Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Acclaimed filmmaker Imtiaz Ali held a packed hall spellbound on Day 6 of the Chinar Book Festival in Srinagar, opening up about storytelling, spirituality and the personal journeys behind some of his most celebrated films and songs. Moderated by Dr. Amit Wanchoo, Chief Convenor of the festival, the session drew an enthusiastic crowd of young readers, aspiring filmmakers, writers and cinema lovers gathered on the banks of Dal Lake at SKICC.
One of the most striking portions of the conversation centred on spirituality’s role in shaping both his life and his cinema. Ali recalled a childhood home filled with devotional music, Sufi kalaams and bhajans, and said growing up in India meant absorbing the diverse spiritual traditions of the people around him. He offered the audience a rare glimpse into the origins of “Kun Faya Kun,” the celebrated song from his 2011 film Rockstar, revealing that it drew inspiration from multiple traditions, including the Quran, the Rig Veda and the teachings of several revered saints and mystics.
He traced the song’s opening lines back to his school days, when he picked up Jawaharlal Nehru’s The Discovery of India from his library and encountered the Nasadiya Sukta, the Rig Veda’s hymn of creation. One line in particular, describing a state before existence itself, left him unable to move past its philosophical weight for decades, eventually forming the seed of the song’s now-iconic opening verse.
Recalling the experience of shooting Rockstar across Srinagar, Aru and Chandanwari, Ali spoke warmly of the support he received from people across the Valley. In a little-known anecdote, he revealed that the traditional Kashmiri jewellery and attire worn by lead actress Nargis Fakhri during the film’s wedding sequence belonged to Dr. Amit Wanchoo’s mother, a detail that drew audible delight from the audience.
Taking questions directly from students, Ali described filmmaking as a continuous journey of discovery, saying every project had introduced him to new cultures and people, with Rockstar deepening his own understanding of Kashmir. He noted that films like Laila Majnu had opened doors for numerous Kashmiri actors, musicians and technicians, showing how regional talent can find a genuine home within mainstream cinema. He urged students to pursue creative careers only out of real conviction rather than glamour, cautioning that creative fields demand resilience and the courage to start over with every project, and encouraged them to stay truthful to their own experiences rather than chasing suffering in the belief that pain alone produces art. He praised today’s younger generation as more environmentally conscious and socially aware, eager to pursue work that benefits both themselves and society.
The sixth day of the festival also featured a session on screen dependence and children’s reading habits, a SEBI-led conversation on safe investing for young audiences, and a deep dive into Kashmir’s literary aesthetic traditions. At the Innovator’s Meet, student innovators from SKUAST-K showcased technology-driven solutions for agricultural challenges, while the Children’s Corner drew 3,000 young readers for a Japanese Kamishibai storytelling session. The evening closed with theatre performances and “Shaam-e-Sufiyana,” featuring Sufi and ghazal vocalist Dr. Neeta Pandey Negi.
