Saeed Mirza to shoot for peace

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">AHMEDABAD: Film-maker Saeed Mirza kicked off a nation-wide search for insaniyat in the city on Monday.<br />‘‘I started here because Gujarat, especially Ahmedabad, has been through traumatic times. This is a three-month pilgrimage of my own which will culminate in a documentary. I believe there is enough compassion among the masses to defeat the reign of hate unleashed by the self-serving politicians and celebrities,’’ said Mirza.<br />‘‘This exercise will bring forth the spirit of humanity and decency that overflows and governs 95 per cent of the masses who are marginalised and muted by the people with power and status.Peace will be my message,’’ he said and quoted a 13th century Sufi poet Bulle Shah, ‘‘Sona mat, jagte raho. (Nahi to) Baazi kutte le jayenge (Don’t sleep, keep awake. /(otherwise) The dogs will win).’’<br />The movie-maker, who has films like <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai</span> and <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro</span> and popular tele-serials like Nukkad to his credit, said: ‘‘<span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Mujhe Gujarat ke mahol pe gussa aata hai</span> (The atmosphere is Gujarat makes me angry — a take-off on the name of a Hindi film of his which translates as ‘Why does Albert Pinto get angry?’’’<br />‘‘People with violence and evil as their vision have taken over our world, while the masses with whom India’s dignity rests are never allowed to talk. They will speak through my documentary and make people with power and status re-think their objective in life,’’ said Mirza, while expressing his surprise over Bollywood stars’ silence over happenings in Gujarat.<br />Mirza will try to prove to himself as much as to the nation and the world that pluralism and composite culture still exist in India. <br />During his two-day stay in Ahmedabad, he will go to places like Bakar Shah durgah, which has been protected and managed by a Hindu family.<br />‘‘Yahan sirf nafrat nahin, pyar bhi hai (There is not just hatred here, love also exists),’’ said Mirza. ‘‘Life is not limited to watching <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Saas Bhi Kabhi.</span>.. or <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Mujhse Dosti Karoge</span> on TV. I will allow the commoners to speak about their dreams in life and what they would like their country to be like. Humanity, I believe, is still alive among those who may live a hand-to-mouth existence but have compassion as their life’s philosophy.’’<br />To film his documentary, Mirza will visit Gujarat, Rajasthan, Aligarh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Kargil, Madhya Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. His work will be telecast on national television networks in 40-second capsules. </div> </div>