MUMBAI: Amid demands from certain quarters to ban Pakistani artistes from working in India in wake of the Uri terror attack, Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke, who is here to attend the Mumbai Film Festival, says films and arts should be separate from politics.
“There are many factors involved in this, so it would be difficult to answer that from artiste’s point of view. It’s up to every artiste and individual (what they feel on the ban),” Jia said.
“There are political problems between China and Taiwan and many times Taiwan artistes do come to China. We need to look at things specifically and then look at what could be the best way to look into the problem,” he said.
“I think movie industry is independent and free (of all these things). The creativity is free and liberal. From my point of view, I would not like the artiste to be punished for something. They should be kept away from politics,” he said.
Jia is in Mumbai for the 18th edition of MAMI festival that began today. He will be given excellence in cinema award (international). (AGENCIES)
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