Director Imtiaz Ali wants to team up with Bengali filmmakers

Imtiaz Ali has expressed desire to team up with Bengali filmmakers to help them reach out to a wider audience. 

Imtiaz said though he was not conversant with the 'sweet' Bengali language, which is endowed with "rich heritage", he would love to explore the regional cinema that is known for its creative excellence.

Hailing the creative aesthetic quality of Bengali cinema, the 44-year-old director referred to Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali, Charulata, Ritwik Ghatak's Ajantrik and several Rituparna Ghosh films as iconic works in the language. "I think we can again work towards helping Bengali filmmakers aspiring to make that kind of cinema and reach out to a larger audience. I am ready to help in my way. I feel Bengali cinema is very important in the country's film scenario," Imtiaz said.

"I don't know the Bengali language, which is a prerequisite for directing a film, but as the world knows Bengali cinema for its creative excellence I can collaborate in ways compatible with my sensibilities," he said. The director, whose upcoming film Tamasha is set to release on November 27, is in town for the special screening of the Bengali film Teenkahon (three obsessions). Imtiaz, who helmed films like Love Aaj Kal and Highway, is the presenter of Teenkahon, which released today.

Read: Is Deepika Padukone Imtiaz Ali's only hope for 'Tamasha' promotions?

When asked if he has a script in mind for his next film, Imtiaz said, "I can't think about other future projects right now. I need some breathing space after every work of mine. And Tamasha is no exception. "Let the film (Tamasha) be released and I get a time for myself. Only then I can move on to the next project."