Filmmaker-poet Muzaffar Ali says the best work of art emerges from the deep roots of crisis and poets have always taken birth in trying times.
The 72-year-old artiste, who is the convener of the Sufi music festival Jahan-e-Khusrau, believes there is no creativity without the presence of difficulties in life.
"Anything that's creative emerges from conflict. Creativity cannot emerge without going through trials and tribulations. It actually works as an instrument to resolve human conflict. To create a balance in humans.
"It is an ongoing process in the history. Poets have been born in the times of crisis. Faiz Ahmad Faiz was born when Pakistan was going through a crisis," says Ali.
The veteran artiste is returning with the three-day musical extravaganza initiated by him under the aegis of Rumi Foundation, after a hiatus of two years.
Ali says Jahan-e-Khusrau is not promoting any ideology and it is a journey of exploring and celebrating poetry through the ages.
"We are not using this festival as a device or any means to propagate any ideology. It caters to a limited audience who want to celebrate the feeling of togetherness.
"It's an artistic exploration, not a mission statement. Through Jahan-e-Khusrau, we are celebrating those poets who wrote their pieces of art in trying times," adds Ali.
The "Umrao Jaan" director says the real hurdle in organising the festival was to raise fund as despite being organised in a culturally and socially active city like Delhi, the team faced a lot of trouble to pull things together.
"It's an expensive festival. The costs of stage, lights, and sound are escalating every year. But Delhi does not want to pay for this festival because it is not a commercial one. They have money for purely commercial things.
"Jahan-e-Khusrau is a spiritual fest and these things happen with a different kind of money. This time, we have the support of Indian Council for Cultural Relations and DS Puri Foundation.
We have often created festivals in the past out of nothing and we don't look to grab eyeballs," says Ali.
He also says the this music festival will help the audience "explore a whole range of emotional connection with the Maker".
"Those shades of connect which you will experience through this musical journey are mind-boggling. Each poet, whose work we rediscover in the festival, has tried to find his own way.
"This will take you to on that path too and help you establish that direct connection where you discover this connect with the creator," says Ali.
Jahan-e-Khusrau begins from tomorrow and will be held in the ruins of Arab Ki Sarai, adjacent to the Humayun's Tomb.
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