4 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Feb 2, 2026 08:28 PM IST In today’s Bollywood where, films and songs often feel like fleeting content, designed for quick hits and fast returns, Muzaffar Ali’s work is a reminder of a cinema that breathed poetry, music, and soul. The legendary filmmaker, painter, and author, whose Umrao Jaan, Gaman, and Anjuman are etched in cinematic history, believes the deeply immersive songs and films of his era can hardly be recreated today. At the 11th edition of Expresso, Ali reflected on why why modern Bollywood struggles to capture that blend of narrative, music, and cultural harmony and why the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb remains alive in spirit even as it struggles to find a place on screen today. They were in conversation with Vandita Mishra, National Opinion Editor at Indian Express. Bollywood, hypernationalism, and the othering of communities During the session, Muzaffar Ali was asked about his recreation of Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb in his films and the stark contrast to today’s cinema, which often projects hyper-nationalism and community divides. He said, “This is the …