Speaking at the function held at Asian Academy of Film & Television to formally release the documentary ‘The Chord of Friendship’ produced and directed by Gulshan Dang. The former member of parliament, follower of Mahatma Gandhi & Vinoba Bhave and the President of Indo-Turkmenistan Forum, Ms. Nirmala Deshpande asked the students to make use of the power of films to bring the people of the world closer together and for spreading the message of peaceful co-existence.
She mentioned that Indian films and film stars are extremely popular in Turkmenistan. Describing Gulshan Dang – an alumnus of AAFT – as a talented and promising filmmaker, Prof. Sandeep Marwah said that his latest documentary film is indeed a piece of professional work. In her brief address the cultural counselor, Embassy of Turkmenistan, Dr. Tchinar Rustamova recalled 800 years old relations between India and her country. She mentioned that the renowned poet Abdur Rahim Khankhana was the son of great Turkmen statesman, warrior and mentor of mughul emperor Akbar – Bairam Khan. She diseclosed that Gulshan Dang’s documentary has been supported by Indo-Turkmenistan Forum as part of the ongoing celebration of the 50th anniversary of Bairam Khan. She thanked the government and people of India for allowing her country to access the Indian archives for valuable historical facts about Turkmenistan. Sharing his thoughts with the students, the former Indian Ambassador to Turkmenistan Dr. Virendra Verma said that love is god’s gift to mankind and that the spirit of mutual love and respect has to be inculcated. He advised the students to be honest, truthful, hardworking and to avoid attempting short cuts to success. Dr. Sharma mentioned that Gulshan Dang’s documentary is indeed the proof of effectiveness of the education and training being imparted at AAFT.