Ep. 312 From Satya to Safar Mein Sheher: Mazhar Kamran on Cinema, Craft, and Culture

Summary

In this enriching conversation, filmmaker and educator Mazhar Kamran shares his journey across fiction, documentary, cinematography, and teaching. He discusses storytelling as a way to make sense of the world, the impact of early influences like Herzog’s Enigma of Kaspar Hauser, and his work on films like Satya, Mohandas, Nilani, and Safar Mein Sheher. The dialogue explores the role of education, intuition, and responsibility in shaping cinema and storytellers.

Questions asked in this episode

• How does Mazhar Kamran define storytelling, and what drew him to cinema in the first place?

• What was the turning point in his early life that made him realise the power of visual storytelling?

• Why did he begin his journey through cinematography, and how did it influence his overall craft?

• What drove him to work across formats — fiction, documentary, short films, long-form features — and wear multiple hats in the process?

• Is there a common creative impulse that connects his diverse body of work?

• What connects films like Mohandas and Safar Mein Sheher? What inspired these stories?

• How did projects like Nilani and The Photographer originate, and what storytelling challenges did they present?

• What role does intuition, curiosity, and cultural understanding play in shaping a story?

• How does he approach cinematography — from scene design to lighting choices — particularly in films like Satya?

• What was the philosophy behind the “less is more” visual style in Satya, and how did simplicity influence its look?

• What’s his view on today’s obsession with tools and gear among young filmmakers?

• How does he view the shift in storytelling caused by social media, short-form content, and shrinking attention spans?

• Why does he teach Popular Indian Cinema, and what’s it like teaching film to science and tech students?

• What’s his take on the role of institutions like FTII and IDC in shaping filmmakers today?

• Does Mazhar believe cinema still has the power to act as a cultural bridge across geographies and ideologies?

Reference links

• Mazhar Kamran – Official Website: https://mazharkamran.in

• The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser by Werner Herzog (IMDb): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071691/

• Film and Television Institute of India (FTII): https://www.ftii.ac.in/

• Satya (1998) – IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0195231/

• Rumi – Selected Poems & Teachings: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/jalal-al-din-rumi

• Uday Prakash – Author Profile: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uday_Prakash

• Rajkumar Hirani – Filmography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajkumar_Hirani

• V. Shantaram – Pioneer of Indian Cinema: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V._Shantaram

• Ashutosh Gowariker – https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0332950

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