New Delhi [India], October 24 (ANI): Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India, Mumin Chen, has named 'Dhurandhar' as the most impressive Indian film he watched last year, highlighting his interest in political cinema at the Taiwan Film Festival in New Delhi.
“Because I am also a political science professor and right now working as an ambassador. So I watch a lot of political movies in India,” Chen said while speaking to ANI and explaining his interest in Indian films, adding, “So last year, the most impressive one I saw was Dhurandhar.”
Chen also praised Aamir Khan for his work as an actor and producer, while expressing admiration for other major Indian film stars, including Shah Rukh Khan.
“And about Indian actors and also movie producers, I think Aamir Khan is very impressive,” Chen said.
He recalled watching Khan's films from his younger days and appreciated his more recent work as a producer, particularly films addressing Indian society and critical social issues.
“Because I have been watching his film when he was young and he produces some very good movies about Indian societies, some very critical issues,” he said, adding, “And of course, other bigger movie icons like Shah Rukh Khan, I also love them.”
Chen's comments came as the Taiwan Film Festival showcased Taiwanese cinema in New Delhi, with a selection of documentaries and dramas designed to introduce Indian audiences to Taiwan's culture, technology and sporting achievements.
Explaining the festival's broader objective, Chen said Taiwanese people, like Indians, enjoy watching films, but awareness of Taiwanese cinema among Indian audiences remains limited.
“Taiwanese, just like Indians, also like movies; like I also watch a movie every week. But very few Indian friends know about Taiwanese movies,” he said.
He noted that the festival had been held in Delhi annually in recent years and expanded to Mumbai this year, with organisers selecting films to offer audiences a broader perspective on Taiwan.
“We also select dramas. We want Indian friends to have a more comprehensive view of Taiwan, different aspects,” Chen said.
Chen also highlighted the festival's emphasis on Taiwan's sporting achievements and technological strengths, describing cinema as a medium to communicate Taiwan's identity to Indian audiences.
Referring to a baseball film about Taiwan's team winning a world championship, Chen said the story represented a broader message about perseverance in the face of challenges.
“But what I want Indian friends to know is that this is the spirit of Taiwan. You never give up,” he said.
He added that Taiwan's semiconductor industry, high technology and other areas were aspects of the country that Indian audiences should know more about, describing them as strengths that could support closer cooperation between Taiwan and India.
Chen also expressed interest in greater collaboration between the Indian and Taiwanese film industries, saying the festival in Mumbai was intended to help filmmakers and producers recognise opportunities for cooperation.
“Actually, before, we already have some Indian movies that they shoot in Taiwan. And there was also some Taiwan-India joint cooperation making movies. But not enough,” he said.
“We want to see more because India is a big movie country. And Taiwanese people also like to see movies very much. So this is a good opportunity for both sides to cooperate in the future,” he added.
Chen also voiced hope that the exchange would work in both directions, with more Indian films reaching Taiwanese audiences.
“And I'm also thinking that not just having Taiwanese movies shown in India, I also hope more Indian movies will be seen in Taiwan,” Chen said.
Isabelle Ling, head of the cultural division of TECC, also spoke to ANI about the festival's programme, explaining that this year's edition was being organised in both Delhi and Mumbai.
She explained that the programme included documentaries, dramas and films representing different genres, with the intention of giving Indian audiences a broader understanding of Taiwanese life and culture.
Asked how the films were selected, Ling said the organisers wanted to communicate the idea of “Team Taiwan” by combining three central themes: sport, technology and culture.
Ling said that presenting these different themes was particularly important given Taiwan's position in the international community.
“Because for us, it's not easy to survive in the international society. So we want Indian audiences to know about our Taiwanese culture,” she said.
She also highlighted the existing interest in Indian cinema in Taiwan and expressed a desire to encourage more Indian viewers to explore Taiwanese films.
Discussing the possibility of Indian and Taiwanese filmmakers working together, Ling referred to a previous festival screening that she described as an important first step.
She said, “Yes, actually, last year we played the first Indian and Taiwanese cooperation movie. It's called Demon Hunter.”
Ling expressed hope that such collaborations would grow in the coming years, with filmmakers from both countries learning from one another and creating more joint projects.
“So it was the first step. But later by later, we will in the future cooperate for more good movies,” she said.
She also referred to Taiwanese filmmaker Ang Lee's influence on filmmakers worldwide while discussing the potential for cinema to build connections between creative communities.
“Ang Lee influenced so many talented filmmakers all over the world,” Ling said, adding, “It's the same in Taiwan and also the same in India. So I think the movie is a very good bridge to combine India and Taiwan,” she added.
Ling said the festival was also intended to showcase different perspectives and forms of storytelling, including LGBTQ-themed films.
“So in this film festival, we have different types of films. The special one, we play the LGBTQ-type movies on Sunday,” she said.
She explained that the selection was intended to share different viewpoints through cinema and encourage further communication between the two sides.
Ling also shared her enthusiasm for Indian films, saying she regularly watches them on Netflix and appreciates the way Indian filmmakers can build engaging stories around seemingly ordinary subjects.
She said, “I watch a lot of Indian movies on Netflix. For example, 'Toaster'. The best thing in Indian movies is that they can discover a very, very small thing. Then they extend it into a very beautiful story.”
Ling added that Taiwanese audiences and filmmakers could learn from the storytelling approaches seen in Indian cinema.
“So I think our people, our Taiwanese people, we can learn a lot from Indian movies. So I think it's a very good way to exchange movie thinking,” she said.
Miyu Huang, a dance school teacher, also spoke to ANI about participating in the Taiwan Film Festival in New Delhi.
Huang said her group had travelled to India for a performance and was also participating in cultural events that brought Taiwanese and Indian traditions together.
She explained that the group had a performance planned for Taiwan's National Day and would also participate in the Lai Haraoba festival, presenting Taiwanese culture and a dance-fusion drama based on the Ramayana.
“We also have a performance on our Taiwan National Day. We also go to the Lai Haraoba Dance Festival to perform Taiwanese culture and the Ramayana, the dance fusion drama,” Huang said.
Describing her participation in the festival, she said, “This is our honour to join the Taiwan Festival in New Delhi. Actually, TECC (Taipei Economic and Cultural Center) invited us to join the Taiwan Festival.”
Huang also spoke warmly about her connection with Indian culture and the experience of wearing Indian attire.
“We feel we are proud of India, and we are wearing Indian dress. We also love Indian culture,” she said.
She said Taiwanese films had made an emotional impression on her during the festival.
“And in New Delhi, seeing Taiwanese films, we feel so touched at heart because the movie always encourages everyone. So, we are so happy in New Delhi,” Huang added.
She said more cross-cultural activities could help build stronger relationships between Taiwan and India.
“Actually, we hope more cross-cultural activities can bring people together and build stronger relationships between Taiwan and India,” Huang said.
She said that members of her group had watched Indian films in theatres, naming Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan her favourite Indian actors. She recalled watching 'Baahubali' as well during the interaction.
Eric Erickson, an American who has been living in Delhi since 2019, also attended the festival after learning about it through Taiwanese friends.
“I’m Eric Erickson. I've been living in Delhi since 2019. I've been working here. I'm from the United States of America,” he said.
Erickson said he had watched 'Hero Hito' at the festival and found the experience particularly memorable because some of the film's opening scenes were shot in Arizona, where he grew up.
“Yes, I saw Hero... Hero Hito. It was very interesting,” he said.
“I actually grew up right in Arizona, where a lot of the beginning scenes were taken. So, it was kind of nostalgic to see that from my childhood,” Erickson added.
Erickson also said that he had watched Bollywood films and named 'Three Idiots' as one that stood out to him.
“I've seen some Bollywood movies,” he said, before adding, “Three Idiots. It was pretty good.”
The 2026 Taiwan Film Festival in India is currently taking place in New Delhi from October 24 to October 25, 2026, before moving to Mumbai on October 31.
Organised by Taiwan's Ministry of Culture and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India (TECC India), the festival showcases contemporary Taiwanese cinema covering themes like sports culture, technology, family, and gender diversity. (ANI)
Taiwan's Ambassador Mumin Chen praises Ranveer Singh's 'Dhurandhar' at Taiwan Film Festival in India
