Filmmaker Muzaffar Ali to deliver 4th Prof Urmi Kessar Memorial lecture

The lecture series is supported by the Professor Urmi Kessar Memorial Fund, established by the Kessar family, and has, over the years, hosted several eminent voices from India and abroad. Previous speakers include historian William Dalrymple and Vikram Seth. The third edition, held in January last year, featured poet and lyricist Irshad Kamil, whose lecture examined the relevance of poetry in contemporary times.

Besides being a noted filmmaker, Ali is also a well-known painter whose work bridges cinema, visual art and cultural expression. His debut film Gaman won multiple National Awards and the Silver Peacock at the International Film Festival of India. Umrao Jaan earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Director and continues to find global audiences, including a recent restored 4K screening at international film festivals in 2025. His later films include Aagaman, Anjuman and Jaanisaar.

Alongside filmmaking, Ali has pursued painting for over five decades, with exhibitions in India and abroad. He is also the founder of the Jahan-e-Khusrau World Sufi Music Festival and the Wajid Ali Shah Festival in Lucknow, organised under the Rumi Foundation, where he serves as the chairman and executive director.

Ali has been honoured with the Padma Shri and the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award.