In his own words: “I do not think I would be where I am today if not for QF”

People think we must save the planet, but in my opinion, it is the opposite – the planet must save us. When nature thrives, we thrive, and when she falls, we fall. This is the message that should be taken to the world – and if we communicate this through the arts, we are more likely to succeed.

Sustainability and love have always been the messages of my films. For example, in ‘Utharam Parayathe’, which I directed in 2017 in Kerala, I aimed to communicate the need for environmental sustainability to the community. This film was also screened in Qatar, highlighting the similarities between India and Qatar, especially in regard to sustainability.

Another major human emotion which I try to demonstrate through my films is love. Love is a fantastic subject for any artist – love for parents, love for children, love for nature. It does not matter if you are rich or poor, if you do not have love in your heart, you will be empty inside.

Today, when I look back on my career, I recall my passion for acting and directing, which I have had since childhood, and my beginnings with Qatar Foundation (QF) that over the years have provided me with the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.

I have been a stage actor since childhood – art is in my blood and in my heart. And as I have gotten older, my passion for acting has continued to grow. For a brief period, I worked full time script writing, acting, direction, and singing for film projects in my country, India. And then my first TV film was released in 2007, and it was a dream come true.

I joined QF in 2008, and I feel truly blessed to be part of this organization.

As an artist, interacting with people is important for me as it is a source of my inspiration. And in my role at QF, I get to meet highly talented professionals who have inspired my creativity and been a source of ideas for my own art.

My current role as a General Expeditor at HBKU Press has allowed me to foster my passion for literature. And over the years, I have learned that books are the quietest friends of man – and that books breed wisdom. I often think that HBKU Press does not sell books, it sells happiness.

My favorite memories with HBKU Press center around book fairs, as they often felt like family events. We would work all day and night, but we were happy. We would also use these as an opportunity to invite publishing-related personalities, which – to us – was the icing on the cake.

I will never forget meeting Buzz Aldrin at the 2013 Doha International Book Fair – being able to shake hands with the first person to land on the Moon was an incredible experience. Other heart stopping moments include meeting authors such as Ahdaf Soueif, Lilas Taha, and Ibtihaj El Harthi.

Today, I am pursuing a path of art and filmmaking in both Qatar and India – and continuing my career at QF. For me, it is a tale of inspiration, passion, and dreams, all of which I seek in the field of filmmaking.

A children’s book – titled Mah and Me, written by the author Ibtihaj Al Harthi in 2015 and published by HBKU Press – is about a boy who suddenly loses his grandmother, and he must come to terms with the meaning of death. I told the author about my interest in doing a film based on this journey, and now I feel is the right time to pursue this venture.

My message to anyone who has a dream is that if you have passion, it will drive you to success – do not let anyone say otherwise.

Ultimately, I would not have gotten to where I am today if not for QF. If you are part of the organization, you are lucky – you will have a fantastic community which supports and values you. What else do you need to grow?