New Delhi: Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali is known for his life for his alma mater, Hindu College and the dramatics society he founded, Ibdita. The celebrated filmmaker visited the Delhi University campus recently. The Boys' Hostel building he stayed in was being brought down so that a new one could be constructed in its place.
The filmmaker shared that he had a lot of memories from his time there. In an interaction with HT, he said, "There’s a sad and bitter note to this visit,” about the Boys' hostel building being brought down.
Imtiaz Ali is a 1993 graduate in BA( Honours) English from Hindu College.
"I am [constantly] seeing the building of the Hindu College Boys' Hostel because it’s getting demolished. I’ll probably never see it again. I’ve taken some pictures of it, and the world moves forward for sure… But the three years I’ve lived here, in three different rooms (can't change). It makes me feel very sad that I won’t see this again.” He shared,
On campus, for an alumni interaction, Ali said, "The good thing about coming to college is that it feels like you are still in college,” says Ali, adding, “All those issues that time has tried to resolve... of anger, of trying to change the world, and all those silly notions I had in my young days, they came back to me whenever I revisit my college. And somehow I feel most powerful while being in college. Last time (in April, 2022), when I went up the stage in the auditorium, I thought nothing wrong could happen to me here! That’s the reassuring feeling whenever I come back.”
Talking about Ibdita, the 'Rockstar' director said, "The society has been here so long! All these years, the students have done better than we ever did. It’s not a boastful statement at all and neither am I trying to be modest over here. Every year, I come over here and realise that the batch of Ibtida is doing better than we’ve ever done. And I’m so proud and I consider myself lucky that they’re doing so well. I was here for only three years, three decades ago, and the rest of the years other people have actually contributed to Ibtida. And I’m very grateful for it.”
Meanwhile, on the work front, Imitaz Ali has directed Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra in 'Chamkila' based on the life of celebrated and tragic life story of Punjabi singer Amar Singh Chamkila.