NEW DELHI: In the midst of a fragile ceasefire after failed peace talks in Islamabad, Majid Majidi, one of Iran’s best-known directors, told TOI from Tehran — where he has turned away from cinema and immersed himself in relief work, associating himself with the Iranian Red Crescent — that the war he witnessed firsthand has irrevocably reshaped daily life across cities in his homeland.For Indian audiences, Oscar-nominated Majidi is not an unfamiliar voice. His cinema belongs to a tradition that resonates instinctively here. He has often spoken of his admiration for Satyajit Ray, exploring the worlds of children like the late ‘master of world cinema’, their moral dilemmas, resilience amidst poverty, family relationships and moral choices.Speaking about the ongoing conflict, Al Majidi said: “For more than a month, cities have faced bombardment.
While these attacks are described as targeted strikes, in reality we see homes, hospitals and schools damaged. He made particular reference to the February 28 attack in Minab, which he said led to the deaths of dozens of schoolchildren, an incident he believes “should be remembered and investigated in international courts.”The effects of that strike, which killed more than 150 children and teachers in Iran, have continued in unexpected ways.
On Monday, the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi displayed drawings recovered from the site of the attack in an exhibition titled “Angels of Minab.” She captured the child’s world before death: smiling families holding hands, houses shining under an oversized sun, flowers and birds scattered across the blue sky.Al-Majidi’s account of the war is defined by what he describes as “proximity and engagement.” After joining relief efforts on the ground, he spoke about the shortages, displacement and pressure on civilian lives.
“Ordinary people are stuck in the middle,” he said, adding that the impact of the violence extends beyond the immediate casualties.Distinguishing between governments and peoples, he said: “We are isolated by governments, not states… World public opinion, despite pressure and propaganda, stands with the Iranian people. There are large-scale demonstrations in Europe and Asia, and even within the United States… People are demanding an end to the war.”The director said that Iranian flexibility continues. “In our culture, surrender has no meaning. Our people show courage both on the battlefields and in the streets,” Majidi said, describing Iran’s position as unprecedented – as it stands, he said, in the face of some of the most powerful armies in the world.Al Majidi said: “Throughout history, artists and thinkers in this land have stood steadfast even in the most difficult times.”
“Western powers, which do not look at Iran’s history, underestimate it. They must study our past before deciding our future.”Shackled to his homeland, Al-Majidi rejected the idea of leaving. “We are rooted in this soil. It is our duty to contribute to its progress, as well as to live and die here.”For Majidi, the war is not just a geopolitical crisis, it is a humanitarian crisis – and he warned that its consequences could extend far beyond Iran, threatening widespread regional instability and leading to massive waves of migration involving millions of people.
“Governments around the world must go beyond rhetoric to action,” he said. The maker of films like “Children of Paradise” (which has become one of the most widely watched Iranian films in India), who has long expressed a desire to tell a story set here, a vision he fulfilled with “Beyond the Clouds” shot in Mumbai, had one appeal for broadcast: “The delivery of humanitarian aid – especially medical – has remained very limited. Iran needs that.”
