Bollywood filmmakers, city bibliophiles at Saeed Akhtar Mirza's book launch

It was a gathering of bibliophiles, literary-minded folks and fans of

Bollywood

filmmaker Saeed Akhtar Mirza, as the veteran’s book ‘Memory In The Age Of Amnesia; A Personal History Of Our Times’, was launched at a bookstore at Kemps Corner on Friday evening.


‘I’m an internationalist in my soul’:

Saeed Mirza

In a panel discussion with Ritu Dewan and Mahesh Bhatt

The rain lent a perfect backdrop to Mirza’s book – as it took a look at his memories, his growing up years in a building, the past set at the onset of democracy, and more. It was also a nod to the world around him. The panel, comprising known voices – Sidharth Bhatia, national award-winning filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and academic and activist

Ritu Dewan

spoke about the book. At the start, Saeed, who described himself as “a traveller”, was asked how he assimilated so many thoughts into one tome and if it was the result of years of thinking. He replied, “It (the book) looks eclectic, but khayalon ko sametnaa hi hai, I’m an internationalist in my soul.”

The audience was keen to hear more about the book. It is said to be deeply

political

, backed by moments of lyricism and loss, but the over-arching idea in it is political.
Mahesh Bhatt remarked how in an age where mere hate is a marketable commodity, it is nice to find a compassionate voice. “Saeed passionately engages with the stream of life. His insight strikes me,” he said. Filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker came by and so did actor Makarand Deshpande.

Towards the end, Mirza read out a part of the book to much applause from the audience.