When Muzaffar Ali and Shaad Ali Turned Family Memories Into Movie Magic at IFFI

By Pickle November 21, 2025

Dreams deferred, songs remembered, and unfinished reels—at IFFI, a father–son duo revealed how cinema isn’t just made, it’s inherited.

It’s not every day that you see two generations of filmmakers sharing the same stage, yet at IFFI’s “In Conversation” session on ‘Cinema and Culture: Reflections from Two Eras’, the atmosphere felt less like a panel and more like a living, breathing family scrapbook—filled with vivid stories, hard-earned lessons, and the promise of cinematic legacy.

The session brought together the legendary Muzaffar Ali and his son, acclaimed director Shaad Ali, in a rare, reflective dialogue. Noted filmmaker Ravi Kottarakara opened the proceedings, warmly felicitating the duo and lauding their significant contributions to Indian cinema. With Shaad Ali moderating, what followed was a journey through memory, artistry, and the intimate alchemy that shapes a filmmaker’s soul.

Shaad began by asking his father what he first dreamt of becoming, as a child. Muzaffar Ali’s reply was equal parts poetic and revealing: childhood sketches, art-class prizes, and a fascination for poetry all came before the cinema bug bit him.

He described films as an unexpected arrival—a cathartic space where imagination could roam free, unfettered by mainstream expectations. For him, Calcutta was a turning point, a city where art and unpredictability danced in tandem. “Filmmaking is about what your chemistry, botany, geology is,” he mused, hinting at the deeply personal nature of his craft.

Muzaffar Ali recounted how witnessing the struggles of migrants during his early years became the emotional core of Gaman. The film, a stirring meditation on displacement, went on to win the Silver Peacock at IFFI. Yet, he confessed that accolades didn’t leave him feeling empowered—if anything, they reminded him that each success brings new challenges and struggles.

Moving into the heart of the creative process, Shaad Ali noted the distinct staging and visual sensibility of his father’s early works—Gaman and the iconic Umrao Jaan. Muzaffar Ali explained that remaining rooted in culture was central to his storytelling. Music, he revealed, grew organically from poetry and philosophy, requiring humility and collaboration. “Poetry makes you dream, and the poet must dream with us,” he shared, giving the audience insight into how the celebrated melodies of Umrao Jaan were born.

The conversation then drifted to Zooni, a project that became both a dream and a heartbreak. Muzaffar Ali described the ambition of filming a bilingual epic in Kashmir, only to see the project halted by daunting logistical, cultural, and seasonal challenges.

Despite its unfinished state, Zooni’s spirit endures for him as “a dream beyond many dreams.” For Muzaffar Ali, Kashmir isn’t just a film location—it’s a living, breathing culture. “Films for Kashmir must be born in Kashmir,” he urged, calling on young local talent to tell their own stories.

Shaad Ali spoke candidly about his role in the ongoing restoration of Zooni, describing the emotional process of revisiting negatives, soundtracks, and his father’s original vision. For Shaad, the journey is both personal and professional—a chance to show how cinema can heal as much as it entertains. Their story was beautifully captured in a touching video, Zooni: Lost and Found, which chronicled their shared quest to restore and reimagine the film, despite setbacks and lost reels.

During the session’s Q&A, an audience member asked about the possibility of reviving films that depict the real culture of Kashmir, rather than using it as a mere backdrop. Muzaffar Ali’s answer was resolute: Zooni was intended as such a film. “Kashmir has everything,” he asserted. “You don’t need to invite talent, you need to grow it there.”

As the session drew to a close, it was clear the audience had witnessed more than a typical festival talk. They had peered into the inheritance of Indian cinema—a lineage of dreams, heartaches, and legacies passed from one generation to the next, carried forward not only with skill, but with hope and devotion.

In the end, the message was simple yet profound: in the world of movies, some stories may pause, but they never truly end—they’re waiting to be rediscovered, restored, and retold.