By Neeraj Nanda
Indian filmmaker Pan Nalin’s (Samsara and Valley of Flowers) FAITH CONNECTIONS, the superb new film, is screening at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) this month as a special feature of its Autumn program. Pan Nalin travels to the Kumbh Mela, one of the world’s most extraordinary religious events. There, he encounters remarkable men of mind and meditation, some facing an inextricable dilemma; to embrace the world or to renounce it. FAITH CONNECTIONS explores such diverse and deeply moving stories such as those of a young runaway kid, a Sadhu, a mother desperately looking for her lost son, a yogi who is raising an abandoned baby, and an ascetic who keeps his calm by smoking cannabis – all connected by one faith against the spectacular display of devotion. I talked to Pan Nalin (in Paris) via Skype from Melbourne and asked him questions about FAITH CONNECTIONS and upcoming films laced with queries on spirituality, materialism and clash of faiths. Nalin is deep rooted and simply philosophical. A rare quality in an otherwise confused world.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q: Do ‘Samsara’ and ‘Faith Connections’ reflect the contradiction between ‘spirituality’ and ‘materialism’?
A: Yes, they do. In modern times spirituality and faith are separated from each other. People are spiritual but not religious. People working at the ground level like the French Medicines Sans Frontiers are very spiritual. Spirituality at the Kumbh Mela in the 21st century is interesting because millions driven by faith go there. All they want is a dip in the holy Ganges. And then they go back to the world into day to day routine life.
Q: In ‘Faith Connections’ you seem to project the ‘human’ side of ‘spirituality’. Would you say ‘sprituality’ itself is ‘human’?
A: ‘Spirituality’ is definitely the most human thing. If there is no ‘human’ essence in ‘spirituality’ then it is a false system of belief. People go to the Kumbh Mela to get spiritual guidance. The joint family has collapsed and couples are divorcing in large numbers. They go to the Kumbh Mela for relief and spirituality. Some are embracing Buddhism in the East and West. It’s not necessarily supernatural. It is reflected in many ways at the Kumbh Mela. Some said it is ‘blind faith’ but it looks ignorance becomes a bliss. A dip in the Ganges makes them happy conversing with the divine or nature. The rich have a career to make or send their daughter to Oxford or a business to expand. For the rich educated mind, money and capitalism are the biggest religion. But for the poor except ‘shrdha’ for ‘Ganga-Maiya’ there is nothing else.
Q: The stories you have weaved in ‘Faith Connections’ also indicate life is more important than faith?
A: It is the same thing. Every life is driven by faith. Life and faith are two sides of the same coin.
Q: Don’t you think the story of a sadhu bringing up an abandoned child needs a separate movie?
A: It does. This story came to us accidently. Whole night we were shooting and tired. Then we saw Hatyogi Baba doing Yoga and later he was preparing a milk bottle. Then we saw the baby and we started filming. We were touched by it. In fact, someone abandoned the child outside his home and he tried to search the parents but no one came forward. Cops were suspicious. But no one else cared for the baby. He is now attached to him and bringing him up with love. He does not want him to become a Sadhu and wants to give him a choice when he grows up.
Q: Your topics are faith oriented. Are you just enticed by Hinduism and it’s off shoots or it could be any faith?
A: It could be any faith. Every story has a spiritual part. Even Star Wars and Matrix had it. Even politics is driven by faith.
Q: Your home state Gujarat has generated lots of controversy for the 2002 communal riots. Does this clash of faiths disturb you as a film maker?
A: Yes, it disturbs me. I grew up in a village near Junagadh and had many Muslim friends. I played in the mosque. They played with us. When I was born my mother wrapped me in a Green cloth and kept me in front of a saint’s structure. I had a friend Abdul. Then there were riots in Rajkot and an MLA came to our school to lecture putting poison in our minds. Then Abdul was shifted to a madarasa and he did not come to attend Garbha with me. Slowly, it became worse and worse.
Q: What is the reason behind it?
A: When we are young we are innocent and venerable. Stupid politicians exploit us. Some people are different and dig history. They want you to be right wing extremists. But interestingly in the Kumbh Mela 40 per cent volunteers and 50-60 % vehicle drivers were Muslims.
Q: Tell us about your French connection and the box office success of your movies.
A: I live in both Paris and Mumbai half year each. Most of my films are financed in Europe. Faith Connections is a France-India coproduction. Samsara made 130 crore and Valley of Flowers made 45 crore. Faith Connections will be released in 70/80 countries and in about 100 theatres in Europe.
Q: What do you say about Bollywood?
A: We can’t say everything there is crap. Bollywood will not go. But there is space for other cinema also. But we cannot be watching mindless stupid movies.
Q: Tell me about your upcoming Indo-NZ-OZ movie- Beyond the Known World?
A: It’s my first English film where a divorced couple from New Zealand go to the Himalayas to search their lost daughter. It deals with the life of a modern couple. I call it a spiritual thriller.
Q: And what about ‘Buddha’?
A: Its’ a big English language movie. It’s under development and the script is ready. But no casting yet.
FAITH CONNECTIONS: Wednesday 2 – Thursday 24 April; Australian Centre For The Moving Image (ACMI); Director Pan Nalin,115mins, India/France, 2013, Hindi with English subtitles. Courtesy: Madman Entertainment; Bookings/info: acmi.net.au/film
– SAT News Service
