Q1. My first question is about the background of your career as a documentary filmmaker and about your entry into the celluloid world. How did it happened?

Ans: I am a journalist. I am interested in Iranian society in particular which is very active, dynamic, dominant, and a young society. This vibrancy provided a creative background for my career as a journalist. My first film was about a mother in a cemetery at the time of the Iraq war. My second film deals with an earthquake in Bam, a town in Iran. The film includes a series of interviews and it was associated with the Red Cross in Italy.

Q2. Tell us about your film Rough Cut and how it came about?

Ans: Seeing the mannequins almost amputated in shop windows led me to the idea of making a film. It seemed very violent and pointed to something deeper in society. Actually, the film’s base is a reportage, which was published in an Italian Magazine. I wrote my script in Italian. I interviewed the women in the boutique, where the female mannequins are displayed.

Q3. What are the challenges behind and after the film’s completion?

Ans. After the completing the film, I went back to Iran. It was a critical situation. The film might be interpreted in various ways. The theme has social, political, religious, and sexual undertones. I was nervous at first and kept a very low profile.

Q4. You are a Journalist by profession. What is the current status of women in Iran?

Ans. The situation is a bit problematic. In Iran, a lot of women are engaged in social activities. In the education sector we have improved a lot. But still we are a male/religion dominated society.

Q5. Is Iran is more exposed to European culture because of the arrival of various European and Hollywood films? Are these movies pirated and smuggled in to Iran?

Ans. In Iran all new movies are pirated, even before its release in Europe and elsewhere. We are very open to this kind of cinema. We have a good production environment.

Q6. Is that why you are more exposed to European culture?

Ans. In Iran some sections are absorbing European Culture.

Q7. What about English Language?

Ans. English is the second language in our schools.

Q8. Any future projects?

Ans. Yes, my future project is a film about the first image of the Iraq war. I am planning to do a series of interviews for the same.

Q9. What are your impressions about India?

Ans. India and her culture is a vibrant one. We are more exposed to India and Kerala through this kind of cross cultural dialogues of the visuals.