Ayan Mukerji: “I find my role as a film-maker separate from my role as a film enthusiast. I’ve always been and remain a massive film buff. Films have added so much to my life, had I worked in any other profession, I would still watch movies all the time.

As a film buff,  there is something very special I have found, in absorbing the works of more independent-minded, artistic (perhaps lesser commercially inclined) film-makers. I’ve always sought out movies from international film-makers, auteurs, festival winners, and I believe those films have contributed greatly to my growth as an artist and as a human being.

A certain kind of movie feeds a deep longing I have within myself for more complex explorations into human character and behaviour. So much that I have learnt about different places in the world through watching foreign cinema.

Some of the best of this year were a part of MAMI’s line-up. Titles that I had read about and heard wonderful critiques of and that have been lauded by film enthusiasts world-over. For all film lovers, it’s a real opportunity to be able to watch some of these movies on the big screen, which is the best way to watch cinema.

I looked forward to making the time to catch some of these myself… to travel through the movies, and to learn and to be entertained.

Anurag Kashyap, Ayan Mukerji, Alankrita Shrivastava, Nitesh Tiwari and Kabir Khan during the Director's Special at the Movie Mela.

Anurag Kashyap, Ayan Mukerji, Alankrita Shrivastava, Nitesh Tiwari and Kabir Khan during the Director’s Special at the Movie Mela.

Ayan’s List of film picks at the JIO MAMI 19th Mumbai Film Festival :

  1. Mukkabaaz – Anurag Kashyap
  2. The Hungry – Bornila Chatterjee
  3. Death of A Father – Chaitanya Tamhane (Short)
  4. Juice – Neeraj Ghaywan (Short)
  5. Call Me By Your Name – Luca Guadagnino
  6. The Florida Project – Sean Baker
  7. On Body and Soul – Ildiko Enyedi
  8. Wonderstruck – Todd Haynes
  9. Redoubtable – Michel Hazanivicius
  10. Last Flag Flying – Richard Linklater
  11. 24 Frames – Abbas Kiarostami
  12. A Fantastic Woman – Sebastian Lelio
  13. The Third Murder – Hirokazu Kore-eda
  14. Spoor – Agniezska Holland
  15. Patti Cake$ – Geremy Jasper
  16. Loveless – Andrey Zvyagintsev
  17. Village Rockstars – Rima Das

 

Also Read: 10 DEBUT FEATURE FILMMAKERS AT MAMI 2017