National Award-winning filmmaker and Emmy-nominated director Ram Madhvani, and acclaimed Indian filmmaker Mahavir Jain come together for an engaging conversation on “The Power and Impact of Our Stories on Nation Building” at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. The fascinating session was moderated by Divyansh Jain, the youngest producer and director in the film industry currently.
Ram Madhvani, Mahavir Jain discuss cinema’s role in nation building at IFFI 2025: “We have forgotten the tragic hero”
Established in 1952, IFFI remains the only South Asian film festival recognized by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) in the competitive feature film category. Each year, it compiles and celebrates historical cinema from around the world.
The insightful session featuring Mahavir Jain and Ram Madhvani explored storytelling, the values guiding creators and the cultural influences that shape their work, while also highlighting the responsibility of filmmakers and the emotional impact of cinema.
Talking about the cultural values of India, cinematic philosopher Ram Madhvani shared, “India has always been a civilization shaped by stories. Be it the Ramayana or the Mahabharata, these epics were more than stories; they were moral guidelines, emotional guides and a reflection of who we are. Today as creators, we have inherited that legacy. Our responsibility is to craft stories that not only entertain but also carry forward those values, questions and memories.” “I believe that storytelling is a sacred act that allows us to better understand ourselves and show the world who India really is.”
Speaking further about the cultural and spiritual heritage of India, renowned producer Mahavir Jain stressed the importance of sharing the ancient wisdom of the country with a global audience through cinema and entertainment. “We have the solution for everything in the ancient knowledge that our sages have given us,” said Mahavir Jain. He said, “If there is one gift that India can give to the entire world, it is our ancient knowledge. We must propagate this knowledge through the entertainment medium, and I request all of you to do the same.”
Visionary director Ram Madhvani, while talking about his filmmaking approach and the effort he strives to evoke in the audience, said, “I’m interested in tragedy. We have forgotten the tragic hero. We have romantic, action and comedy heroes, but the tragic hero or heroine – Meena Kumari, Dilip Kumar, even Shah Rukh Khan – are the ones who have really influenced us. I think tragedy is something we are losing. There is a nerve in everything I do, called What I want to suppress is to make you cry, whatever you’re going through in your life – if I can use the work that I’m doing there and see how you can find catharsis, that’s what I’d like to do.”
He also said, “The Guide was one of the greatest spiritual films made in India. I aspire to make another film!”
The International Film Festival of India is serving as an important platform where filmmakers, producers and storytellers come together to explore the role of cinema in shaping culture, identity and national narrative.
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