Veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur on Sunday welcomed the on-going debate in the country on intolerance but remarked that the arrogance of the intellectuals who speak for entire society should not be a burden on the society.
Replying to a question over the raging issue of intolerance and freedom of expression, at a press conference at the media centre of the 46th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), chairman of jury of the international competition section said that everybody has a view and when society undergoes change there is bound to change in culture and if the culture does not undergo a change, it can fester.
“Friction is part of this change. We may not like this friction, but it is inevitable,” he said and went on to observe that intolerance has been definitely prevalent in India.
“In a country where 40 per cent people do not have enough to eat, their voices are not heard. Intellectuals become voice of society. I don’t like this intellectual arrogance becoming a burden on society,” cautioned Mr. Kapur.
Replying to another question on his upcoming film “Paani”, Mr. Kapur reiterated that the biggest question that one has to answer in near future would be “who does the water belong to? Do the water resources belong to people or it belongs to commercialized corporations’” he said and went on to remark that world is gradually moving towards a situation wherein ground water all over the world is being bought by private corporations where the distribution of water would not be equitable but some private interests will own water.
He revealed that he was getting some offers from water resource companies for his film, but would start his film only when he gets funding which will not in any way interfere with the creativity.
