As part of Asia Society’s 70th anniversary celebrations, this program honors the enduring legacy of visionary educator and filmmaker Jagat Murari, whose founding vision for the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) transformed Indian cinema and continues to inspire global storytelling today — bridging seven decades of cultural exchange between Asia and the world.
Radha Chadha’s new book, The Maker of Filmmakers: How Jagat Murari and FTII Changed Indian Cinema Forever, is as much a biography of her father, Jagat Murari, as that of the iconic film school he built, creating generations of outstanding talent, including Shabana Azmi, Jaya Bachchan, Subhash Ghai, Shatrughan Sinha, Mani Kaul, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, and many more.
Radha Chadha will be in conversation with Rubén Polendo, Dean of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, offering an intimate look at the life and impact of Jagat Murari. The session will be moderated by eminent Indian film critic Sucharita Tyagi. Murari’s remarkable journey began in post-war America, where — while still a young film student — he absorbed lessons from none other than Orson Welles during the filming of Macbeth (1947). Returning to a newly independent India, he channeled those experiences into a bold vision: a national film school that would train future generations of Indian storytellers.
The program will include a rare screening of iconic FTII student films, seldom shown outside India, showcasing early works by filmmakers who would go on to redefine cinema across the country. Engaging, historical, and deeply cinematic, the evening shines a spotlight on the artists and ideas that helped transform Indian filmmaking from its earliest post-independence years through the rise of the Indian New Wave and beyond.
How India's Finest Filmmakers Were Made
Host
Wed, Feb 18, 06:00 PM - 07:15 PM (EST)
To be shared on approval (New York)
30 attendees
As part of Asia Society’s 70th anniversary celebrations, this program honors the enduring legacy of visionary educator and filmmaker Jagat Murari, whose founding vision for the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) transformed Indian cinema and continues to inspire global storytelling today — bridging seven decades of cultural exchange between Asia and the world.
Radha Chadha’s new book, The Maker of Filmmakers: How Jagat Murari and FTII Changed Indian Cinema Forever, is as much a biography of her father, Jagat Murari, as that of the iconic film school he built, creating generations of outstanding talent, including Shabana Azmi, Jaya Bachchan, Subhash Ghai, Shatrughan Sinha, Mani Kaul, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, and many more.
Radha Chadha will be in conversation with Rubén Polendo, Dean of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, offering an intimate look at the life and impact of Jagat Murari. The session will be moderated by eminent Indian film critic Sucharita Tyagi. Murari’s remarkable journey began in post-war America, where — while still a young film student — he absorbed lessons from none other than Orson Welles during the filming of Macbeth (1947). Returning to a newly independent India, he channeled those experiences into a bold vision: a national film school that would train future generations of Indian storytellers.
The program will include a rare screening of iconic FTII student films, seldom shown outside India, showcasing early works by filmmakers who would go on to redefine cinema across the country. Engaging, historical, and deeply cinematic, the evening shines a spotlight on the artists and ideas that helped transform Indian filmmaking from its earliest post-independence years through the rise of the Indian New Wave and beyond.