The challenge for new filmmakers is to show their humanity through technology: Saeed Mirza

Today’s creators are faced with challenges posed by technology, pointed out National Award-winning director and scriptwriter Saeed Mirza, speaking at the Aravindan Memorial Lecture at IFFK. “There is a constant evolution in technology, such as in the coming of ChatGPT, and we are just the interceptors. Young creators face a challenge in dealing with this. Technology is being created by people who have an agenda of how to solve this problem of ‘speed’,” said Saeed.
The Naseem director added, “In a time of influx of information, what is being lost is memory. We only see doctored positions. For any creator, memory is very essential, to remember why and how something came to be. The challenge for new filmmakers is to be able to show their humanity through technology. They have to convey ideas and individuality within the constraints of technology.”
Saeed feels there may come a time when creativity dies out. “In the future, we might see a time where people are asked to stay at home because AI is going to take over. The idea of creation, of jobs, may disappear.”
Delving into the process of scriptwriting, Saeed said, “My scripts are based around some fundamental ideas. When I approach a script, I do it in a methodical way.”




Aravindan was calm as a river, says Saeed
Saeed spoke about meeting Aravindan and the impact the National Award-winning director had on him. “Each meeting is etched in my heart; his films are one of the reasons for this. I have seen Kanchana Seetha, Vasthuhara and Thambu, and each of them left an impact. When I met him, he was as quiet and calm as his films; like a gentle, flowing river. When you see his work, too, you feel an incredible sense of intuition,” he said.