Why We Watch - How Films Shape Who We Are!

Why We Watch” – How Films Shape Who We Are

Welcome to the very first session of Dialogues with Cinema — we`re starting with something personal, something foundational.

This session is not just about talking films. It’s about tracing the moments that made us fall in love with cinema — and asking why certain films stay with us. Whether it`s the one that cracked you open emotionally, reshaped your politics, made you feel seen, or just stuck with you for reasons you still can`t explain... this session is where we bring those films into the room.

What to expect :

– A guided, open-format discussion where each person brings in a film that’s meant something to them

– Reflections on memory, identity, and how our personal histories shape our taste

– Conversations that might be nostalgic, tender, surprising, even a little heated — because meaning is rarely neutral

– A collective attempt to understand: Why do we watch? And what do these films do to us — culturally, emotionally, politically, psychologically?

You don’t need to be a “film buff” to show up — but if you`re someone who feels things deeply when you watch a film, or who`s ever been changed by one, you’ll fit right in.

We’ll end the session with a short, collective viewing — a curated piece that ties into the theme — followed by closing thoughts.

Come with a film in your heart. Come with something to say. Come with an open mind.

Let’s find out what happens when you put a group of people in a room and ask them to speak, not about film — but through it.

Host - Venkatesh & Sri