Legendary Indian filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli participated in an interactive session titled “The World of Girish Kasaravalli – An Interaction with the Master Filmmaker” at the second Guwahati Asian Film Festival (GAFF), moderated by Reema Borah. The discussion emphasized cinema’s role as a philosophical, cultural, and social medium beyond mere aesthetics and commercial aspects. Kasaravalli highlighted the significance of film festivals in facilitating genuine interactions between filmmakers and audiences, arguing that discourse transcends plot in cinema. He shared insights from his celebrated works, including Ghatashraddha and Thaayi Saheba, asserting that film serves as a medium of quiet resistance and introspection. He stressed the importance of authenticity, cultural rootedness, and moral complexity in storytelling, noting that narratives grounded in local contexts resonate universally. The filmmaker also warned against prioritizing technical elements over philosophical understanding in cinema. The session covered various topics, including casting discipline and filmmakers’ responsibilities in an age of information overload. Borah explored Kasaravalli’s influences from theatre and collaborations with B.V. Karanth, which shaped his filmmaking approach. Attendees engaged actively, discussing visual aesthetics, storytelling, and the future of parallel cinema in the OTT era. This interaction contributed to GAFF’s goal of enhancing regional film culture by fostering connections between industry veterans and emerging filmmakers. The event was organized by Trending Now Media with support from the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
