacy. He called storytelling a sacred act that helps people understand themselves and shows the world India’s true identity.
Madhvani stressed the responsibility filmmakers carry. He believes stories should do more than entertain audiences. They should carry forward the values and questions that define Indian culture. This approach to storytelling connects modern cinema with India’s ancient narrative traditions.
Sharing Ancient Wisdom Through Cinema
Mahaveer Jain highlighted India’s opportunity to share its ancient wisdom with global audiences. He noted that Indian sages provided solutions for many life challenges centuries ago. Jain believes this wisdom represents India’s greatest potential gift to the world. He urged filmmakers to propagate these timeless teachings through entertainment media.
Jain sees cinema as the perfect vehicle for sharing India’s spiritual heritage. He explained that stories containing ancient wisdom can reach international viewers through compelling narratives. This approach could introduce global audiences to India’s philosophical traditions while entertaining them.
The Power of Tragedy in Storytelling
Ram Madhvani revealed his particular interest in tragic stories. He expressed concern that modern cinema has forgotten the tragic hero. While romantic and action heroes dominate screens, Madhvani feels tragic characters create deeper emotional impacts. He cited legendary actors like Meena Kumari and Dilip Kumar as examples of performers who moved audiences through tragedy.
Madhvani specifically mentioned Shah Rukh Khan as a contemporary actor who affects viewers through tragic roles. The director aims to create catharsis through his films. He wants audiences to experience emotional cleansing by connecting with tragic stories. Madhvani believes this emotional release helps people process their own life experiences.
The filmmaker praised the classic movie Guide as one of India’s greatest spiritual films. He expressed his aspiration to create another film with similar spiritual depth. This comment suggests Madhvani sees spiritual themes and tragic storytelling as interconnected elements of powerful cinema.
IFFI’s Role in Cultural Exchange
The International Film Festival of India continues to serve as an important platform for cinematic dialogue. Founded in 1952, it remains the only South Asian film festival accredited by FIAPF in the Competitive Feature Films category. Each year, the festival brings together filmmakers from around the world to celebrate landmark cinema.
These conversations at IFFI highlight cinema’s evolving role in shaping cultural identity. Filmmakers like Madhvani and Jain are exploring how stories can both entertain and contribute to nation building. Their discussion reflects the festival’s mission to examine cinema’s impact on society and cultural narratives.
The session demonstrated how Indian filmmakers are consciously connecting their work to the country’s rich storytelling heritage while addressing contemporary audience needs. This balance between tradition and innovation continues to define India’s growing influence on global cinema.
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