📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Sajid Ali
Entertainment
Imtiaz Ali: Digital World Isolates Us, Cinema Brings Us Together
✍️ Hindustan Times
🗓 29 Oct 2026, 11:42 AM
👁 1
Director Imtiaz Ali has warned that the digital age tends to isolate individuals, while cinema remains a shared experience that brings people together.
In a recent interview, acclaimed filmmaker Imtiaz Ali highlighted a growing concern about the isolating effects of digital technology. He noted that while online platforms offer convenience and connectivity, they often create virtual bubbles that limit real‑world interaction.
Ali contrasted this trend with the communal nature of cinema. According to him, watching a film in a theater is an event that unites strangers, fostering shared emotions and collective memories.
The director emphasized that the movie‑going experience cannot be replicated by streaming services, as it involves a physical space, collective laughter, and a communal response to the narrative.
Ali’s remarks come amid ongoing discussions about mental health and social connectivity in India, where digital engagement has surged during the pandemic.
He concluded by urging filmmakers to continue creating content that encourages audiences to gather and experience stories together, preserving cinema’s role as a cultural touchstone.
Ali contrasted this trend with the communal nature of cinema. According to him, watching a film in a theater is an event that unites strangers, fostering shared emotions and collective memories.
The director emphasized that the movie‑going experience cannot be replicated by streaming services, as it involves a physical space, collective laughter, and a communal response to the narrative.
Ali’s remarks come amid ongoing discussions about mental health and social connectivity in India, where digital engagement has surged during the pandemic.
He concluded by urging filmmakers to continue creating content that encourages audiences to gather and experience stories together, preserving cinema’s role as a cultural touchstone.