The 13th edition of Rajnigandha presents Jagran Film Festival (JFF), the world’s largest travelling film festival, continued its celebration of Indian Cinema in Delhi from September 4th to 7th, 2025. Known for bringing diverse voices and powerful stories to audiences across India, the festival hosted an engaging panel discussion with R. Balki on September 5th.
R. Balki, acclaimed director of Chup: Revenge of the Artist, Paa, and Padman, was part of the conversation. As 2025 marked the centenary year of Guru Dutt, Balki’s insights carried special resonance — his work in Chup paid a striking tribute to the legendary filmmaker. His perspective brought a unique dimension to the discussion on how cinema shapes cultural memory while also engaging with urgent contemporary themes like technology, empathy, and the evolving human condition.
Reflecting on the inspiration behind Chup, R. Balki shared, “I realized there was a person so close to my character — someone who never harmed anyone else but ended up harming himself with his own thoughts. That made me think, why not pay tribute to him? While writing Chup, a film about a critic-killer, I was watching Guru Dutt and suddenly it all connected. I thought, oh God, I can create legitimate scenes by bringing in Guru Dutt, and his presence gave the film a deeper layering. That’s how it happened.”
The session stood out as one of the most anticipated highlights of this year’s festival — a morning where art, ideas, and dialogue came together to celebrate the evolving landscape of storytelling.
