Dreaming Taj Mahal

Produced and Directed by
NIRMAL CHANDER DANDRIYAL

India / Pakistan, 51 minutes

6:30 p.m., 19th February 2011
Smriti Nandan Cultural Centre
Nanda-deep, 15 /3 Palace Cross Road, Bangalore 560052
Tel: 22258091 / 65979732
Click on "Venues" for map

THE FILMMAKER WILL BE PRESENT AT THE SCREENING
The screening is free for members of Smriti Nandan. All others are encouraged to make a voluntary donation of Rs. 49/- or above to Smriti Nandan.

Synopsis:
Haidar, a taxi driver, dreams of going to India to see the Taj Mahal. The choice doesn’t seem strange for a man who believes that “Love is everything”. The only problem is he lives in Pakistan! Why is Haidar's dream so impossible to achieve? Is it because he is a Pakistani, a Muslim, seen by the Indian government as a potential spy or a terrorist? Or is it because he is a common man with no strings to pull?
India and Pakistan have a long-standing relationship of suspicion and hostility. They have been to war four times and continuing terrorist attacks in India make Haidar’s quest for a visa look almost impossible.
To see how Haidar's dream can be given a voice, and what it means for all of us, the filmmaker travels from India to Pakistan. Haidar's solution for peace is simple. If ordinary citizens of both countries are allowed to interact with each other, they will realize that not only are they historically and culturally close, but they also have similar problems - from potholed roads to corrupt politicians.
But can his dream come true?
 
Festivals:
1)  TIDF, TAIWAN 2010, Official Selection
2) World Film, Tartu, Estonia, 2011
 
About the Filmmaker:
Nirmal Chander Dandriyal has worked for the last 12 years as an Editor, Associate Director and Senior Promo Producer. His area of experience is diverse and covers sports, fiction and documentary He made his directorial debut in 2008 with All The World's A Stage about an internationally acclaimed performance group called the Sidi Goma. The documentary has been screened at major festivals worldwide and has won several awards.
Dreaming Taj Mahal is his second documentary. The film has been produced by him and is about a taxi driver who is passionate about seeing the Taj Mahal for real. The only problem is that he lives in Pakistan! The film has been supported by a grant from the Asian Cinema Fund, Pusan.