Today nobody has the sensibility to make a historical epic

New Delhi, (IANS) Bollywood writer-director Muzaffar Ali, whose period film “Umrao Jaan” still stirs the souls of viewers, says nowadays no Indian director has the sensibility to make a historical epic.

“Poetry, painting, designing, writing all comes into a film, isn’t it? But it is not easy to make a film,” he said.

“Today nobody has the sensibility to make a historical epic. They lose out on the passion. To make a masterpiece, a filmmaker has to be charged with passion,” Ali told IANS in an interview.

Ali refrained from directly commenting on Ashutosh Gowariker’s period drama “Jodhaa Akbar”, which was released this month and has invited controversy over alleged distortion of facts.

But he said filmmakers should take extra care while dealing with history to avoid hurting sentiments.

“The broader objective of films is to unite human beings. It is a way of understanding humanity and its ethos. If you are not sensitive to it, it (film) is the wrong medium for you and you might end up hurting someone’s sentiments,” he said.

“Filmmakers must be extra cautious about the feelings of others because you are not writing history. Instead, the subject is about those who were victorious,” the filmmaker said.

The artist, who is also a painter and designer, ventured into Bollywood with “Gaman” and most of his movies cater to niche audiences.

“I am trying to reinvent a new cinema for the world. I believe that the world would recognise me because of my work and the kind of work that I do.”