NEW DELHI: Israeli filmmaker Eran Riklis believes that it is quite unavoidable to make films in West Asia today without some kind of political element.

“It is unavoidable to make a film that does not have some kind of political element in it, but the aim should be to make a film that people understand and leave it to them to interpret in their own way,” said Eran Riklis while addressing the audience at the ongoing Osian‘s festival.

Riklis felt it was his responsibility to bring in some elements of the political situation in the country, though there were other filmmakers who were making films that did not refer to the situation in West Asia.

Similarly, he is also attempting to make women the focal point of his films as they were the ones who suffered in the political imbroglio in Israel and Palestine.

He said that the work of a filmmaker was to promote and provoke ideas through a film and then let the viewer judge it.

Riklis admitted that both the films being screened at this festival – Lemon tree in the Asian and Arab competition and Syrian Bride in the focus on Israel – were based on true stories but he had taken cinematic liberties and added to them.

On asking about censorship in making political films in Israel, he said that there was no difficulty or censorship in making political films in Israel, but there were some problems when trying to get finance for making the films.

Meanwhile, a painting by Raja Ravi Varma depicting the British Governor General being seen off by the Maharaja of Tranvacore acquired by Osian’s in a London auction, was unveiled at the ongoing 10th Osian’s.