Join us for Mughal-E-Azam to Dhurandhar 2: Political Messaging in Hindi Cinema by 𝐀𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐦 𝐑𝐚𝐣𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐢, presented as part of 𝙈𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢 series developed in collaboration with 𝗚𝗼𝗮 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 at Arthshila Goa.

𝗗𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗦
𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 10 April 2026 | Friday
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 6.30 PM Onwards

This session is a talk by 𝘈𝘯𝘫𝘶𝘮 𝘙𝘢𝘫𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘪 titled 𝘔𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘢𝘭-𝘌-𝘈𝘻𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘋𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘩𝘢𝘳 2: 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘔𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘏𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘊𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘢.

Stories generally reflect the vision of the author and their take on its subject. Likewise films. That’s what we define as the theme of the film. However, are the themes, especially of popular films, a mirror of the society of their time? Today, how much do financial imperatives, the star-system and the fear-factor determine the film’s content, especially its politics? Through this lens, the session will explore the arc of political messaging in Hindi cinema.

𝐀𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐦 𝐑𝐚𝐣𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐢 is a well-known screenwriter, with films like Drohkaal, Ghulam, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, and Raajneeti, and a script mentor for films including Gangasajal, Apaharan, Mulk, Article 15, and Thappad.  In 2004, he founded India’s first screenwriting department at the Film & TV Institute of India, Pune, and ran it for 12 years. Since 2006, he has been the head of Screenwriting at Whistling Woods Mumbai.

Anjum has conducted many screenwriting workshops and convened the Indian Screenwriters Conference. He formed the Progressive Writers Group in 2006 and continues to fight for writers’ rights.

𝙈𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢 is a six-month series showcasing Goa’s interdisciplinary art practices across image, performance, sound, research, and digital forms. Through performances, presentations, and conversations, it foregrounds process and dialogue while offering an early view into ideas shaping the Goa Open Arts Festival 2026.

𝗚𝗼𝗮 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀, founded in 2019, is an artist-led initiative that supports and energises Goa’s creative community through festivals, exhibitions, grants, mentorships, and public programs.