Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf hails Narendra Modi's 'Swacchta Abhiyaan'

PANAJI: Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf, who has directed films like 'The Dictator', 'Hello Cinema' and 'Scream of the Ants', has praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cleanliness drive.

The 57-year-old director said while shooting his film 'Scream of the Ants' he found the roads in India very dirty but now he feels the situation is much better.

"I shot my film 'Scream of the Ants' in India which is about a newly married couple who had conflicting ideologies and during the journey they only fought. While shooting the film, I saw the dirty roads and felt very bad as the country is so rich in culture.

"But now the scenario is different as I believe Mr Narendra Modi is doing a brilliant job," Makhmalbaf said on the sidelines of International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

The film festival, which opened with Makhmalbaf's 'The President', will also feature a retrospective of his rare works.

"I am honoured that the festival is showcasing some of my works. My works mostly talk about the pain of human being because I had gone through a lot of pain during my growing up years. My films are just a reflection of my journey of the past," said Makhmalbaf, who was jailed in Iran for five years.