Legendary Indian filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli engaged film enthusiasts, students, and independent filmmakers in a deeply insightful interactive session titled “The World of Girish Kasaravalli – An Interaction with the Master Filmmaker” at the second edition of the Guwahati Asian Film Festival (GAFF).
Moderated by acclaimed Assamese filmmaker and writer Reema Borah, the session examined cinema as a philosophical, cultural, and social medium, going far beyond surface aesthetics and commercial interpretations of filmmaking.
Emphasising the unique role of film festivals, Kasaravalli said, “Film festivals play a major role because this is the only forum where filmmakers and audiences can truly interact. It is also the only space where you look beyond the plot. Plot is not the film — discourse is the film. Only in festivals like this do you get the opportunity to understand that.”
Known for landmark films such as Ghatashraddha, Thaayi Saheba, Dweepa, Hasina, and Naayi Neralu, Kasaravalli spoke about his belief in cinema as a medium of quiet resistance and introspection rather than spectacle. He stressed that authenticity, moral complexity, and cultural rootedness are essential to meaningful storytelling, adding that narratives grounded in local realities often achieve universal resonance.
He also reflected on the philosophical foundations of cinema, cautioning against overemphasis on technical aspects. “People often mistake information for knowledge and then try to create art. But cinema has a philosophy behind technique. It is not about what lens looks good; it is about what idea the image communicates,” he remarked.
The discussion also touched on evolving cinematic grammar, mentorship, casting discipline, and the responsibility of filmmakers to remain intellectually honest in an era marked by information overload and rapid technological change.
Borah guided the conversation through Kasaravalli’s formative influences, including his association with theatre and film stalwart B.V. Karanth, and how those early collaborations shaped his understanding of performance, narrative structure, and collaborative filmmaking.
The session saw enthusiastic participation from cinephiles and film students, with questions ranging from visual aesthetics and storytelling approaches to the future of parallel cinema in the OTT era.
The interaction was part of GAFF’s broader effort to foster meaningful engagement between industry veterans and emerging talent, strengthening regional film culture and encouraging deeper cinematic discourse.
The second edition of the Guwahati Asian Film Festival is being organised by Trending Now Media with support from the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
